Exeter-class ship of the line

The Exeter-class ships of the line were a class of four 64-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by William Bateley.

Class overview
Name	Exeter
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	St Albans class
Succeeded by	Ardent class
In service	26 July 1763 – 1816
Completed	4
Lost	1
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	158 ft 9 in (48.39 m) (gundeck) 129 ft 9 in (39.55 m) (keel)
Beam	44 ft (13 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	64 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24-pounders Upper gundeck: 26 × 18-pounders Quarterdeck: 10 × 4-pounders Forecastle: 2 × 9-pounders
Notes	Ships in class include: Exeter, Europa, Trident, Prudent

Design

The draught for Exeter was based upon the Richmond-class frigates of 1756.

Ships

• HMS Exeter

Builder: Henniker, Chatham

Ordered: 13 January 1760

Launched: 26 July 1764

Fate: Burned, 1785

• HMS Europa

Builder: Adams, Lepe, Hampshire

Ordered: 16 December 1761

Launched: 21 April 1765

Fate: Broken up, 1814

• HMS Trident

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 4 December 1762

Launched: 20 April 1768

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1816

• HMS Prudent

Builder: Woolwich Dockyard

Ordered: 7 January 1762

Launched: 28 September 1768

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1814

References

• Lavery, Brian (1983) The Ship of the Line – Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650–1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.