HMS Colossus (1787)

HMS Colossus (1787)
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Colossus
Ordered13 December 1781
BuilderClevely, Gravesend
Laid downOctober 1782
Launched4 April 1787
FateWrecked, 10 December 1798
Notes
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeCourageux-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1703 bm
Length172 ft 3 in (52.50 m) (gundeck)
Beam47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
Depth of hold20 ft 9+12 in (6.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 74 guns:
  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs

HMS Colossus was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was launched at Gravesend on 4 April 1787[1] and lost on 10 December 1798. During her years of service she participated in the Battle of Groix, the Battle of Cape St Vincent, and the Battle of the Nile. While carrying wounded from the latter, she was wrecked at the Isles of Scilly. The wreck is a Protected Wreck managed by Historic England.

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol. 1, p. 180.