| 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.