Class overview | |
---|---|
Operators: | Royal Navy |
Preceded by: | Bonetta class |
Succeeded by: | Alderney class |
Built: | 1755-1756 |
In commission: | 1756-1780 |
Completed: | 2 |
Lost: | 1 |
General characteristics (common design) | |
Type: | Sloop-of-war |
Tons burthen: | 223 62⁄94 bm |
Length: |
|
Beam: | 24 ft 3 in (7.4 m) |
Depth of hold: | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
Sail plan: | Snow rig |
Complement: | 100 |
Armament: |
|
The Hunter class was a class of two sloops of wooden construction built for the Royal Navy between 1755 and 1756. Both were built by contract with commercial builders to a common design prepared by Thomas Slade, the Surveyor of the Navy.
Both were ordered on 5 August 1755, and contracts with the builders were agreed on 8 August. They were two-masted (snow-rigged) vessels, although the Hunter was built with a 'pink' or very narrow stern (and a keel 3 feet longer than the original design), while her sister Viper had a traditional 'square' stern.
Hunter was captured by two American privateers off Boston on 23 November 1775, but was retaken by HMS Greyhound the following day.