HMS James was a notable second rank ship of the line in the English Royal Navy, launched in 1634. Constructed at Deptford Dockyard by the shipbuilder Phineas Pett II, she was originally armed with 48 guns, reflecting her classification as a vessel designed for line-of-battle tactics. Over time, her armament was increased to 60 guns, indicating her evolving role and the demands of naval warfare during that period. The ship’s most significant period of service coincided with the Restoration of the English monarchy in 1660. Following this political transition, the vessel underwent a renaming; the 70-gun ship Richard was renamed Royal James, and the original James became known as Old James. This renaming underscores her continued importance within the fleet and her association with the royal navy's evolving fleet hierarchy. Old James served for several decades before being sold out of the navy in 1682, marking the end of her active service. Although specific details about her operational history, battles, or notable voyages are not provided, her classification and longevity suggest she was an integral part of the naval forces during a formative period of English maritime history. In summary, HMS James was a significant 17th-century English ship of the line, distinguished by her construction at Deptford, her initial armament of 48 guns later increased to 60, and her involvement in the naval reorganization during the Restoration. Her service life reflects the maritime developments of her era, and her legacy is part of the broader evolution of the Royal Navy’s fleet composition during the 17th century.

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