This is a list of corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy. The original term for ships of fewer than 28 (carriage) guns, but at least 20 guns, was "post ship"; the term 'corvette' was not introduced into the Royal Navy until the 1830s (when the French term was copied), and at that time its use replaced both the larger sloops and also what had previously been categorised officially as 'post ships', i.e. ships of 20, 22 or 24 guns (vessels of 28 guns and above were classed as 'frigates' until 1817, thereafter ships of up to 32 guns were also counted as sixth rates) which were so-called because they were the lowest grade of warship which could be commanded by a 'post captain'; as such, they formed the lower portion of the sixth rate.
In 1887, both frigates and corvettes were merged into a new category of 'cruiser'. In 1937, escort sloops were officially re-rated as escort vessels and patrol sloops as patrol vessels, although the traditional term continued in use. In 1948 surviving sloops and corvettes were redesignated as frigates.
Note that vessels captured from other countries and incorporated into the Royal Navy are not included in the following lists.
Anthony Deane group. All designed by the notable Master Shipwright.
Fanfan (1666), built as a yacht - made into a harbour craft 1692.
Roebuck (1666), 16 guns - sold 1683.
Francis (1666), 16 guns - wrecked 1684.
Truelove (1667) (rebuilding of a smaller sixth rate of the 1640s), 12 guns - expended as a fireship 1672.
Saudadoes (1669), 16 guns as rebuilt 1673, captured and burnt by the French 1696.
Greyhound (1672), 16 guns - sold 1698.
Lark (1675), 18 guns - sold 1698.
1693 Group — 14 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1693–1695
Maidstone (1693) - sold 1714.
Jersey (1694) - renamed Margate 1698, wrecked 1707.
Lizard (1694) - wrecked 1696.
Newport (1694) - captured by the French 1696.
Falcon (1694) - captured by the French 1696, retaken 1703 and broken up.
Queenborough (1694) - sold 1719.
Swan (1694) - foundered 1707.
Drake (1694) - wrecked 1694.
Solebay (1694) - wrecked 1709.
Seahorse (1694) - wrecked 1704.
Bideford (1695) - wrecked 1699.
Penzance (1695) - sold 1713.
Dunwich (1695) - sunk as a breakwater 1714.
Orford (1695) - renamed Newport 1698, sold 1714.
Seaford (1695) (Purchased from builder in 1695), with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. - captured by the French 1697.
1696 Group — 4 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1696–1697
Lizard (1697) - sold 1714.
Flamborough (1697) - captured by the French 1705 and scuttled.
Seaford (1697) - broken up 1722.
Deal Castle (1697) - captured by the French 1706.
Peregrine Galley — 1 ship, with 16 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1700
Nightingale Group — 3 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1702–1704
Nightingale (1702) - taken by the French 1707, retaken and renamed Fox 1708, broken up 1724.
Squirrel (1703) - taken by the French 1703.
Squirrel (1704) - taken by the French 1706, retaken 1708 and foundered.
Purchased Group — 3 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1706–1707
Aldborough (1706) - broken up 1727.
Nightingale (1707) - sold 1716.
Deal Castle (1706) - broken up 1722.
Flamborough Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1707
Flamborough (1707) - broken up 1727.
Squirrel (1707) - broken up 1727.
Gibraltar Group — 12 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1711–1716
Solebay (1711) - sold 1748.
Gibraltar (1711) - broken up 1725.
Port Mahon (1711) - broken up 1740.
Blandford (1711) - foundered 1719.
Hind (1712) - wrecked 1721.
Seahorse (1712) - broken up 1727.
Rose (1712) - broken up 1722.
Bideford (1712) - broken up 1727.
Success (1712) - sold 1743.
Greyhound (1712) - captured by Spain 1718, retaken 1719 and burnt.
Lively (1713) - broken up 1738.
Speedwell (1716) - 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
Lyme (1720) - broken up 1739.
Greyhound (1720) - broken up 1741.
Blandford (1720) - sold 1742.
Shoreham (1720) - sold 1744.
Scarborough (1722) - sold 1739.
Garland (1724) - sold 1744.
