HMS Stirling Castle (1679)

Stirling Castle by Willem van de Velde
History
England
Name	HMS Stirling Castle
Ordered	9 July 1678
Builder	Deptford Dockyard
Launched	29 July 1679
Commissioned	1690
Honours and awards	Barfleur 1692
Fate	Wrecked, in Great Storm of 26/27 November 1703, on the Goodwin Sands
General characteristics as built
Class and type	70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,05929⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	151 ft 2 in (46.08 m) gundeck 120 ft 11 in (36.86 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	1677 Establishment 72/60 guns 26 × demi-cannons 54 cwt – 9.5 ft (LD) 26 × 12-pdr guns 32 cwt – 9 ft (UD) 10 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (QD) 4 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (Fc) 5 × 5 3-pdr guns 5 cwt – 5 ft (RH)
General characteristics 1699 rebuild
Class and type	70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	108764⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	151 ft 2 in (46.08 m) gundeck 124 feet 8 inches (38.00 metres) keel for tonnage
Beam	40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 8 in (5.38 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	1685 Establishment 70/62 guns 26 × demi-cannons 54 cwt – 9.5 ft (LD) 26 × demi-culverins (UD) 10 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (QD) 4 × sakers 16 cwt – 7 ft (Fc) 5 × 3-pdr guns 5 cwt – 5 ft (RH)

HMS Stirling Castle was a 70-gun third-rate built at Deptford Dockyard, in 1678/79. She was in active commission for the War of the English Succession, fighting in the Battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur. HMS Stirling Castle underwent a rebuild at Chatham Dockyard in 1699. She was in the Cadiz operation in 1702. The ship was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands off Deal on 27 November 1703. The remains are now a Protected Wreck managed by Historic England.

She was the first vessel to bear the name Stirling Castle in the English and Royal Navy.^[1]

HMS Stirling Castle was awarded the Battle Honour Barfleur 1692.^[2]