HMS Kent (1679)

HMS "Kent" was a 70-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Blackwall in 1679. She was the second ship of the name.

Her first action was as part of the Anglo-Dutch fleet at the Battle of Barfleur, it was the start of a very successful career. She gained four Battle Honours fighting the French and Spanish in the Mediterranean in more celebrated victories than any other ship of the same name to date. She was at the Battle of Vigo in 1702, which ended in a decisive victory, wiping out a fleet of 17 French and 17 Spanish ships. She fought at the Battle of Vélez-Málaga to defend Gibraltar in 1707, in what turned out to be an expensive victory. In 1718, she was part of the Viscount Torrington's fleet in the defence of Sicily. Her last action was in 1744, when she bombarded the Spanish at Santiago da Cuba in the West Indies. [cite web|url=http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.1523|title=History of HMS Kent]

She underwent her first rebuild at Rotherhithe in 1699, retaining her armament of 70 guns. On 16 February 1722 she was ordered to be taken to pieces and rebuilt at Woolwich as a 70-gun third rate to the 1719 Establishment. She was relaunched on 19 September 1724.

"Kent" was broken up in 1744.

Notes

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.