HMS Victory, a 42-gun great ship of the English Royal Navy, was launched in 1620. It played a prominent role in the English Civil War and the Anglo-Dutch Wars under various commanders. The ship underwent several reconstructions and upgrades over the years, including a significant rebuild in 1666 after being damaged in a storm. Victory participated in the Battle of Solebay in 1672 and later served as a flagship for several admirals. During the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690, Victory was captured by the French and incorporated into the French Navy as the Victoire. However, it was recaptured by the British in 1692 and returned to service as HMS Victory. The ship continued to see action in various conflicts, including the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1744, Victory was rebuilt as a first-rate ship of the line with 100 guns. It became Admiral George Anson's flagship during the Seven Years' War and played a crucial role in the Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1747. The ship was decommissioned in 1768 and used as a floating battery before being broken up in 1782. HMS Victory's legacy lives on as a museum ship in Portsmouth, England, where it serves as a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of British naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.