64-gun ship

The 64-gun ship of the line was a type of two-decker warship defined during the 18th century, named after the number of their guns.

During the reign of Louis XV, standardisation efforts were undertaken to rationalise the design and construction of these ships, with a common armament of 24-pounder, 12-pounder, and 8-pounder long guns.

The first 64-gun in this sense was Borée, launched in 1734 and pierced with 13 gun ports on each side of her lower battery.

British ships had a slightly heavier broadside, as they typically carried 18-pounders on their upper gundeck, while the French would usually have 12-pounders.

The British built 43, and maintained production a while longer, as 64-guns were useful for escorting merchant convoys.