HMS Sussex 1693

Sussex was built as part of the 1691 Programme of 80 gun two deckers, they were designed by john tippets who followed the French doctrine of building warships, this was to build longer and sleeker warships, they were fast and powerful but showed signs of hogging.
the ships of the 1691 programme often would flex and work themselves apart at the seams, this wasn't as much of a problem for french ships because they weren't as likely to spend as much time on long voyages and or be at sea for months or years.

The 80 gun two decker in this period wasn't developed enough to see hard use in the royal navy in which commissions often lasted months to years
for which a stiff rugged two decker was needed. The warping and twisting of the 80 gun two deckers meant that on long voyages they would wearout far faster and would need much more time in drydock and cost more for maintenance than their 70 gun counterparts, the 70 gun third rate was to fill this role and later the 74, the royal navy did not build another 80 gun two decker for another century with the construction of HMS caesar 1793 and foudroyant 1798.

Sussex was built in early 1693 and commissioned under Sir Francis Wheler on December 27th 1693 as the pride of the royal navy,
she served with great fleet in her short time but lost in a great storm in 1694, there was about ten tons of gold onboard when she sunk which would be a fortune today.

thanks for viewing.