Seaford (1724) - broken up 1740.
Lowestoffe (1723) - sold 1744.
Rose (1724) - sold 1744.
Deal Castle (1727) - sold 1746.
Fox (1727) - broken up 1738.
Gibraltar (1727) - sold 1749.
Bideford (1727) - foundered 1739.
Seahorse (1727) - sold 1748.
Squirrel (1727) - sold 1749.
Phoenix (1728) - sold 1744.
Aldborough (1727) - broken up 1742.
Flamborough (1727) - sold 1749.
Experiment (1727) - broken up 1738.
Rye (1727) - broken up 1735.
Modified 1719 Establishment Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 6pdrs. 1732
Sheerness (1732) - sold 1744.
Dolphin (1732) - renamed Firebrand 1755, then Penguin 1757, captured by French and burnt 1760.
1733 Establishment Group — 16 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1734–1742
Tartar (1734) - broken up 1755.
Kennington (1736) - broken up 1749.
Fox (1740) - foundered 1745.
Winchelsea (1740) - broken up 1761.
Lyme (1740) - foundered 1747.
Rye (1740) - wrecked 1744.
Experiment (1740) - sold 1763.
Lively (1740) - sold 1750.
Port Mahon (1740) - sold 1763.
Scarborough (1740) - sold 1749.
Success (1740) - broken up 1779.
Rose (1740) - sold 1755.
Bideford (1740) - broken up 1754.
Bridgewater (1740) - wrecked 1743.
Seaford (1741) - broken up 1754.
Solebay (1742) - sold 1763.
Modified 1733 Establishment Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1741
Greyhound (1741) - sold 1768.
Blandford (1741) - sold 1763.
1741 Establishment Group — 15 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1742–1746
Lowestoffe (1742) - sold 1749.
Aldborough (1743) - sold 1749.
Alderney (1743) - sold 1749.
Phoenix (1743) - sold 1762.
Sheerness (1743) - sold 1768.
Wager (1744) - sold 1763.
Shoreham (1744) - sold 1758.
Bridgewater (1744) - burnt to avoid capture 1758.
Glasgow (1745) - sold 1756.
Triton (1745) - burnt to avoid capture 1758.
Mercury (1745) - broken up 1753.
Surprise (1746) - sold 1770.
Siren (1745) - sold 1764.
Fox (1746) - wrecked 1751.
Rye (1746) - sold 1763.
Modified 1741 Establishment Group — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746
Centaur (1746) - sold 1761.
Deal Castle (1746) - broken up 1754.
Nightingale (1746) purchase - sunk as a breakwater 1783.
1745 Establishment Group — 7 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746–1751
Garland (1748) - sold 1761.
Arundel (1746) - sold 1765.
Queenborough (1747) - foundered 1761.
Fowey (1749) - burnt to avoid capture 1781.
Hind (1749) - sold 1784.
Sphinx (1748) - sold 1770.
Dolphin (1751) - broken up 1777.
Modified 1745 Establishment Group — 1 ship, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1748
Boston (1748) - broken up 1752.
Seahorse (1748) - sold 1784.
Mermaid (1749) - bilged 1759 and abandoned 1760.
Gibraltar class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1754.
Gibraltar (1754) - broken up 1773.
Seaford class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1754.
Seaford (1754) - 33 guns in 1780, sold 1784.
Squirrel class — 10 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1775–1781.
Squirrel (1755) - sold 1783.
Deal Castle (1756) - wrecked 1780.
Bideford class — 1 ship, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1756.
Bideford (1756) - wrecked 1761.
Later Gibraltar — 6 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1756.
Flamborough (1756) - sold 1772.
Aldborough (1756) - broken up 1777.
Kennington (1756) - broken up 1774.
Lively (1756) - sold 1784.
Mercury (1756) - wrecked 1777.
Scarborough (1756) - foundered 1780.
Later Seaford — 2 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs. 1757.
Rose (1757) - sunk as blockship 1779.
Glasgow (1757) - burnt by accident 1779.
Sphinx class — 10 ships, with 20 x 9pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1775–1781.
Sphinx (1775) - broken up 1811.
