Temple-class ship of the line

The Temple class ships were two 68-gun third rates designed for the Royal Navy to the lines of the Vanguard of 1748, i.e. to the outdated 1745 Establishment. The Temple class ships were the last 68-gun ships to be built - both by commercial contract - to the draught specified by that specification.

Design and development

The Temple class were the final 68-gun ships built to the 1745 Establishment. They measured on the gundeck and on the keel. They had a beam of and a depth of hold of. The ship had a tonnage of 1,422 tons burthen. The armament of the ships consisted of twenty six 32-pounder guns on the main gun deck and eighteen 18-pounder guns on the gun deck above that. On their forecastle, they mounted two 9-pounder guns, with twelve more mounted on the quarterdeck. Their crew numbered 520 officers and ratings. They were equipped with a full ship rig.