Post ship was a designation used in the
Royal Navy during the second half of the 18th century and the
Napoleonic Wars to describe a ship of the
sixth rate (see
rating system of the Royal Navy) that was smaller than a
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
(in practice, carrying fewer than 28 guns), but by virtue of being a rated ship (with at least 20 guns), had to have as its captain a
post captain rather than a
lieutenant or
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
. Thus ships with 20 to 26 guns were post ships, though this situation changed after 1817. (See “1817 changes” in
rating system of the Royal Navy.)
Sea officers often referred to the post ships as frigates though technically the Admiralty scrupulously never described them as such. The vessels were frigate-built, with traditional
quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is a raised deck behind the main mast of a sailing ship. Traditionally it was where the captain commanded his vessel and where the ship's colours were kept. This led to its use as the main ceremonial and reception area on bo ...
s and
forecastles (the defining characteristic of post ships, distinguishing them from 20-gun ship-sloops), but, unlike true frigates, they lacked an
orlop platform amidships. They had a high centre of gravity, which made them slow and unweatherly, but they were seaworthy. In peacetime the Royal Navy frequently used them as substitutes for frigates, especially in distant foreign stations. In wartime their slowness meant they were used mostly as convoy escorts.
Unlike other uses of the term "
ship" during this era, "post ship" in itself implies nothing as regards the
rig
Rig may refer to:
Objects and structures
* Rig (fishing), an arrangement of items used for fishing
* Drilling rig, a structure housing equipment used to drill or extract oil from underground
* Rig (stage lighting)
* rig, a horse-drawn carriage ...
of the vessel; however, all sixth rates were in practice
ship-rigged, i.e. were square-rigged on three masts.
For an example of a post ship, see
HMS ''Camilla''. She was one of ten
''Sphinx''-class post ships built during the 1770s.
The United States Navy termed ships of this type "third-class frigates."
Sources
*Winfield, Rif ''British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1603-1714'', Barnsley (2009) ; ''British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1714-1792'', Barnsley (2007) ; ''British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1793-1817'', (2nd edition) Barnsley (2008). ; ''British Warships in the Age of Sail: 1817-1863'', Barnsley (2014) {{ISBN, 978-1-84832-169-4.
*Winfield, Rif (2005) ''
British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 - 1817''. (London: Chatham), p. 226.
* Davy Lyon, ''The Sailing Navy List - all the Ships of the Royal Navy 1688-1860'', Conway Maritime Press, London 1993.
History of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy Post-ships