Camilla (1776) - sold 1831.
Daphne (1776) - sold 1802.
Galatea (1776) - broken up 1783.
Ariadne (1776) - sold 1814.
Vestal (1777) - foundered 1777.
Perseus (1776) - broken up 1805.
Unicorn (1776) - broken up 1787.
Ariel (1777) - captured by the French 1779.
Narcissus (1781) - wrecked 1796.
Porcupine class — 10 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1777–1781.
Porcupine (1777) - broken up 1805.
Pelican (1777) - wrecked 1781.
Eurydice (1781) - broken up 1834.
Hyaena (1778) - sold 1802.
Penelope (1778) - foundered 1780.
Amphitrite (1778) - wrecked 1794.
Crocodile (1781) - wrecked 1784.
Siren (1779) - wrecked 1781.
Pandora (1779) - wrecked 1791.
Champion (1779) - sold 1816.
Myrmidon class — 1 ship, with 20 x 6pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1781.
Myrmidon (1781) - broken up 1811.
Squirrel class (of 1782 design) — 1 ship, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 2 x 6pdrs. 1785.
Squirrel (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.
Banterer class — 6 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1807
Crocodile (1806) - broken up 1816.
Daphne (1806) - sold 1816.
Cossack (1806) - broken up 1816.
Cyane (1806) - captured 1815.
Banterer (1807) - wrecked 1808.
Porcupine (1807) - sold 1816.
Laurel class — 6 ships, with 22 x 9pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1812
Boreas (1806) - wrecked 1807.
Laurel (1806) - renamed Laurestinus 1810, wrecked 1813.
Comus (1806) - wrecked 1816.
Garland (1807) - sold 1817.
Perseus (1812) - broken up 1850.
Volage (1807) - sold 1818.
Hermes class — 4 ships, 1811–1816
Hermes (1811) - burnt in action 1814.
Myrmidon (1813) - broken up 1823.
Ariadne (1816) - sold 1841.
Valorous (1816) - broken up 1829.
Cyrus class — 16 ships, 1813–1814
Medina (1813) - sold 1832.
Cyrus (1813) - sold 1823.
Levant (1813) - broken up 1820.
Esk (1813) - sold 1829.
Carron (1813) - wrecked 1820.
Tay (1813) - wrecked 1816.
Slaney (1813) - broken up 1838.
Erne (1813) - wrecked 1819.
Leven (1813) - broken up 1848.
Falmouth (1814) - sold 1825.
Cyrene (1814) - sold 1828.
Bann (1814) - sold 1829.
Spey (1814) - sold 1822.
Lee (1814) - broken up 1822.
Hind (1814) - sold 1827.
Larne (1814) - sold 1828.
Conway class — 10 ships, 1814–1817
Mersey (1814) - broken up 1852.
Eden (1814) - broken up 1833.
Conway (1814) - sold 1825.
Tamar (1814) - sold 1837.
Dee (1814) - sold 1819.
Towey (1814) - broken up 1832.
Menai (1814) - broken up 1853.
Tyne (1814) - sold 1825.
Wye (1814) - broken up 1852.
Tees (1817) - sold 1872.
Atholl class — 18 ships (of which 4 cancelled or re-ordered to other designs), 1820–1828
Atholl (1820) - broken up 1863.
Niemen (1820) - broken up 1828.
Ranger (1820) - sold 1832.
Rattlesnake (1822) - broken up 1860.
North Star (1824) - broken up 1860.
Tweed (1823) - sold 1852.
Talbot (1824) - sold 1896.
Rainbow (1823) - sold 1838.
Alligator (1821) - sold 1865.
Termagant (1822) - renamed Herald 1824, sold 1862.
Samarang (1822) - sold 1883.
Andromeda (-) - re-ordered as Nimrod below
Success (1825) - broken up 1849.
Crocodile (1825) - sold 1861.
Alarm (-) - re-ordered as Conway class vessel
Daphne (-) - cancelled 1832
Porcupine (-) - cancelled 1832
Nimrod (1828) - sold 1907.
