List of corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy

This is a list of sixth rate, corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy.

In the Age of Sail ships were divided into six ranks in 1626 to govern pay rates for officers in 1626. Until the 1840s when steam power was being introduced this system was in place, The vessels classed as six rates were used in trade protection and at times could be used as scouts for the fleet (a task normally associated with Fifth rates). The rules governing the classification of Six rates would change until the mid 18th Century when it was formally established based on ship size armament and crew size. In 1626 a sixth rate was categorized as a ship having a crew size of 40 to 50 men. In 1653 the was changed to at least 40 up to a maximum of 79 men. By the end of the 1600s crew size had grown to over 100 men with a flush deck battery of guns firing six pound projectiles. A sixth rate after the Restoration in 1660 would carry up to 24 guns, though 18 to 20 was more of a standard. By the 1750s sixth rates would carry up to 28 guns (though it would less than 30).Winfield 2009

With the advent of steam assisted and steam powered vessels the term six rate was replaced by the term sloop as an official type of ship in the Royal Navy. The term Corvette, adopted from the French was not adopted as an official ship type until 1862. This only lasted until 1888 when it was replaced by the term Third Class Cruiser. The term sloop returned in the First World War for vessels dedicated for convoy escort. It remained in use until the 1960s. The term corvette did not reappear as an official ship type until just before the start of the Second World War as a convoy escort vessel and is still used in some navies today.

Note that vessels captured from other countries and incorporated into the Royal Navy were rated in accordance with the ship rating classification.

Corvette classes

Late 17th-century Sixth Rate groups

* Anthony Deane group. All designed by the notable Master Shipwright.
** , built as a yacht – made into a harbour craft 1692.
** , 16 guns – sold 1683.
** , 16 guns – wrecked 1684.
** (rebuilt as a fireship in 1668), 12 guns – expended in 1672.
** , 16 guns as rebuilt 1673, captured and burnt by the French 1696.
** , 16 guns – sold 1698.
** , 18 guns – sold 1698.
* '' Maidstone Group'' — 18 ships, guns 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1693–1697
** – sold 1714.
** – renamed ''Margate'' 1698, wrecked 1707.
** – wrecked 1696.
** – captured by the French 1696.
** – captured by the French 1696, retaken 1703 and broken up.
** – sold 1719.
** – foundered 1707.
** – wrecked 1694.
** – wrecked 1709.
** – wrecked 1704.
** – wrecked 1699.
** – sold 1713.
** – sunk as a breakwater 1714.
** – renamed ''Newport'' 1698, sold 1714.
** – sold 1714.
** – captured by the French 1705 and scuttled.
** – rebuilt in 1722.
** – captured by the French 1706.
* (Purchased from builder in 1695), with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. – captured by the French 1697.

18th-century (1700–51) Sixth Rate Groups

* ''Peregrine Galley'' — 1 ship, with 16 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1700
* '' Nightingale Group'' — 3 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1702–1704
** – taken by the French 1707, retaken and renamed ''Fox'' 1708, rebuilt in 1724.
** – taken by the French 1703.
** – taken by the French 1706, retaken 1708 and foundered.
* ''Ex-French Prizes 1704 - 1709''
**
**
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**
**
**
**
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**
**
* Purchased Group — 3 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1706–1707
** – broken up 1727 and rebuilt under same name
** – sold 1716.
** – rebuilt under same name 1719 Establishment
* '' Flamborough Group'' — 2 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1707
** – dismantled for rebuilding in 1727.
** – broken up 1727.
* Ex-Scottish Acquisitions - 2 24-gun sixth rates
** - Ex ''Royal Mary'' of the Scottish Navy, sold 1719
** - taken by French 1708
* '' Gibraltar Group'' — 12 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1711–1716
** – sold 1748.
** – dismantle for rebuilding 1725 thru 1727.
** – broken up 1740.
** – foundered 1719.
** – wrecked 1721.
** – dismantled for rebuild 1727.
** – dismantled at Woolwich for rebuilding in 1722.
** – docked at Chatham for rebuilding in 1727.
** – sold 1743.
** – captured by Spain 1718, retaken 1719 and burnt.
** – broken up 1738.
** – converted to bomb-vessel 1719, wrecked 1720.
* ''Dursley Galley'' — 1 ship, with 20 x 6pdrs. 1719. Sold 1745
* '' 1719 Establishment Group'' — 20 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs. 1720–1727
** – ex-fifth rate, broken up 1739.
** – broken in 1741.
** – sold 1742.
** – ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
** – ex-fifth rate, sold 1739.
** – renamed ''Garland'', ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
** HMS Seaford – rebuild of and broken up 1740.
** – ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
** HMS Rose – rebuilt and sold 1744.
** HMS Deal Castle – rebuild of and sold 1746.
** HMS Fox – rebuild of renamed ''Fox'' in 1708, broken up 1738.
** HMS Gibraltar – rebuild of and sold 1749.
** HMS Bideford - rebuild of , foundered 1736.
** HMS Seahorse – rebuild of then sold 1748.
** HMS Squirrel – rebuild of , sold 1749.
** – sold 1744.
** HMS Aldborough – rebuild of and broken up 1742.
** HMS Flamborough – rebuild of and sold 1749.
** – ex-fifth rate, broken up 1738.
** – broken up 1735.
* '' Modified 1719 Establishment Group'' — 2 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs. 1732
** HMS Sheerness – rebuild of sold 1744.
** – renamed ''Firebrand'' 1755, then ''Penguin'' 1757, captured by French and burnt 1760.
* '' 1733 Establishment Group'' — 16 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1734–1742
** – broken up 1755.
** – broken up 1749.
** – foundered 1745.
** – broken up 1761.
** – foundered 1747.
** – wrecked 1744.
** – sold 1763.
** – sold 1750.
** – sold 1763.
** – sold 1749.
** – broken up 1779.
** – sold 1755.
** – broken up 1754.
** – wrecked 1743.
** – broken up 1754.
** – sold 1763.
* ''Modified 1733 Establishment'' Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1741
** – sold 1768.
** – sold 1763.
* ''1741 Establishment'' Group — 15 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1742–1746
** – sold 1749.
** – sold 1749.
** – sold 1749.
** – sold 1762.
** – sold 1768.
** – sold 1763.
** – sold 1758.
** – burnt to avoid capture 1758.
** – sold 1756.
** – burnt to avoid capture 1758.
** – broken up 1753.
** – sold 1770.
** – sold 1764.
** – wrecked 1751.
** – sold 1763.
* ''Modified 1741 Establishment'' Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746
** – sold 1761.
** – broken up 1754.
* purchase – sunk as a breakwater 1783.
* ''1745 Establishment'' Group — 7 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746–1751
** – sold 1761.
** – sold 1765.
** – foundered 1761.
** – burnt to avoid capture 1781.
** – sold 1784.
** – sold 1770.
** – broken up 1777.
* ''Modified 1745 Establishment'' Group — 1 ship, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1748
** – broken up 1752.
* – sold 1784.
* – bilged 1759 and abandoned 1760.

