HMS Suffolk (1680)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Suffolk.

History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Suffolk
Ordered	20 February 1678
Builder	Sir Henry Johnson, Blackwall Yard
Launched	May 1680
Commissioned	11 August 1680
Fate	Broken up, 1765
General characteristics as built
Class and type	70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,041
Length	150 ft 10 in (46.0 m) (gundeck) 121 ft 4 in (37.0 m) (keel)
Beam	40 ft 2 in (12.2 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft 9.5 in (5.1 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1699 rebuild
Class and type	70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,075
Length	151 ft 4 in (46.1 m) (gundeck) 124 ft 0 in (37.8 m) (keel)
Beam	40 ft 4.5 in (12.3 m)
Depth of hold	16 ft 7.5 in (5.1 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns of various weights of shot
General characteristics after 1718 rebuild
Class and type	1706 Establishment 70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,129
Length	151 ft 4 in (46.1 m) (gundeck) 125 ft 3 in (38.2 m) (keel)
Beam	41 ft 2 in (12.5 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 4 in (5.3 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs
General characteristics after 1739 rebuild
Class and type	1733 proposals 70-gun third-rate ship of the line
Tons burthen	1,224
Length	151 ft 0 in (46.0 m) (gundeck) 122 ft 1 in (37.2 m) (keel)
Beam	43 ft 5 in (13.2 m)
Depth of hold	17 ft 9 in (5.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	70 guns: Gundeck: 26 × 24 pdrs Upper gundeck: 26 × 12 pdrs Quarterdeck: 14 × 6 pdrs Forecastle: 4 × 6 pdrs

HMS Suffolk was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built by contract of 20 February 1678 by Sir Henry Johnson at his Blackwall Yard and launched in May 1680. Suffolk was commanded by Captain Wolfran Cornwall at the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, and by Captain Christopher Billopp at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692.

She was rebuilt by Johnson at Blackwall in 1699, and took part in the Battle of Vélez-Málaga in 1704. She was rebuilt for a second time at Chatham Dockyard, from where she was relaunched on 13 November 1718 as a 70-gun third rate to the 1706 Establishment.

On 3 December 1735 she was ordered to be taken to pieces for her final rebuild, which was carried out at Woolwich Dockyard. She was reconstructed as a 70-gun third rate according to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment, and relaunched on 5 March 1739. The Suffolk was part of Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon's fleet and took part in the expedition to Cartagena de Indias and the attacks to La Guayra and Puerto Cabello during the War of Jenkins' Ear. Suffolk was broken up in 1765.

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.