A contemporary model of the 60-gun 4th Rate 2-deck ship-of-the-line HMS Dreadnought at the Science Museum, South Kensington, November 2008.

The Dreadnought was originally launched by Johnson, Blackwall in 1691 as an 852 ton, 64-gun Non-Establishment 3rd Rate. She was then completely rebuilt into a virtually new design but re-using much of the timber from the original, as was common in the days of sail (some ships being so rebuilt several times). As a rebuild, she was launched in 1706, one of four similar rebuilds launched in 1698-1706 although all were different to both themselves and the current Establishment standard.

The rebuilt Dreadnought was launched by Johnson, Blackwall in 1722, measured 143 ft x 38 ft x 16 ft and had a tonnage of 911 tons, although she was slightly enlarged in 1722. She was hulked in 1740 and broken up in 1748.

Although the rebuilt Dreadnought was rated as a 60 gun ship, she retained 64 guns as follows: Quarterdeck: 10x6pdrs Fo’c’sle: 4x6pdrs Upper Gun Deck: 26x9pdrs