Volage — 1 ship, 1825
Tyne — 1 ship, 1826
Conway class — 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1832
Imogene (1831) (originally Pearl - renamed before launch)
Conway (1832)
Alarm (-) - cancelled 1832
Challenger — 1 ship, 1826
Sapphire — 1 ship, 1826
Actaeon — 1 ship, 1831
Andromache class — 5 ships (of which the last 3 were re-ordered as the following Vestal class), 1832–1837
Calliope (1837) - broken up 1883.
Andromache (1832) - broken up 1875.
Vestal class — 3 ships, 1833–1836
Vestal (1833) - sold 1862.
Cleopatra (1835) - sold 1862.
Carysfort (1836) - sold 1861.
Spartan class — 8 ships (of which 2 cancelled), 1840–1845
Spartan (1841) - sold 1862.
Iris (1840) - sold 1869.
Juno (1844) - renamed Mariner 1878, foundered 1880.
Creole (1845) - broken up 1875.
Amethyst (1844) - sold 1869.
Niobe (-) - re-ordered as Diamond-class vessel
Malacca (-) - re-ordered as screw ship
Alarm (1845) - sold 1904.
Eurydice — 1 ship, 1843
Diamond class — 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1848–1849
Diamond (1848) - sold 1885.
Tribune (-) - completed as a screw frigate.
Niobe (1849) - sold 1862 to Prussian Navy.
Highflyer class — 2 ships, 1851–1854
Highflyer (1851) - broken up 1871.
Esk (1854) - broken up 1870.
Pylades class — 1 ship, 1854
Pylades (1854) - sold 1875.
Cossack class — 2 ships, 1854
Cossack (1854) - sold 1875.
Tartar (1854) - sold 1866.
Pearl class — 10 ships, 1855–1858
Pearl (1855) - sold 1884.
Satellite (1855) - broken up 1879.
Cadmus (1856) - broken up 1879.
Scout (1856) - broken up 1877.
Scylla (1856) - sold 1882.
Charybdis (1859) - sold 1884.
Pelorus (1857) - broken up 1869.
Challenger (1858) - hulked 1880, sold 1921.
Racoon (1857) - broken up 1877.
Clio (1858) - training ship 1876, sold 1919.
Jason class — 7 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1859–1863
Jason (1859) - broken up 1877.
Barrosa (1860) - broken up 1877.
Galatea (-) - completed as a screw frigate.
Orpheus (1860) - wrecked 1863.
Orestes (1860) - broken up 1866.
Rattlesnake (1861) - broken up 1882.
Wolverine (1863) - training ship 1881, sold 1923.
North Star class — 10 ships, 1860 design - all cancelled
Juno class — 2 ships, 1867–1869
Juno (1867) - sold 1887.
Thalia (1869) - sold 1920.
Briton class — 3 ships, 1869–1871
Druid (1869)
Briton (1869)
Thetis (1871)
Volage class — 2 ships, 1869–1869
Volage (1869)
Active (1869)
Amethyst class — 5 ships, 1873–1874
Encounter (1873)
Amethyst (1873)
Modeste (1873)
Diamond (1874)
Sapphire (1874)
Rover (1874)
Emerald class — 6 ships, 1875–1877
Opal (1875)
Turquoise (1876)
Ruby (1876)
Tourmaline (1875)
Emerald (1876)
Garnet (1877)
Bacchante class — 3 ships, 1875–1877
Boadicea (1875)
Bacchante (1876)
Euryalus (1877)
Comus class — 9 ships, 1878–1881
Comus (1878)
Curacoa (1878)
Champion (1878)
Cleopatra (1878)
Carysfort (1878)
Conquest (1878)
Constance (1880)
Canada (1881)
Cordelia (1881)
Calypso class — 2 ships, 1883–1884
Calypso (1883)
Calliope (1884)
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):
Flower class — 267 ships, 1939–1945
Castle class — 44 ships, 1943–1944
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.
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.
From the outbeak 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.
