Three ships of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

have borne the name HMS ''Preston'': * HMS ''Preston'' was a 40-gun ship launched in 1653 as ''Preston''. She was renamed HMS ''Antelope'' in 1660 and was sold in 1693. * HMS ''Preston'' was 48-gun

fourth rate In 1603 all English warships with a compliment of fewer than 160 men were known as 'small ships'. In 1625/26 to establish pay rates for officers a six tier naval ship rating system was introduced.Winfield 2009 These small ships were divided i ...

launched in 1698 as HMS ''Salisbury''. She was captured by the French in 1703, retaken in 1708 and renamed HMS ''Preston'' in 1716. She was rebuilt in 1742, hulked in 1748 and broken up in 1749. * was a 50-gun fourth rate launched in 1757. She was converted to a

sheer hulk A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea. Hulk may be used to describe a ship that has been launched but not completed, an abandoned wreck or shell, or to refer to an old ship that has had its rigging or internal equipment ...

in 1785 and was broken up in 1815.

See also