18th-century (1752–99) Sixth Rate Groups

* ''Gibraltar'' class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1754.
** – broken up 1773.
* ''Seaford'' class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1754.
** – 33 guns in 1780, sold 1784.
* — 10 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1775–1781.
** – sold 1783.
** – wrecked 1780.
* ''Bideford'' class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1756.
** – wrecked 1761.
* Later ''Gibraltar'' — 6 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1756.
** – sold 1772.
** – broken up 1777.
** – broken up 1774.
** – sold 1784.
** – wrecked 1777.
** – foundered 1780.
* Later ''Seaford'' — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1757.
** – sunk as blockship 1779.
** – burnt by accident 1779.
* — 10 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1775–1781.
** – broken up 1811.
** – sold 1831.
** – sold 1802.
** – broken up 1783.
** – sold 1814.
** – foundered 1777.
** – broken up 1805.
** – broken up 1787.
** – captured by the French 1779.
** – wrecked 1796.
* — 10 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1777–1781.
** – broken up 1805.
** – wrecked 1781.
** – broken up 1834.
** – sold 1802.
** – foundered 1780.
** – wrecked 1794.
** – wrecked 1784.
** – wrecked 1781.
** – wrecked 1791.
** – sold 1816.
* ''Myrmidon'' class — 1 ship, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1781.
** – broken up 1811.
* ''Squirrel'' class (of 1782 design) — 1 ship, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 x 6pdrs. 1785.
** – sold 1817.