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 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
Weazel (1745) purchased on the stocks
Porcupine (1746) purchased on the stocks
Favourite class — 3 ships (including 1 cancelled), 1757–1758
Favourite (1757)
Tamar (1758)
Flora - cancelled 1761
Purchased sloops 1757
Merlin (1757)
Racehorse (1757)
Pelican (1757)
Roman Emperor (1757)
Ferret class — 1 ship, 1760
Ferret (1760)
Senegal class — 1 ship, 1760
Senegal (1760)
Beaver class — 2 ships, 1761
Beaver (1761)
Martin (1761)
Modified Favourite class — 1 ship, 1762
Nautilus (1762)
Swift class — 2 ships, 1763. Begun as two-masted vessels, but completed with three-masted (ship)rig.
Swift (1763)
Vulture (1763)
Otter class — 1 ship, 1767
Otter (1767)
Swallow class — 2 ships, 1769–1771
Swallow (1769)
Falcon (1771)
Swan class — 25 ships, 1766–1780
Swan (1767)
Kingfisher (1770)
Cygnet (1776)
Atalanta (1775)
Pegasus (1776)
Fly (1776)
Swift (1777)
Dispatch (1777)
Fortune (1777)
Hound (1776)
Hornet (1776)
Vulture (1776)
Spy (1776)
Cormorant (1776)
Zebra (1777)
Cameleon (1777)
Fairy (1778)
Nymph (1778)
Savage (1778)
Fury (1779)
Delight (1778)
Thorn (1779)
Bonetta (1779)
Shark (1779)
Alligator (1780)
Purchased ship sloops - 2 ships, 1771
Raven (1771)
Scorpion (1771)
Ceres class — 1 ship, 1777
Ceres (1777)
Purchased ship sloops - 1 ship, 1780
Termagant (1780) - Corvette, purchased on the Stocks while building by Hillhouse at Bristol, 22 x 6pdrs and 4 x 12pdr carronades, reduced to a 18-gun Ship-Sloop in 1782, 1795 sold.
Zebra class — 3 ships, 1780–1782 (a fourth was cancelled)
Zebra (1780)
Ariel (1781)
Bulldog (1782)
HMS Serpent cancelled 1783
Inspector class — 1 ship, 1782
Inspector (1782)
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
Echo (1782) - broken up 1797
Rattler (1783) - sold 1792
Calypso (1783) - sank after being rammed by a merchantman in the Atlanic in August 1803
Brisk (1784) - sold 1805
Nautilus (1784) - wrecked off Flamborough Head on 02.02.1799
Scorpion (1785) - sold 1802
Childers class — 1 vessel, 1778
Childers (1778)
Purchased brigs 1779–82 – 11 vessels purchased on stocks
Swallow (1779)
Drake (1779)
Zephyr (1779)
Scourge (1779)
Lively (1779)
Alert (1779)
Scout (1780)
Fortune (1780)
Swallow (1781)
Wasp (1782)
Kingfisher (1782)
Purchased brigs 1781 — 2 vessels purchased from mercantile service
Cameleon (1781)
Swan (1781)
Speedy class — 2 ships, 1782
Speedy (1782)
Flirt (1782)
Modified Childers class — 4 ships, 1782–1784
Falcon (1782)
Otter (1782)
Weazel (1783)
Ferret (1784)
Hound class — 5 ship sloops, 1789–1791
Hound (1790)
Martin (1790)
Rattlesnake (1791)
Fury (1790)
Serpent (1789)
Hawk class — 2 ship sloops, 1793
Hawk (1793)
Swift (1793)
Pylades class — 6 ship sloops, 1793–1795
Pylades (1794)
Alert (1793)
Albacore (1793)
Peterel (1794)
Ranger (1794)
Rattler (1795)
Cormorant class — 7 ship sloops, 1794–1796; a second batch of 24 ship sloops (including 1 cancelled) followed 1804–1806
Cormorant (1794)
Favourite (1794)
Hornet (1794)
Lynx (1794)
Lark (1794)
Hazard (1794)
Stork (1796)
Hyacinth (1806)
Sabrina (1806)
Herald (1806)
Anacreon (1813)
Rosamund (1807)
Fawn (1807)
Acorn (1807)
Racoon (1808)
North Star (1810)
Myrtle (1807)
Hesper (1809)
Cherub (1806)
Minstrel (1807)
Wanderer (1806)
Sapphire (1806)
Blossom (1806)
Partridge (1809)
Egeria (1807)
Tweed (1807)
Favourite (1806)
Ranger (1807)
Jalouse (1809)
Serpent - cancelled
Dauntless (1808)
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
Dart (1796) - broken up 1809
Arrow (1796) - taken by the French Frigates Hortense and Incorruptible on 4th 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)
Bittern (1796)
Cyane (1796)
Plover (1796)
Termagant (1796)
Brazen (1808)
Merlin class — 2 ship sloops, 1796–1798; a second batch of 14 ship sloops followed 1804–1806.
