Barfleur 1697

In 1695 the Admiralty of the Royal Navy placed an order for four 2nd Rate Ships of the Line, which would become Association, Namur, Triumph and Barfleur all bearing 90 Guns, Barfleur would become one of the larger of the four near sister's, measuring 162' on her gundeck and 46' on her beam. The ship would Weigh in as 1,476 Tons BM and be crewed by a complement of 680 Men and Boys. Barfleur when brand new was considered a high end 2nd Rate and was equal in size to 1st Rate ships of 100 Guns from just a few years previous to her Launch in 1697.

This 90 Gun ship would be the first fighting vessel in the Royal Navy to bear the name H.M.S Barfleur, a name that would go on to hold distinct reputation in the service for being distinguished in combat.

Launched in August 1697, Barfleur was immediately laid up in Ordinary during the peace after King William's War, but by 1701 the War of Spanish Succession had kicked off and she and the majority of the Royal Navy commissioned and put to sea. Barfleur was soon found in hot action against the French Fleet at Vigo Bay, where an English and Dutch Fleet destroyed a French fleet of 15 ships guarding Vigo Bay, Barfleur Distinguished herself starting a legendary namesakes battle honor list. Next in 1704 Barfleur found herself engaged at the Battle of Malaga, the battle was a hotly contested in which heavy casualties were suffered on both sides the Anglo-Dutch Fleet suffered slightly more losses of men than the French Fleet but managed to drived the french into port where they would remain for the rest of the War, tho there were no ships lost on either side, the end result was that the French would not seriously challenge the Allied fleet again during the War.

In the aftermath of The Battle of Malaga, the need for a large number of heavy fighting ships in active service was drastically reduced and Barfleur would be Laid up again by 1706, she would remain in ordinary until 1713, when the Admiralty decided that Barfleur had reached the end of her practical use, having aged and become unfit for duty she was ordered to be broken up and rebuilt, ending her 16 years with the Royal Navy.