The Queen by Derek Gardner.

The name Queen is one of the oldest in the Royal Navy and dates back to a Great Ship of the reign of Henry III (1216-1272) The ship shown here was a powerful three decker, launched on the Thames in 1769. When built she carried ninety guns, but like certain other Second Rates of her class, additional guns were mounted in the early 1780s and it was as a 98 that she fought at both the second Battle of Ushant in 1781 and at the Glorious 1st of June in 1794. At the First of June she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Alan Gardner. In this action the ship was badly cut up in Lord Howes fleet, Captain John Hutt being among those killed. In the years following Trafalgar the need for large numbers of big three deckers with their heavy demands on manpower grew less and the Queen was taken in hand in 1811 and cut down to become a two-decker of 74 guns. She was finally broken up in 1821 at the age of 52.

Signed limited edition of 850 prints.

Image size 7 inches x 4 inches (18cm x 10cm)