HMS Grafton was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She was built by Swallow and Fowler, of Limehouse, London, to the dimensions of the 1706 Establishment, and was launched on 9 August 1709.[1]

Grafton, plan of the 1725 rebuild
History
Royal Navy EnsignGreat Britain
NameHMS Grafton
BuilderSwallow and Fowler, Limehouse
Launched9 August 1709
FateBroken up, 1744
Notes
General characteristics as built[1]
Class and type1706 Establishment 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,095
Length150 ft (45.7 m) (gundeck)
Beam41 ft (12.5 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 4 in (5.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 24-pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 12-pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 6-pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 6-pdrs
General characteristics after 1722 rebuild[2]
Class and type1719 Establishment 70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen1,133
Length151 ft (46.0 m) (gundeck)
Beam41 ft 6 in (12.6 m)
Depth of hold17 ft 4 in (5.3 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Armament
  • 70 guns:
  • Gundeck: 26 × 24-pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 26 × 12-pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 14 × 6-pdrs
  • Forecastle: 4 × 6-pdrs

She spent some time under the command of George Forbes, 3rd Earl of Granard, and by 1718 she was commanded by Nicholas Haddock, and was present at the Battle of Cape Passaro. By 1738 she was stationed at the Nore, when she was commanded by Richard Lestock.

On 21 September 1722 Grafton was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt to the 1719 Establishment at Woolwich, from where she was relaunched on 25 November 1725. She remained in service until 1744, when she was broken up.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p168.
  2. ^ a b Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p169.

References

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  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.