History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name: | HMS Prince |
Ordered: | June 1667 |
Builder: | Phineas Pett the Younger, Deptford Dockyard |
Launched: | 3 December 1670 |
Commissioned: | 15 January 1672 |
Renamed: | HMS Royal William, 1692 |
Fate: | Broken up, 1813 |
General characteristics as built | |
Class and type: | 100-gun first rate ship of the line |
Tons burthen: | 1403 (bm) |
Length: | 131 ft (40 m) (keel) |
Beam: | 44 ft 10 in (13.67 m) |
Depth of hold: | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
Propulsion: | Sails |
Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
Armament: | 100 guns of various weights of shot |
General characteristics after 1692 rebuild | |
Class and type: | 100-gun first rate ship of the line |
Tons burthen: | 1463 73⁄94 (bm) |
Length: | 167 ft 3 in (50.98 m) (gundeck) |
Beam: | 47 ft 2 in (14.38 m) |
Depth of hold: | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
Propulsion: | Sails |
Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
Armament: | 100 guns of various weights of shot |
General characteristics after 1719 rebuild | |
Class and type: | 100-gun first rate ship of the line |
Tons burthen: | 1918 23⁄94 (bm) |
Length: | 175 ft 4 in (53.44 m) (gundeck) |
Beam: | 50 ft (15 m) 3½ in (15.3 m) |
Depth of hold: | 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m) |
Propulsion: | Sails |
Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
Armament: | 100 guns of various weights of shot |
HMS Prince (also referred to as Royal Prince) was a 100-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by Phineas Pett the Younger at Deptford Dockyard and launched in 1670.
During the Third Anglo-Dutch War she served as a flagship of the Lord High Admiral the Duke of York (later James II & VII.) During the Battle of Solebay (1672) she was in the centre of the English fleet that was attacked by the Dutch centre led by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. The Prince was heavily damaged by De Ruyter's flagship De Zeven Provinciën in a two hours' duel and Captain of the Fleet Sir John Cox was killed on board. The Duke of York was forced to shift his flag to HMS St Michael. The Prince's second captain, John Narborough, however conducted himself with such conspicuous valour that he won special approbation and was knighted shortly afterwards.
HMS Prince was rebuilt by Robert Lee at Chatham Dockyard in 1692, and renamed at the same time as HMS Royal William. During the War of the Grand Alliance the ship saw action at the Battle of Barfleur of 19 May 1692. The Prince belonged to the red squadron and carried the flag of Rear Admiral of the Red Sir Cloudesley Shovell. She was the first ship to break the French line during the battle.