19th-century sailing post ship (and subsequently corvette) classes

This section lists the 'post ships' of 20 to 24 guns (after 1817, up to 28 guns) which in the 1830s would be merged with the larger sloops to form the new category of corvette. From 1817 the upper limit (in terms of numbers of guns) would be raised to 28 guns.
* — 6 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1807
** – broken up 1816.
** – sold 1816.
** – broken up 1816.
** – captured 1815.
** – wrecked 1808.
** – sold 1816.
* — 6 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1812
** – wrecked 1807.
** – renamed ''Laurestinus'' 1810, wrecked 1813.
** – wrecked 1816.
** – sold 1817.
** – broken up 1850.
** – sold 1818.
* — 4 ships, 1811–1816
** – burnt in action 1814.
** – broken up 1823.
** – sold 1841.
** – broken up 1829.
* — 16 ships, 1813–1814
** – sold 1832.
** – sold 1823.
** – broken up 1820.
** – sold 1829.
** – wrecked 1820.
** – wrecked 1816.
** – broken up 1838.
** – wrecked 1819.
** – broken up 1848.
** – sold 1825.
** – sold 1828.
** – sold 1829.
** – sold 1822.
** – broken up 1822.
** – sold 1827.
** – sold 1828.
* — 10 ships, 1814–1817
** – broken up 1852.
** – broken up 1833.
** – sold 1825.
** – sold 1837.
** – sold 1819.
** – broken up 1832.
** – broken up 1853.
** – sold 1825.
** – broken up 1852.
** – sold 1872.
* — 18 ships (of which 4 cancelled or re-ordered to other designs), 1820–1828
** – broken up 1863.
** – broken up 1828.
** – sold 1832.
** – broken up 1860.
** – broken up 1860.
** – sold 1852.
** – sold 1896.
** – sold 1838.
** – sold 1865.
** – renamed ''Herald'' 1824, sold 1862.
** – sold 1883.
** ''Andromeda'' (-) – re-ordered as ''Nimrod'' below
** – broken up 1849.
** – sold 1861.
** ''Alarm'' (-) – re-ordered as ''Conway'' class vessel
** ''Daphne'' (-) – cancelled 1832
** ''Porcupine'' (-) – cancelled 1832
** – sold 1907.
* — 1 ship, 1825
* — 1 ship, 1826
* — 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1832
** (originally ''Pearl'' – renamed before launch)
**
** ''Alarm'' (-) – cancelled 1832
* — 1 ship, 1826
* — 1 ship, 1826
* — 1 ship, 1831
* — 5 ships (of which the last 3 were re-ordered as the following ''Vestal'' class), 1832–1837
** – broken up 1883.
** – broken up 1875.
* — 3 ships, 1833–1836
** – sold 1862.
** – sold 1862.
** – sold 1861.
* — 8 ships (of which 2 cancelled), 1840–1845
** – sold 1862.
** – sold 1869.
** – renamed ''Mariner'' 1878, foundered 1880.
** – broken up 1875.
** – sold 1869.
** ''Niobe'' (-) – re-ordered as ''Diamond''-class vessel
** ''Malacca'' (-) – re-ordered as screw ship
** – sold 1904.
* — 1 ship, 1843
* — 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1848–1849
** – sold 1885.
** ''Tribune'' (-) – completed as a screw frigate.
** – sold 1862 to Prussian Navy.

19th-century screw corvettes

* — 2 ships, 1851–1854
** – broken up 1871.
** – broken up 1870.
* ''Pylades'' class — 1 ship, 1854
** – sold 1875.
* — 2 ships, 1854
** – sold 1875.
** – sold 1866.
* — 10 ships, 1855–1858
** – sold 1884.
** – broken up 1879.
** – broken up 1879.
** – broken up 1877.
** – sold 1882.
** – sold 1884.
** – broken up 1869.
** – hulked 1880, sold 1921.
** – broken up 1877.
** – training ship 1876, sold 1919.
* — 7 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1859–1863
** – broken up 1877.
** – broken up 1877.
** ''Galatea'' (-) – completed as a screw frigate.
** – wrecked 1863.
** – broken up 1866.
** – broken up 1882.
** – training ship 1881, sold 1923.
* — 10 ships, 1860 design – all cancelled
* — 2 ships, 1867–1869
** – sold 1887.
** – sold 1920.
* — 3 ships, 1869–1871
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* — 2 ships, 1869–1869
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* — 5 ships, 1873–1874
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* — 6 ships, 1875–1877
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* — 3 ships, 1875–1877
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* — 9 ships, 1878–1881
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* — 2 ships, 1883–1884
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World War II corvettes

After more than half a century, the category of corvette was revived during WW2 to describe a smaller form of escort vessel than the existing sloops. It was thus not comparable with the pre-1887 corvettes in the Royal Navy. Two classes of wartime corvette were designed and built in considerable numbers (see separate articles):

* — 267 ships, 1939–1945
* — 44 ships, 1943–1944

Sloop classes

Sloops (early single-masted type)

Note that early sloops were single-masted, including (initially) the ''Swift'', ''Jamaica'' and ''Hazard'' groups listed below for 1700–1711; however, all surviving sloops by 1716 had been re-rigged as two-masted, and all new sloops continued to be two-masted until the 1750s, when three-masted – ship-rigged – sloops were introduced.
* ''Swift'' group — 3 vessels, 1704
** ''Swift'' (1704) – sold 1719.
** ''Ferret'' (1704) – captured 1706 by French.
** ''Weazle'' (1704) – sold 1712.
* ''Jamaica'' group — 4 vessels, 1709–1711
** ''Jamaica'' (1709) – wrecked 1715.
** ''Trial'' (1709) – rebuilt 1719.
** ''Ferret'' (1711) – captured by Spanish 1718.
** ''Shark'' (1711) – rebuilt 1722.
* ''Hazard'' group — 2 vessels, 1711
** ''Hazard'' (1711) – wrecked 1714.
** ''Happy'' (1711) – rebuilt 1724–25.

Two-masted sloops (to 1732)

All early two-masted sloops were mainly either ketch-rigged or snow-rigged.