Merlin (1796)
Pheasant (1798)
Cygnet (1804)
Ariel (1806)
Kingfisher (1804)
Helena (1804)
Albacore (1804)
Wolf (1804)
Fly (1804)
Otter (1805)
Kangaroo (1805)
Martin (1805)
Rose (1805)
Brisk (1805)
Starr (1805)
Halifax (1806)
Purchased ship-sloops - 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1795.
Hunter (1795)
Rover (1795)
Dasher class — 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1797.
Dasher (1797)
Driver (1797)
Echo class — 1 ship sloop, 1797.
Echo (1797)
Osprey class — 1 ship sloop, 1797.
Osprey (1797)
Snake class — 2 ship sloops, 1797–1798.
Snake (1797)
Victor (1798)
Purchased ship sloops - 20 ships, 1803–1804
Merlin (1803)
Curlew (1803)
Vulture (1803)
Hermes (1803)
Speedy (1803)
Orestes (1803)
Inspector (1803)
Bonetta (1803)
Avenger (1803) (i)
Drake (1804)
Avenger (1804) (ii)
Alert (1804)
Espiegle (1804)
Railleur (1804)
Cormorant (1804)
Utile (1804)
Eugenie (1804)
Spy (1804)
Heron (1804)
Anacreon (1804)
Combatant class — 3 ship sloops, 1804.
Valorous (1804)
Dauntless (1804)
Combatant (1804)
Bermuda class — 6 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1805–1812.
Indian (1805)
Bermuda (1806)
Atalante (1808)
Martin (1809)
Morgiana (1811)
Sylph (1812)
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
Pelican (1795)
Kite (1795)
Dispatch (1795)
Albatross (1795)
Raven (1796)
Star (1795)
Sylph (1795)
Swallow (1795)
Diligence class — 8 brig-sloops, 1795–1796
Curlew (1795)
Diligence (1795)
Seagull (1795)
Harpy (1796)
Hound (1796)
Kangaroo (1795)
Cameleon (1795)
Racoon (1795)
Busy class (brig-rigged version of the Echo-class ship sloop) — 1 brig-sloop, 1797.
Busy (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
Seagull (1805)
Oberon (1805)
Imogen (1805)
Nightingale (1805)
Savage (1805)
Skylark (1806)
Paulina (1806)
Delight (1806)
Orestes (1805)
Electra (1806)
Julia (1806)
Satellite (1806)
Sheldrake (1806)
Fly class — 7 brig-sloops, 1805–1806
Kite (1805)
Sparrow (1805)
Fly (1805)
Raven (1805)
Wizard (1805)
Goshawk (1806)
Challenger (1806)
Crocus class — 10 brig-sloops, 1808–1814
Podargus (1808)
Crocus (1808)
Merope (1808)
Apelles (1808)
Portia (1810)
Prospero (1809)
Muros (1809)
Zephyr (1809)
Banterer (1810)
Wolf (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.
Rapid (1808)
Primrose class — 1 brig-sloop, 1810.
Primrose (1810)
Icarus class — 1 brig-sloop, 1814.
