HMS London (1766)

HMS London depicted during the action of 18 October 1782
History
Great Britain
NameHMS London
Ordered28 September 1759
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Launched24 May 1766
FateBroken up, 1811
Notes
General characteristics [1][2]
Class and typeLondon-class ship of the line
Tons burthen1894 (bm)
Length177 ft 6 in (54.10 m) (gundeck)
Beam49 ft (15 m)
Depth of hold21 ft (6.4 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 90 guns
    • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
    • Middle gundeck: 30 × 18-pounder guns
    • Upper gundeck: 30 × 12-pounder guns
    • Fc: 2 × 9-pounder guns
  • 98 guns:
    • Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounder guns
    • Middle gundeck: 30 × 18-pounder guns
    • Upper gundeck: 30 × 12-pounder guns
    • QD: 8 × 12-pounder guns
    • FC: 2 × 12-pounder guns

HMS London was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 May 1766 at Chatham Dockyard.[1]

London was originally launched as a 90-gun ship, as was standard for second rates at the time, but was later increased to 98 guns when she had eight 12-pounders installed on her quarterdeck.

She was Sir Thomas Graves' flagship at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781. In the action of 18 October 1782, she was raked by Scipion and had to let her escape.

  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p175.
  2. ^ Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p179.