Culloden-class ship of the line

The Culloden-class ships of the line were a class of eight 74-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade. The Cullodens were the last class of 74s which Slade designed before his death in 1771.

HMS Hannibal (left foreground) lies aground and dismasted at the Battle of Algeciras Bay.
Class overview
Name	Culloden
Operators	Royal Navy French Navy
Preceded by	Royal Oak-class
Succeeded by	Alfred-class
In service	18 May 1776 - 1861
Completed	8
Lost	2
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	170 ft (52 m) (gundeck) 139 ft 8 in (42.57 m) (keel)
Beam	47 ft 2 in (14.38 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounders Quarterdeck: 14 × 9-pounders Forecastle: 4 × 9-pounders
Notes	Ships in class include: Culloden, Thunderer, Venerable, Terrible, Victorious, Ramillies, Hannibal, Theseus

Ships

• HMS Culloden

Builder: Deptford Dockyard

Ordered: 30 November 1769

Launched: 18 May 1776

Fate: Wrecked, 1781

• HMS Thunderer

Builder: Wells, Rotherhithe

Ordered: 23 August 1781

Launched: 13 November 1783

Fate: Broken up, 1814

• HMS Venerable

Builder: Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 9 August 1781

Launched: 19 April 1784

Fate: Wrecked, 1804

• HMS Terrible

Builder: Wells, Rotherhithe

Ordered: 13 December 1781

Launched: 28 March 1785

Fate: Broken up, 1836

• HMS Victorious

Builder: Perry, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 28 December 1781

Launched: 27 April 1785

Fate: Broken up, 1803

• HMS Ramillies

Builder: Randall, Rotherhithe

Ordered: 19 June 1782

Launched: 12 July 1785

Fate: Broken up, 1850

• HMS Hannibal

Builder: Perry, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 19 June 1782

Launched: 15 April 1786

Fate: Captured, 1801

• HMS Theseus

Builder: Perry, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 11 July 1780

Launched: 25 September 1786

Fate: Broken up, 1814

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, The Sailing Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy - Built, Purchased and Captured 1688-1860, pub Conway Maritime Press, 1993, ISBN 0-85177-617-5