HMS Vanguard was a 90-gun second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, constructed at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched in 1678. As a second-rate vessel, Vanguard was designed to carry a substantial armament suitable for fleet actions, featuring a robust build consistent with the naval standards of the late 17th century. Her dimensions and specific construction details are not provided in the source, but her classification indicates a large, heavily armed ship intended for battle line duties. During her service, HMS Vanguard participated in significant naval engagements. In 1690, she ran aground on Goodwin Sands but was fortunate to be salvaged by the boatmen of Deal. She later took part in the Battle of Barfleur as part of Edward Russell’s fleet, a major engagement during the War of the Grand Alliance. Following this, she was involved in the subsequent action at La Hougue in 1692, during which French ships were burned, marking her role in critical naval operations of that period. In 1703, Vanguard sank during the Great Storm while laid up in ordinary at Chatham Dockyard. The ship was subsequently raised in 1704 and underwent rebuilding. She was relaunched on 2 August 1710 as a 90-gun second rate, constructed according to the 1706 Establishment, which standardized ship designs for the Royal Navy. Later, in 1739, she was renamed HMS Duke and underwent a second rebuild at Woolwich, again as a 90-gun second rate, according to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. This rebuilding process extended her operational life and modernized her design. As HMS Duke, she saw action during the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759 under Captain Samuel Graves, with a complement of approximately 800 crew members. This battle was a decisive engagement during the Seven Years' War, establishing her as a vessel of significant maritime importance. HMS Duke was ultimately broken up in 1769, ending her service career. Her history reflects the evolution of naval technology and tactics during her nearly century-long service life.

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