Neptune-class ship of the line

The Neptune-class ships of the line were a class of three 98-gun second rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir John Henslow. All three of the ships in the class took part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

HMS Neptune (centre) at the Battle of Trafalgar
Class overview
Name	Neptune class
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Boyne class
Succeeded by	Boyne class
In service	28 January 1797–1857
Completed	3
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	185 ft (56 m) (gundeck) 152 ft 6+1⁄2 in (46.5 m) (keel)
Beam	51 ft (16 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	98 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Middle gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 12 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs
Notes	Ships in class include: Neptune, Temeraire, Dreadnought

Ships

• HMS Neptune

Builder: Deptford Dockyard

Ordered: 15 February 1790

Launched: 28 January 1797

Fate: Broken up, 1818

• HMS Temeraire

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 9 December 1790

Launched: 11 September 1798

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1838

• HMS Dreadnought

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Ordered: 17 January 1788

Launched: 13 June 1801

Fate: Broken up, 1857

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.