* ''Drake'' — 1 brig-rigged vessel, 1705 – rebuilt 1728
* ''Trial'' — 1 vessel, 1719 (rebuilt from 1709 vessel) – BU 1731.
* ''Bonetta'' group — 2 vessels, 1721
** ''Bonetta'' (1721) – sold 1731.
** ''Ferret'' (1721) – sold 1731.
* ''Otter'' group — 2 vessels, 1721
** ''Otter'' (1721) – wrecked 1742.
** ''Swift'' (1721) – sold 1741.
* ''Cruizer'' group — 4 vessels, 1721
** ''Cruizer'' (1721) – BU 1732.
** ''Weazle'' (1721) – sold 1732.
** ''Hawk'' (1721) – foundered 1739.
** ''Spy'' (1721) – sold 1731.
* ''Shark'' group — 2 vessels, 1723–1725
** ''Shark'' (1723) – sold 1732.
** ''Happy'' (1725) – sold 1735.
* ''Spence'' — 1 vessel, 1723 – BU 1730.
* ''Drake'' class — 2 vessels, 1729
** ''Drake'' (1729) – BU 1740.
** ''Spence'' (1729) – sold 1749.
* ''Grampus'' — 1 vessel, 1731 – foundered 1742.
* ''Wolf'' — 1 vessel, 1731 – wrecked 1741.
* ''Bonetta'' group — 8 vessels, 1732
** ''Shark'' (1732) – sold 1755.
** ''Bonetta'' (1732) – wrecked 1744.
** ''Fly'' (1732) – BU 1751.
** ''Spy'' (1732) – sold 1745.
** ''Saltash'' (1732) – sold 1741.
** ''Cruizer'' (1732) – sold 1745.
** ''Hound'' (1732) – BU 1745.
** ''Trial'' (1732) – scuttled 1741.

Two-masted sloops (1739 to 1745)

From the outbreak of the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739, the Navy recognised that there was a growing need for smaller vessels for amphibious operations, as escorts for commercial traffic and for minor combatant roles. Over the next six years, some 36 specialist vessels were procured (34 designed by the Navy and 2 purchased on the stocks where builders had begun them as speculative ventures), as listed below; of these, the first four were essentially repeats of the previous group of 200-ton sloops of 1732, while the later vessels were progressively enlarged. In addition, a small number were captured from the Spanish during this era, and a dozen bomb vessels of similar construction supplemented the purpose-built sloops in a cruising role.
* ''Drake'' class — 3 vessels, 1741
** ''Drake'' (1741) – wrecked 1742.
** ''Hawk'' (1741) – BU 1747.
** ''Swift'' (1741) – lost 1756.
* Purchased vessel – ''Saltash'' (1741) – burned 1742
* ''Wolf'' class — 3 vessels, 1742–1743
** ''Wolf'' (1742) – wrecked 1748.
** ''Otter'' (1742) – sold 1763.
** ''Grampus'' (1743) – captured by the French 1744.
* ''Baltimore'' class — 3 vessels, 1742–1743
** ''Baltimore'' (1742) – sold 1762.
** ''Saltash'' (1742) – capsized 1746.
** ''Drake'' (1743) – sold 1748.
* Purchased vessel – ''Ferret'' (1743) – foundered 1757
* ''Merlin'' class — 21 vessels, 1744–1747
** ''Swallow'' (1744) – wrecked 1744.
** ''Merlin'' (1744) – sold 1748.
** ''Speedwell'' (1744) – sold 1750.
** ''Falcon'' (1744) – captured by French 1745, retaken 1746 and renamed ''Fortune'', sold 1770.
** ''Hazard'' (1744) – sold 1749.
** ''Lizard'' (1744) – wrecked 1748.
** ''Hinchingbrooke'' (1745) – captured by French 1746.
** ''Tavistock'' (1745) – renamed ''Albany'' 1747, sold 1763.
** ''Hound'' (1745) – sold 1773.
** ''Hornet'' (1745) – sold 1770.
** ''Raven'' (1745) – sold 1763.
** ''Swan'' (1745) – sold 1763.
** ''Badger'' (1745) – wrecked 1762.
** ''Falcon'' (1745) – wrecked 1759.
** ''Scorpion'' (1746) – wrecked 1762.
** ''Swallow'' (1745) – sold 1769.
** ''Kingfisher'' (1745) – sold 1763.
** ''Dispatch'' (1745) – sold 1773.
** ''Viper'' (1746) – renamed ''Lightning'' as fireship 1755, sold 1762.
** ''Grampus'' (1746) – converted to fireship 1762, renamed ''Strombolo'' 1771, sold 1780.
** ''Saltash'' (1745) – sold 1773.
* ''Hind'' class — 4 vessels, 1744
** ''Hind'' (1744) – foundered 1747.
** ''Vulture'' (1744) – sold 1761.
** ''Jamaica'' (1744) – wrecked 1770.
** ''Trial'' (1744) – BU 1776.

