Breda 1692

by Sir Edward Pellew · 2026-09-15 · Maps

Launched in 1692, Breda was an example of a standard 70 Gun Third Rate, a class that had formed the backbone of the Royal Navy since the 1660s, but by the 1690s 70 Gun ships had started to become secondary Third Rates, newer 80 Gun two deckers were becoming the premier Third Rate fielded by the Royal Navy, although 70s were still powerful and were no joke in the line of battle, 70s proved still very effective and led them to still be produced in large numbers until the 1750s when both 70 and 80 Gun ships were replaced by new 74 gun ships. Breda herself weighed in at 1,094 Tons BM, Armed with 24-12-6-3 lbs Guns and Rated for 460 Men and Boys, with a sleek lean profilen Breda represented what a 70 gun ship meant in being a practical, durable and efficient ship. Commissioned in 1692, Breda served at the Battle of Barfleur when she was still fresh enough to smell her paint, next she served under Commodore George Mees, where she made some captures before the end of the War in 1697. Recommissioned under Admiral John Benbow, she was sent with a force to the West Indies to counter a force there by French Admiral DuCasse, Benbow made every attempt to engage and destroy DuCasse's ships, but