Burford-class ship of the line

The Burford class were three 68-gun third-rate ships of the line designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Joseph Allin. The Burford ships were almost the last "70-gun" (in practice 68-gun) ships designed by Allin. They were built to the draught specified by the 1745 Establishment as amended in 1754.

Class overview
Name	Burford
Operators	Royal Navy
In service	1757–1785
Completed	3
Retired	3
General characteristics
Type	68-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1427
Length	162 ft 0 in (49.4 m) (gundeck) 134 ft 6 in (41.0 m) (keel)
Beam	44 ft 8 in (13.6 m)
Depth of hold	19 ft 8 in (6.0 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Complement	520 officers and men
Armament	68 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 32-pounders Upper gundeck: 28 × 18-pounders Quarterdeck: 12 × 9-pounders Forecastle: 2 × 9-pounders

Ships

• HMS Burford

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 15 January 1754

Laid down: 30 October 1754

Launched: 5 May 1757

Fate: Sold to be broken up, 1785

• HMS Dorsetshire

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Ordered: 15 January 1754

Laid down: 22 June 1754

Launched: 13 December 1757

Fate: Broken up, 1775

• HMS Boyne

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 13 May 1758

Laid down: 9 August 1758

Launched: 31 May 1766

Fate: Broken up, 1783

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 (1993) The Sailing Navy List. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-617-5
• Winfield, Rif (2007) British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1714 – 1792. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-295-5