HMS Royal Oak was a notable third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched in 1674 and serving for nearly a century. Constructed by Jonas Shish at Deptford, she was originally armed with 74 guns, making her a formidable vessel of her time. She was distinguished as one of only three Royal Navy ships equipped with the Rupertinoe naval gun, a notable feature in her armament. Her early service included cruising in the Mediterranean Sea in 1679, an experience documented in the diary of Henry Teonge. The ship underwent significant rebuilds during her service life. In 1690, she was reconstructed at Chatham Dockyard as a 70-gun third rate. She participated in key naval battles, including the Battle of Vélez-Málaga in 1704, serving in the centre division of the combined English-Dutch fleet under Admiral George Rooke. A second rebuild occurred at Woolwich Dockyard, completed in 1713, where she was relaunched as a 70-gun vessel built according to the 1706 Establishment. During this period, Royal Oak engaged in actions such as the fight against Forbin's squadron in 1707 and the Battle at The Lizard. Further rebuilding was ordered in 1737, and she was relaunched in 1741 following extensive work by Peirson Lock, this time adhering to the 1733 proposals of the 1719 Establishment. Under Captain Philip Vincent, she was assigned to the Mediterranean, participating in the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718 under Admiral Sir George Byng. Her command later changed hands through several captains, including Edmund Willams, Charles Long, and James Hodsall. In 1756, Royal Oak was converted into a prison ship at Plymouth, where she was involved in a notorious incident in 1759, involving the brutal death of a French prisoner. The vessel was ultimately broken up in 1763, ending her long and active career as a significant Royal Navy warship.

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