Sussex 1693

Launched in 1693, this 80 gun Third rate represented excellence in fighting and sailing quality's. Built as part of a new class of 80 gun ships to take up the challenge of the larger French two deckers, Sussex and her sister's were some of the largest two decker's afloat in the 1690's and early 1700's, weighing over 1,200 Tons BM and rated for a crew of 490 Men and boys.

13 of these 80 gun ships were built during the last ten years of the 17th century, built to longer lengths than previous english fighting ships, they were faster and more well regarded sailor's but like their French contemporary's their length led to hull strength problems after long months or years at sea, causing timbers to work and leaks to form, this was common among ships that were longer than usual, while France continued to build longer two decker's into the 18th century, the Royal Navy required sturdier ships for longer and more rigorous voyage's and blockade duty's thus by the 1710s the Royal Navy added a third deck to their 80 gun ships which added strength and increased the longevity of this class of ships.

Sussex herself was wrecked in a severe storm in 1694, and her loss was partially blamed on her new design, but her design aside, 11 other warships were lost in that same storm including a 70 gun ship and a 60 ship, both are tried and tested types of ship in that time period, it is my opinion that the storm that sank Sussex, would have sunk the best of any design that night.