Essex-class ship of the line

The Essex-class ships of the line were a class of two 64-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade.

Essex (1760), Africa (1761)
Class overview
Name	Essex class
Operators	Royal Navy
Succeeded by	St Albans class
In service	28 August 1760–1799
Completed	2
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	158 ft (48 m) (gundeck) 129 ft 9 in (39.55 m) (keel)
Beam	44 ft 2 in (13.46 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	64 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24-pounders Upper gundeck: 26 × 18-pounders Quarterdeck: 10 × 4-pounders Forecastle: 2 × 9-pounders

Ships

• HMS Essex

Builder: Wells and Stanton, Rotherhithe

Ordered: 31 January 1759

Launched: 28 August 1760

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1799

• HMS Africa

Builder: Perry, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 31 January 1759

Launched: 1 August 1761

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1774

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.