HMS Intrepid was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, originally built in Toulon for the French Navy and launched in 1740 under the name Sérieux. She was constructed with a length of approximately 47.10 meters (154 feet 6 inches) at the gun deck, a beam of about 12.99 meters (42 feet 7 inches), and a draught ranging from 6.50 to 6.74 meters. Her tonnage was 1,286 bm, and she was designed to carry a crew of around 400 men during wartime, later increasing to 460. Her armament consisted of twenty-six 24-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty-eight 12-pounders on the upper deck, six 6-pounders on the quarterdeck, and four 12-pounders on the forecastle. Sérieux participated in notable early battles, including the Battle of Toulon in 1744, where she was part of a Franco-Spanish fleet attempting to break a British blockade. She was involved in a skirmish during this engagement, exchanging fire with British ships. In 1747, she was captured by the British at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre after being outnumbered and outmaneuvered by the Royal Navy fleet. Sailed to Portsmouth, she was surveyed and purchased by the Admiralty, renamed HMS Intrepid, and refitted at a cost exceeding £10,000. During her service, HMS Intrepid played a significant role in the Mediterranean, where she was heavily damaged at the Battle of Minorca in 1756, suffering 45 casualties, and was temporarily reduced to a 60-gun fourth rate. She participated in key battles such as the Battle of Lagos and the decisive Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759, aiding in British victories during the Seven Years’ War. She also crossed the Atlantic in 1761, engaging in the West Indies Campaign, including the Siege of Havana in 1762. After a distinguished career, she was decommissioned and broken up at Chatham in 1765. The vessel's service reflects her importance in 18th-century naval warfare, particularly in her engagements that contributed to British dominance at sea during her era.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.