HMS London (1766)

File:Combat du Scipion conte le London-Rossel de Cercy mg 5097.jpg HMS London depicted during the Action of 18 October 1782
Career (UK)
Name:	HMS London
Ordered:	28 September 1759
Builder:	Chatham Dockyard
Launched:	24 May 1766
Honours and awards:	Participated in: Battle of the Chesapeake Battle of Groix Battle of Copenhagen
Fate:	Broken up, 1811
General characteristics
Class and type:	London-class ship of the line
Tons burthen:	1894 tons (1924.4 tonnes)
Length:	177 ft 6 in (54.10 m) (gundeck)
Beam:	49 ft (15 m)
Depth of hold:	21 ft (6.4 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Sail plan:	Full rigged ship
Armament:	90 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Middle gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 12 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdrs 98 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Middle gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 12 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs

For other ships of the same name, see HMS London.

HMS London was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 24 May 1766 at Chatham Dockyard.

London was originally launched as a 90-gun ship, as was standard for second rates at the time, but was later increased to 98-guns when she had eight 12 pdrs installed on her quarterdeck.

She was Sir Thomas Graves' flagship at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781. In the Action of 18 October 1782, she was raked by Scipion and had to let her escape. She participated in the Battle of Groix in 1795. She was present at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, as part of Sir Hyde Parker's reserve fleet.

At the Action of 13 March 1806, London captured the French ship of the line Marengo. In 1808, she helped escort the Portuguese royal family in its flight from Portugal to Brazil.

London was broken up in 1811.

References

• 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.