Vanguard class ship of the line

Class overview
Name:	Vanguard class
Operators:	Royal Navy
Preceded by:	Canopus-class
Succeeded by:	None
In service:	25 August 1835 - 1929
Planned:	14
Completed:	9
General characteristics
Type:	Ship of the line
Length:	190 ft (57.9 m) (gundeck) 154 ft 4 in (47 m) (keel)
Beam:	56 ft 9 in (17.3 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Armament:	80 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Upper gundeck: 26 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Quarterdeck: 14 × 32 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades Poop deck: 4 × 18 pdr carronades
Notes:	Ships in class include: Vanguard, Collingwood, Goliath, Superb, Meeanee, Centurion, Lion, Colossus, Mars

The Vanguard-class ships of the line were a class of two-deck 80-gun second rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir William Symonds, of which nine were completed as sailing ships of the line, although another two of these were completed as (and others converted into) steam warships.

They were originally planned as 78-gun third rates. Two ships were ordered in 1832 and another two in 1833, although one of the latter was intended to be a rebuilding of the second rate Union, and this was subsequently cancelled. At this point the design was modified and they were re-designated as 80-gun second rates. Another ship was ordered to this design in 1838, another seven in 1839 (of which two were subsequently re-ordered three months later as 90-gun ships to a new design - the Albion and Aboukir) and another two in 1840. Two of the above ships were re-ordered and completed as steam battleships - Majestic and Irresistible. A final ship to this design, the Brunswick, was ordered in 1844 but in 1847 she was re-ordered to a modified design.

Ships

• HMS Vanguard

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 23 June 1832

Launched: 25 August 1835

Fate: Broken up, 1875

• HMS Collingwood

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 23 June 1832

Launched: 17 August 1841

Fate: Sold, 1867

• HMS Goliath

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 7 October 1833

Launched: 25 July 1842

Fate: Burnt, 1875

• HMS Superb

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 15 June 1838

Launched: 6 September 1842

Fate: Broken up, 1869

• HMS Meeanee

Builder: Bombay Dockyard

Ordered: 12 March 1839 (as Madras)

Launched: 11 November 1848

Fate: Broken up, 1906

• HMS Centurion

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 18 March 1839

Launched: 2 May 1844

Fate: Sold, 1870

• HMS Lion

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 12 March 1840

Launched: 29 July 1847

Fate: Sold, 1905

• HMS Colossus

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 18 March 1839

Launched: 1 June 1848

Fate: Sold, 1867

• HMS Mars

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 18 March 1839

Launched: 1 July 1848

Fate: Sold, 1929

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.
• Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif (2004) The Sail and Steam Navy List 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.