| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |
|
| Preceded by: | Hunter class |
| Built: | 1755-1757 |
| In commission: | 1756-1783 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| General characteristics (common design) | |
| Type: | Sloop-of-war |
| Tons burthen: | 230 64⁄94 bm |
| Length: |
|
| Beam: | 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) (vessels without platform in hold) |
| Sail plan: | Snow rig (initially - see text) |
| Complement: | 100 |
| Armament: |
|
The Alderney class was a class of three sloops of wooden construction built for the Royal Navy between 1755 and 1757. All three were built by contract with commercial builders to a common design prepared by William Bately, the Surveyor of the Navy.
The first two - Stork and Alderney - were ordered on 14 November 1755, and another vessel to the same design - Diligence - were ordered three months later, on 23 February 1756. All were begun as two-masted (snow-rigged) vessels, and the trio were all assigned names on 25 May 1756, but the first two were actually completed as three-masted ("ship-rigged") vessels.