Repulse-class ship of the line

The Repulse-class ships of the line were a class of eleven 74-gun third rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir William Rule. The first three ships to this design were ordered in 1800, with a second batch of five following in 1805. The final three ships of the class were ordered towards the end of the Napoleonic War to a modified version of Rule's draught, using the new constructional system created by Sir Robert Seppings; all three were completed after the war's end.

HMS Venerable fighting the French frigate Alcmène on 16 January 1814
Class overview
Name	Repulse
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Fame class
Succeeded by	Swiftsure class
In service	11 December 1802 - 1926
Completed	11
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	174 ft (53.0 m) (gundeck) 143 ft 2 in (43.6 m) (keel)
Beam	47 ft 4 in (14.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	74 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 9 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 9 pdrs
Notes	Ships in class include: Sceptre, Repulse, Eagle, Magnificent, Valiant, Elizabeth, Cumberland, Venerable, Talavera, Malabar, Belleisle

Ships

• HMS Sceptre

Builder: Dudman, Deptford Wharf

Ordered: 4 February 1800

Laid down: December 1800

Launched: 11 December 1802

Fate: Broken up, 1821

• HMS Repulse

Builder: Barnard, Deptford Wharf

Ordered: 4 February 1800

Laid down: September 1800

Launched: 22 July 1803

Fate: Broken up, 1820

• HMS Eagle

Builder: Pitcher, Northfleet

Ordered: 4 February 1800

Laid down: August 1800

Launched: 27 February 1804

Fate: Burnt, 1926

• HMS Magnificent

Builder: Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall Yard

Ordered: 31 January 1805

Laid down: April 1805

Launched: 30 August 1806

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1843

• HMS Valiant

Builder: Perry, Wells & Green, Blackwall

Ordered: 24 January 1805

Laid down: April 1805

Launched: 24 January 1807

Fate: Broken up, 1823

• HMS Elizabeth

Builder: Wells, Blackwall

Ordered: 24 January 1805

Laid down: August 1805

Launched: 23 May 1807

Fate: Broken up, 1820

• HMS Cumberland

Builder: Pitcher, Northfleet

Ordered: 24 January 1805

Laid down: August 1805

Launched: 19 August 1807

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1870

• HMS Venerable

Builder: Pitcher, Northfleet

Ordered: 24 January 1805

Laid down: December 1805

Launched: 12 April 1808

Fate: Broken up, 1838

• HMS Talavera

Builder: Woolwich Dockyard

Ordered: 15 February 1814

Laid down: July 1814

Launched: 15 October 1818

Fate: Burnt, 1840

• HMS Malabar

Builder: Bombay Dockyard

Ordered: 7 March 1815

Laid down: April 1817

Launched: 28 December 1818

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1905

• HMS Belleisle

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 17 November 1812

Laid down: February 1816

Launched: 26 April 1819

Fate: Broken up, 1872

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.
• Winfield, Rif (2008) British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.