HMS Berwick was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, constructed at Chatham Dockyard between 1677 and 1679 under the guidance of Master Shipwright Phineas Pett. Launched in May 1679, the vessel measured approximately 150 feet 10 inches in length on the gundeck, with a beam of 40 feet 2 inches, and a depth of hold of 17 feet. Her keel length was 121 feet 4 inches for tonnage calculation, and her builder’s measure tonnage was about 1,041 tons. The ship’s draught was 17 feet, allowing it to operate effectively in various maritime environments. Initially, HMS Berwick was armed according to the 1677 Establishment, carrying 70 guns, including twenty-six demi-cannons on the lower deck, twenty-four 12-pounder guns on the upper deck, ten sakers on the quarterdeck, four sakers on the forecastle, and four 3-pounder guns on the poop deck or roundhouse. Her complement ranged from 300 to 460 personnel, reflecting the needs of a ship of her size and armament. Her service record began with commissioning in 1689 under Captain Edward Stanley, participating actively in the naval conflicts of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Notably, she fought at the Battle of Beachy Head (1689), the Battle of Barfleur (1692), and off Cherbourg and La Hogue (1692). During the War of Spanish Succession, she was part of significant engagements including the Battle of Vigo Bay (1702), the Capture of Gibraltar (1704), and the Battle of Velez Malaga (1704), where she sustained casualties of 23 killed and 24 wounded. She served under various captains, including John Leake, Richard Edwards, and Thomas Lisle, operating primarily in the Mediterranean, the English Channel, and off the coast of Portugal. In 1700, HMS Berwick underwent a rebuild at Deptford, slightly altering her dimensions but retaining her core armament. After her active service, she was placed in Ordinary in 1712 and later converted into a hulk at Portsmouth in 1715. The vessel was eventually broken up in 1742. Throughout her career, HMS Berwick earned battle honours for her participation at Barfleur, Vigo, Gibraltar, and Velez Malaga, marking her as a vessel of notable maritime significance 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.