Two-masted sloops (1749 to 1770)

* ''Wasp'' group — 4 vessels, 1749–1750
** ''Wasp'' (1749) – sold 1781.
** ''Peggy'' (1749) – wrecked 1770.
** ''Hazard'' (1749) – sold 1783.
** ''Savage'' (1750) – wrecked 1776.
* ''Fly'' class — 2 vessels, 1752
** ''Ranger'' (1752) – sold 1783.
** ''Fly'' (1752) – sold 1772.
* ''Cruizer'' class — 4 vessels, 1752–1754
** ''Speedwell'' (1752) – sold 1780.
** ''Cruizer'' (1752) – burned 1776.
** ''Happy'' (1754) – wrecked 1766.
** ''Wolf'' (1754) – sold 1781.
* ''Hawk'' — 1 vessel, 1756 – sold 1781.
* ''Bonetta'' class — 3 vessels, 1756
** ''Bonetta'' (1756) – sold 1776.
** ''Merlin'' (1756) – burned 1780.
** ''Spy'' (1756) – sold 1773.
* ''Hunter'' class — 2 vessels, 1756
** ''Hunter'' (1756) – sold 1780.
** ''Viper'' (1756) – wrecked 1779.
* ''Alderney'' class — 3 vessels, 1756–1757. Although designed and begun as two-masted sloops, ''Stork'' and ''Alderney'' were completed as three-masted ships.
** ''Stork'' (1756) – taken 1758 by the French.
** ''Alderney'' (1757) – sold 1783.
** ''Diligence'' (1756) – sold 1780.
* ''Druid'' class — 2 vessels, 1761. Although designed as two-masted sloops, both vessels were later reported as three-masted (ship-rigged).
** ''Druid'' (1761) – sunk as a breakwater 1773.
** ''Lynx'' (1761) – sold 1777.

Ship-rigged sloops (1745–88)

Ship sloops (i.e. sloops carrying three masts, and rigged as ships) were built frigate-style, and initially were referred to as frigates, in spite of their size and relative lack of guns.

* Purchased sloops 1745–46
** purchased on the stocks
** purchased on the stocks
* ''Favourite'' class — 3 ships (including 1 cancelled), 1757–1758
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** ''Flora'' – cancelled 1761
* Purchased sloops 1757
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* ''Ferret'' class — 1 ship, 1760
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* ''Senegal'' class — 1 ship, 1760
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* ''Beaver'' class — 2 ships, 1761
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* Modified ''Favourite'' class — 1 ship, 1762
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* ''Swift'' class — 2 ships, 1763. Begun as two-masted vessels, but completed with three-masted (ship)rig.
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* ''Otter'' class — 1 ship, 1767
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* ''Swallow'' class — 2 ships, 1769–1771
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* ''Swan'' class — 25 ships, 1766–1780
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* Purchased ship sloops – 2 ships, 1771
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* ''Ceres'' class — 1 ship, 1777
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* Purchased ship sloops – 1 ship, 1780
** – Corvette, purchased on the Stocks while building by Hillhouse at Bristol, 22 x 6pdrs and 4 x 12pdr carronades, reduced to an 18-gun Ship-Sloop in 1782, 1795 sold.
* ''Zebra'' class — 3 ships, 1780–1782 (a fourth was cancelled)
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** ''Serpent'' cancelled 1783
* ''Inspector'' class — 1 ship, 1782
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* ''Echo'' class — 6 ships, 1782–1785, designed by Edward Hunt and armed with 16 6-pounders on the upper deck and 6 12-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck, with a further 2 on the forecastle
** – broken up 1797
** – sold 1792
** – sank after being rammed by a merchantman in the Atlantic in August 1803
** – sold 1805
** – wrecked off Flamborough Head on 02.02.1799
** – sold 1802

Brig-rigged sloops (1778–84)

* ''Childers'' class — 1 vessel, 1778
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* Purchased brigs 1779–82 – 11 vessels purchased on stocks
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* Purchased brigs 1781 — 2 vessels purchased from mercantile service
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* ''Speedy'' class — 2 ships, 1782
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* Modified ''Childers'' class — 4 ships, 1782–1784
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Ship-rigged sloops (1788 to 1815)

* ''Hound'' class — 5 ship sloops, 1789–1791
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* ''Hawk'' class — 2 ship sloops, 1793
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* ''Pylades'' class — 6 ship sloops, 1793–1795
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* ''Cormorant'' class — 7 ship sloops, 1794–1796; a second batch of 24 ship sloops (including 1 cancelled) followed 1804–1806
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** ''Serpent'' – cancelled
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* ''Dart'' class — 2 experimental ship sloops, designed by Samuel Bentham, 1796, with 24 32-pounder Carronades on gun deck and 2 32-pounder Carronades each on quarterdeck and forecastle
** – broken up 1809
** – taken by the French Frigates ''Hortense'' and ''Incorruptible'' on 4 February 1805, but sank on the same day due to the damage it had sustained.
* ''Bittern'' class — 5 ship sloops, 1796 (except ''Brazen'' in 1808)
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* ''Merlin'' class — 2 ship sloops, 1796–1798; a second batch of 14 ship sloops followed 1804–1806.
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**
**
**
**
**
**
* Purchased ship-sloops – 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1795.
**
**
* ''Dasher'' class — 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1797.
**
**
* ''Echo'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1797.
**
* ''Osprey'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1797.
**
* ''Snake'' class — 2 ship sloops, 1797–1798.
**
**
* Purchased ship sloops – 20 ships, 1803–1804
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
** (i)
**
** (ii)
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Combatant'' class — 3 ship sloops, 1804.
**
**
**
* ''Bermuda'' class — 6 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1805–1812.
**
**
**
**
**
**

