HMS Exeter (1680) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
England
Name	HMS Exeter
Ordered	20 February 1678
Builder	Sir Henry Johnson of Blackwall
Launched	March 1680
Commissioned	8 June 1679
Reclassified	Hulked at Portsmouth, 1691
Fate	Accidentally burnt at Plymouth, Broken at Portsmouth in 1717
General characteristics as built
Class and type	70-gun third rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,03188⁄94 tons (bm)
Length	150 ft 2 in (45.77 m) gundeck 120 ft 0 in (36.58 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	40 ft 2.5 in (12.26 m)
Draught	18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft 9.5 in (5.12 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	1677 Establishment 70/62 guns 26 x demi-cannons (54 cwt - 9.5 ft (LD) 26 x 12-pdr guns 32 cwt - 9 ft (UD) 10 x sakers 16 cwt - 7 ft (QD) 4 x sakers 16 cwt - 7 ft (Fc) 5 x 5 3-pdr guns 5 cwt - 5 ft (RH)

HMS Exeter was a powerful warship from the Kingdom of England. She was a "ship of the line," which means she was a large warship designed to fight in a line formation during naval battles. She had 70 guns!

This ship was built by Sir Henry Johnson in Blackwall, London. She was involved in the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690. Sadly, she was accidentally burned in 1691. Her remains were kept at Portsmouth until 1717, when she was finally taken apart. HMS Exeter was the very first ship in the English and Royal Navy to carry this name.

Building a Mighty Warship

The order to build HMS Exeter was given on February 20, 1678. Sir Henry Johnson was chosen to build her. She was officially launched in March 1680.

Ship's Size and Features

HMS Exeter was a big ship for her time.

• She was about 150 feet 2 inches (45.77 metres) long on her main gun deck.
• Her width was about 40 feet 2.5 inches (12.26 metres).
• The ship sat about 18 feet 0 inches (5.49 metres) deep in the water.
• She weighed over 1,000 tons.

Armament: How Many Guns?

When first built, HMS Exeter was designed to carry 72 guns. These guns were placed on different decks:

• The lower deck had 26 large guns called demi-cannons.
• The upper deck had 26 12-pounder guns.
• The quarterdeck had 10 smaller guns called sakers.
• The front part of the ship (foc'x'le) had 4 more sakers.
• There were also 4 small 3-pounder guns on the poop deck.

By 1688, the ship carried 70 guns. She needed a crew of about 460 sailors and officers to operate her.

Life at Sea: Commissioned Service

HMS Exeter began her service on June 8, 1679. Her first commander was Captain John Perryman. Later, Captain Lawrence Wright and Captain Mathew Tennant took command.

Battle of Beachy Head

This image shows the Battle of Beachy Head on July 10, 1690. HMS Exeter was part of the blue squadron, fighting against the French fleet.

In 1690, Captain George Mees was in charge of HMS Exeter. She played a part in the famous Battle of Beachy Head on June 30, 1690. This was a major naval battle between the English and Dutch fleets against the French navy.

The End of HMS Exeter

Sadly, HMS Exeter's active service ended suddenly. She was accidentally burned at Plymouth on September 12, 1691. Her damaged remains were kept at Portsmouth for many years. Finally, in 1717, the ship was broken up for good.