London class ship of the line

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Class overview

Name:	London
Operators:	Royal Navy
Preceded by:	Sandwich-class
Succeeded by:	Barfleur-class
In service:	24 May 1769 - 1839
Completed:	4
Lost:	1
General characteristics
Type:	Ship of the line
Length:	177 ft 6 in (54.1 m) (gundeck) 146 ft 6 in (44.7 m) (keel)
Beam:	49 ft (15 m)
Propulsion:	Sails
Armament:	90 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Middle gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 12 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdrs 98 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs Middle gundeck: 30 × 18 pdrs Upper gundeck: 30 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 8 × 12 pdrs Forecastle: 2 × 12 pdrs
Notes:	Ships in class include: London, Prince, Impregnable, Windsor Castle

The London class ships of the line were a class of four second rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir Thomas Slade.

[edit] Design

The first ship of the class, London, was a 90-gun ship. When the second batch of three ships was ordered several years later, they were specified as being 98-gun ships. This was achievable without significant modifications to the design thanks to the earlier practice of not arming second rate quarterdecks, thus allowing for the addition of 4 guns per side.