Brig-rigged sloops (1788 to 1815)

This table excludes the small gun-brigs (of less than 200 burthen tons) that were built in considerable numbers during this period:
''for these gun-brigs see List of gun-brigs of the Royal Navy''

* ''Albatross'' class — 8 brig-sloops, 1795–1796
**
**
** (1795)
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Diligence'' class — 8 brig-sloops, 1795–1796
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Busy'' class (brig-rigged version of the ''Echo''-class ship sloop) — 1 brig-sloop, 1797.
**
* ''Cruizer'' class (brig-rigged version of the ''Snake''-class ship sloops) — 107 brig-sloops, 1797–1815
** see full list of ''Cruizer'' class brig-sloops under article ''Cruizer''-class brig-sloop.
* ''Seagull'' class — 13 brig-sloops, 1805–1806
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Fly'' class — 7 brig-sloops, 1805–1806
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Crocus'' class — 10 brig-sloops, 1808–1814
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Cherokee'' class — 114 brig-sloops, 1808–1830
** see full list of ''Cherokee''-class brig-sloops under article ''Cherokee''-class brig-sloop.
* ''Rapid'' class — 1 brig-sloop, 1808.
**
* ''Primrose'' class — 1 brig-sloop, 1810.
**
* ''Icarus'' class — 1 brig-sloop, 1814.
**

Ship-rigged sloops (after 1816)

* ''Rose'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1821
**
* ''Martin'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1821
**
* ''Comet'' class — 3 ship sloops, 1828–1837
**
**
**
* ''Orestes'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
**
* ''Pylades'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
**
* ''Snake'' class (revival of 1797 design) — 2 ship sloops, 1827–1828
**
**
* ''Favorite'' class — 4 ship sloops, 1829–1837
**
**
**
**
* ''Champion'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
**
* ''Pearl'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1828
**
* ''Wolf'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1826
**
* ''Satellite'' class — 2 ship sloops, 1826
**
**
* ''Scout'' class — 3 ship sloops (2 cancelled), 1832
**
** ''Pheasant'' cancelled 1831
** ''Redwing'' cancelled 1831
* ''Rover'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1832
**
* ''Fly'' class — 4 ship sloops (2 cancelled), 1831
**
**
** ''Argus'' cancelled 1831
** ''Acorn'' cancelled 1831
* ''Daphne'' class — 4 ship sloops (1 cancelled), 1836–1845, later re-classed as corvettes.
**
**
**
** ''Coquette'' cancelled 1851
* ''Modeste'' class — 1 ship sloop, 1837, later re-classed as corvette.
**
* ''Challenger'' class — 1 ship sloop (cancelled).
** ''Challenger'' cancelled 1849
* ''Arachne'' class — 3 ship sloops (1 cancelled), 1847, later re-classed as corvettes.
**
**
** ''Narcissus'' cancelled 1847

Brig-rigged sloops (after 1816)

Between 1815 and 1826 numerous additional brig-sloops of the wartime ''Cherokee'' class were ordered; these have been included with the numbers mentioned in the previous section.
* ''Columbine'' class — 1 brig-sloop, 1826
**
* ''Pantaloon'' class — 1 brig-sloop, purchased 1831
**
* ''Snake'' class — 2 brig-sloops, 1832
**
**
* ''Pandora'' class — 8 brig-sloops (1 cancelled), 1833–1847
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
** ''Daring'' cancelled 1843
* ''Racer'' class — 9 brig-sloops, 1833–1853
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Alert'' class — 18 brig-sloops (4 cancelled), 1835–1846
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
** ''Dispatch'' cancelled 1839
** ''Dove'' cancelled 1839
**
**
**
** ''Mariner'' cancelled 1839
** ''Martin'' cancelled 1839
* ''Waterwitch'' class — 1 brig-sloop, 1834
**
* ''Acorn'' class — 14 brig-sloops, 1838–1852
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Helena'' class — 7 first class brigs, 1841–1853
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Frolic'' class — 1 first-class brig, 1842
**
* Experimental brigs — 9 third-class brigs (to 8 different designs), 1844–1847
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
** – iron-hulled
**
* ''Nerbudda'' class — 1 second-class brig, 1848
**

Paddle-driven sloops

These vessels were initially rated as steam vessels until 1844, when the category of steam sloops was created.
*''Messenger'' class – originally built for private use and purchased in 1830, classed as packets until 1831
**
** Hermes (1830)
*''Dee'' class
**
*Batch of 4 ordered in January 1831
**
**
**
**
* ''Hermes'' class
**
**
**
**
* ''Gorgon'' class
**
* ''Hydra'' class
**
**
**
* ''Merlin'' class – originally classed as packets
**
**
**
* ''Stromboli'' class – improved ''Gorgon''
**
**
* ''Alecto'' class – 5 third-class sloops (1 cancelled), 1839–1841
**
**
**
**
** ''Rattler'' cancelled, re-ordered as screw sloop 1842
* ''Driver'' class – 12 first-class sloops, 1840–1846
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
**
* ''Bulldog'' class – 4 first-class sloops, 1844–1845, lengthened ''Driver''
**
**
**
**
* ''Janus'' class – 1 first-class sloop, 1844
**
* ''Trident'' class – 1 third-class sloop (iron-hulled), 1845
**
* ''Antelope'' class – 3 third-class sloops (iron-hulled), 1846–1847
**
**
**
* ''Basilisk'' class – 1 first-class sloop, 1848
**
* ''Buzzard'' class – 1 second-class sloop, 1849
**
* ''Argus'' class – 1 second-class sloop, 1849, modified ''Alecto''
**
* ''Barracouta'' class – 1 second-class sloop, 1851
**

