Fleet Ledger

Naval wars from the age of sail to the present day

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Royal Oak

HMS Royal Oak

Survived

Royal Navy

TypeShip of the line
RateThird rate
Guns74 guns
WarAmerican War of Independence

74-gun ship, Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot's flagship at Cape Henry. A prison ship from 1796, broken up in 1815.

George III reviewing the Fleet at Spithead, 22 June 1773, depicting HMS 'Royal Oak'; watercolour, signed and dated 1773. Royal barge can be seen in the centre foreground beyond which is the stern of the 'Royal Oak'. The three-decker in the right background is probably the 'Barfleur', which was also Photo: Clevely, John, the Younger, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Armament and specifications

Armament

74 guns

  • Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs
BuilderPlymouth Dockyard
Laid downMay 1766
Launched13 November 1769
Length168 ft 6 in (51.36 m) (gundeck)

As built, from the ship's Wikipedia article. Figures there may cover later refits too.

Career

Launched

13 November 1769

Battle of Grenada
Survived

6 July 1779

Battle of Cape Henry
Survived

16 March 1781

Arbuthnot's flagship

Battle of the Chesapeake
Survived

5 September 1781

Battle of the Saintes
Survived

12 April 1782

Fate

Survived

Broken up, 1815