19th-century screw sloops (to 1903)

* ''Rattler'' (1843) – sold 1856.
* ''Phoenix'' (1845 conversion from paddle sloop of 1832) – sold 1864.
* ''Encounter'' class — 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
** – broken up 1866.
** ''Harrier'' (-) – cancelled 1851.
* ''Niger'' class — 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
** – sold 1869.
** ''Florentia'' (-) – cancelled 1849.
* ''Conflict'' class — 4 ships (second pair cancelled), 1846–1849.
** – sold 1863.
** – broken up 1865.
** ''Enchantress'' (-) – cancelled 1851.
** ''Falcon'' (-) – cancelled 1851.
* ''Plumper'' (1848) – sold 1865.
* ''Reynard'' (1848) – wrecked 1851.
* ''Archer'' class — 2 ships, 1849–1850.
** ''Archer'' (1849) – sold 1866.
** ''Wasp'' (1850) – sold 1869.
* ''Miranda'' (1851) – sold 1869.
* ''Brisk'' (1851) – sold 1870.
* ''Malacca'' (1853) – sold 1869.
In 1852 six of the screw sloops (''Archer'', ''Brisk'', ''Encounter'', ''Malacca'', ''Miranda'' and ''Niger'') were reclassed as corvettes, while four others (''Conflict'', ''Desperate'', ''Phoenix'' and ''Wasp'') remained sloops.
* ''Cruizer'' class — 6 ships, 1852–1856.
** ''Cruizer'' (1852) – training ship ''Lark'' 1893; sold 1912.
** ''Hornet'' (1854) – sold 1868.
** – broken up 1866.
** – sold 1884.
** – sold 1869.
** – loaned to US Navy and then Canadian Government 1884.
* ''Swallow'' class — 4 ships, 1854–1866.
** – sold 1865.
** – sold 1866.
** – sold 1865.
** – broken up 1876.
* ''Racer'' class — 5 ships, 1856–1860.
** – sold 1870.
** – broken up 1876.
** – broken up 1877.
** – sold 1875.
** – sold 1867.
* ''Greyhound'' class — 2 ships, 1859.
** ''Greyhound'' (1859) – harbour service 1869, sold 1906.
** ''Mutine'' (1859) – sold 1870.
* ''Camelion'' class — 8 ships, 1860–1866 (another 8 cancelled).
** ''Camelion'' (1860) – sold 1883.
** ''Pelican'' (1860) – sold 1867.
** ''Rinaldo'' (1860) – sold 1884.
** ''Zebra'' (1860) – sold 1873.
** ''Perseus'' (1861) – training ship 1886, renamed ''Defiance II'' 1904, sold 1931.
** ''Chanticleer'' (1861) – sold 1875.
** ''Reindeer'' (1866) – broken up 1876.
** ''Rattler'' (1862) – wrecked 1868.
''Research''_and_HMS_Enterprise_(1864).html" ;"title="HMS_Research_(1863).html" ;"title="he 8 vessels cancelled in 1863–64 were ''Harlequin'', ''Tees'', ''Sappho'', ''Trent'', ''Circassian'', ''Diligence'', ''Imogene'' and ''Success'' – although 2 were completed as the ironclads HMS Research (1863)">''Research'' and HMS Enterprise (1864)">''Enterprise''.]
* Rosario-class sloop, ''Rosario'' class — 7 ships, 1860–1862 (another 6 cancelled).
** HMS Rosario (1860), ''Rosario'' (1860) – sold 1884.
** HMS Peterel (1860), ''Peterel'' (1860) – hulked 1885, sold 1901.
** ''Rapid'' (1860) – broken up 1881.
** ''Shearwater'' (1861) – broken up 1877.
** ''Royalist'' (1861) – broken up 1875.
** ''Columbine'' (1862) – broken up 1875.
** ''Africa'' (1862) – Sold to Chinese Imperial Customs in 1862, renamed ''China'' and sailed to join Sherard Osborn's "Vampire Fleet".
he 6 vessels cancelled in 1863 were ''Circassian'', ''Acheron'', ''Bittern'', ''Fame'', ''Cynthia'' and ''Sabrina''.* ''Amazon'' class — 6 ships, 1865–1866.
** ''Amazon'' (1865) – sunk in collision 1866.
** ''Vestal'' (1865) – sold 1884.
** ''Niobe'' (1866) – wrecked 1874.
** ''Dryad'' (1866) – sold 1886.
** ''Daphne'' (1866) – sold 1882.
** ''Nymphe'' (1866) – sold 1884.
* ''Eclipse'' class — 7 ships, 1867–1870
** ''Danae'' (1867) – hulked 1886, sold 1906.
** ''Blanche'' (1867) – sold 1886.
** ''Eclipse'' (1867) – hulked 1888, sold 1921.
** ''Sirius'' (1868) – sold 1885.
** ''Spartan'' (1868) – sold 1882.
** ''Dido'' (1869) – hulked 1886, renamed ''Actaeon II'' 1906; sold 1922.
** ''Tenedos'' (1870) – sold 1887.
* ''Fantome'' class — 6 ships, 1873–1874
** ''Fantome'' (1873) – sold 1889
** ''Albatross'' (1873) – scrapped 1889
** ''Daring'' (1874) – sold 1889
** ''Egeria'' (1873) – sold 1911
** ''Flying Fish'' (1873) – sold 1888
** ''Sappho'' (1873) – sold 1887
* ''Osprey'' class — 5 ships, 1876–1877
** – base ship 1904 (renamed ''Clyde''), sold 1920.
** – survey ship 1890, to Australia 1913, sold 1924.
** – sold 1890.
** – sold 1901.
** – hulked 1889, renamed ''Rooke'' 1946, broken up 1949.
* ''Doterel'' class — improved ''Osprey'' class, 9 ships, 1878–1880
** – sold 1892.
** – sold 1892.
** – training ship 1903, renamed ''President'' 1903 then ''Mercury'' 1913; preserved at Chatham 1890.
** – wrecked 1882.
** – survey vessel 1883, sold 1892.
** – training ship 1892, renamed ''Lark'' 1892 then ''Cruizer'' 1893; sold 1919.
** – sank in accidental explosion 1881.
** – boom defence vessel 1899, renamed ''Azov'' 1904; sold 1921.
** – boom defence vessel 1899, renamed ''Argo'' 1904; sold 1921.
* ''Satellite'' class — 7 ships, 1881–1884 – reclassed as corvettes 1884.
** – drill ship 1904, sold 1947.
** – sold 1902.
** – sold 1902.
** – hulked 1900, sold 1948.
** – hulked 1906, sold 1948.
** – hulked 1897, sold 1929.
** – sold 1906.
* ''Nymphe'' class — 4 ships, 1885–1888
** – sold 1904.
** – drill ship 1904, renamed ''President'' 1911, sold 1921.
** – sold 1904.
** – base ship 1906, sold 1920.
* ''Beagle'' class — 2 ships, 1889
** – sold 1905.
** – sold 1905.
* ''Alert'' class — 2 ships, 1894
** – sold 1926.
** – sold 1920.
* ''Phoenix'' class — 2 ships, 1895
** – foundered 1906.
** – wrecked 1924.
* ''Condor'' class — 6 ships, 1898–1900
** – foundered 1901.
** – sold 1921.
** – sold 1932.
** – sold 1921.
** – sold 1922.
** – sold 1921.
* ''Cadmus'' class — 6 ships, 1901–1903
** – sold 1923.
** – sold 1925.
** – sold 1923.
** – sold 1920.
** – sold 1920.
** – sold 1921.

World War I sloops

* Flower classes of "convoy sloops"
** ''Acacia'' class — 24 ships, 1915
** ''Azalea'' class — 12 ships, 1915
** ''Arabis'' class — 36 ships, 1915–1916
** ''Aubrietia'' class — 12 ships, 1916–1917
** ''Anchusa'' class — 28 ships, 1917–1918
* P class — 45 ships, 1915–1917
* Kil class — 81 ships, 1917–1919
* PC class "Q-ships" — 19 ships, 1917–1918
* 24 class — 22 ships, 1918–1919

Inter-war sloops

* ''Bridgewater'' class — 2 ships, 1928
* ''Hastings'' class — 4 ships (+1 Royal Indian Navy), 1930
* ''Shoreham'' class — 8 ships, 1930–1932
* ''Grimsby'' class — 8 ships (+4 Royal Australian Navy, 1 Royal Indian Navy), 1933–1940
* ''Kingfisher'' class — 9 ships, 1934–1939
* ''Bittern'' class — 3 ships (+4 Royal Indian Navy), 1934–1943
* ''Egret'' class — 3 ships, 1938

World War II sloops

* ''Black Swan'' class — 4 ships, 1939–1941
* Modified ''Black Swan'' class — 30 ships (+4 Royal Indian Navy, 5 cancelled), 1940–1945
* ''Banff'' class — 10 ships, ex-United States Coast Guard cutters, 1927–1931

References

Book sources

*
* Rif Winfield, ''British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates'' (Seaforth Publishing, 2007).
* Rif Winfield, ''British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates'' (Chatham Publishing, 2005)
* Rif Winfield, ''British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817–1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates'' (Seaforth Publishing, 2014)
* Rif Winfield, ''British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates'' (Seaforth Publishing, 2009)

Lists of Royal Navy ships by type
Royal Navy
{{Category, Sixth Rates of the Royal Navy,


Royal Navy