Icarus (1814)
Rose class — 1 ship sloop, 1821
Rose (1821)
Martin class — 1 ship sloop, 1821
Martin (1821)
Comet class — 3 ship sloops, 1828–1837
Comet (1828)
Lightning (1829)
Electra (1837)
Orestes class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
Orestes (1824)
Pylades class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
Pylades (1824)
Snake class (revival of 1797 design) — 2 ship sloops, 1827–1828
Childers (1827)
Cruiser (1828)
Favorite class — 4 ship sloops, 1829–1837
Favorite (1829)
Hyacinth (1829)
Racehorse (1830)
Hazard (1837)
Champion class — 1 ship sloop, 1824
Champion (1824)
Pearl class — 1 ship sloop, 1828
Pearl (1828)
Wolf class — 1 ship sloop, 1826
Wolf (1826)
Satellite class — 2 ship sloops, 1826
Satellite (1826)
Acorn (1826)
Scout class — 3 ship sloops (2 cancelled), 1832
Scout (1832)
Pheasant cancelled 1831
Redwing cancelled 1831
Rover class — 1 ship sloop, 1832
Rover (1832)
Fly class — 4 ship sloops (2 cancelled), 1831
Fly (1831)
Harrier (1831)
Argus cancelled 1831
Acorn cancelled 1831
Daphne class — 4 ship sloops (1 cancelled), 1836–1845, later re-classed as corvettes.
Dido (1836)
Daphne (1838)
Calypso (1845)
Coquette cancelled 1851
Modeste class — 1 ship sloop, 1837, later re-classed as corvette.
Dido (1836)
Challenger class — 1 ship sloop (cancelled).
Challenger cancelled 1849
Arachne class — 3 ship sloops (1 cancelled), 1847, later re-classed as corvettes.
Arachne (1847)
Terpsichore (1847)
Narcissus cancelled 1847
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
Columbine (1826)
Pantaloon class — 1 brig-sloop, purchased 1831
Pantaloon (1831)
Snake class — 2 brig-sloops, 1832
Snake (1832)
Serpent (1832)
Pandora class — 8 brig-sloops (1 cancelled), 1833–1847
Pandora (1833)
Bonetta (1836)
Dolphin (1838)
Spy (1841)
Rapid (1840)
Sealark (1843)
Dart (1847)
Daring cancelled 1843
Racer class — 9 brig-sloops, 1833–1853
Harlequin (1836)
Racer (1833)
Ringdove (1833)
Wanderer (1835)
Wolverene (1836)
Sappho (1837)
Lily (1837)
Liberty (1850)
Squirrel (1853)
Alert class — 18 brig-sloops (4 cancelled), 1835–1846
Star (1835)
Ranger (1835)
Linnet (1835)
Alert (1835)
Express (1835)
Swift (1835)
Penguin (1838)
Peterel (1838)
Crane (1839)
Cygnet (1840)
Ranger (1840)
Dispatch cancelled 1839
Dove cancelled 1839
Philomel (1842)
Heroine (1841)
Hound (1846)
Mariner cancelled 1839
Martin cancelled 1839
Waterwitch class — 1 brig-sloop, 1834
Waterwitch (1834)
Acorn class — 14 brig-sloops, 1838–1852
Grecian (1838)
Fantome (1839)
Pilot (1838)
Acorn (1838)
Arab (1847)
Persian (1839)
Bittern (1840)
Albatross (1842)
Elk (1847)
Heron (1847)
Mariner (1846)
Despatch (1851)
Martin (1850)
Kangaroo (1852)
Helena class — 7 first class brigs, 1841–1853
Siren (1841)
Helena (1843)
Jumna (1848)
Atalanta (1847)
Camilla (1847)
Musquito (1851)
Rover (1853)
Frolic class — 1 first-class brig, 1842
Frolic (1842)
Experimental brigs — 9 third-class brigs (to 8 different designs), 1844–1847
Daring (1844)
Mutine (1844)
Flying Fish (1844)
Kingfisher (1845)
Osprey (1844)
Espiegle (1844)
Britomart (1847)
Recruit (1846) - iron-hulled
Contest (1846)
Nerbudda class — 1 second-class brig, 1848
Nerbudda (1848)
These vessels were initially rated as steam vessels until 1844, when the category of steam sloops was created.
Messenger (1830)
Dee (1832)
Batch of 4 ordered in January 1831
Salamander (1832)
Phoenix (1832)
Rhadamanthus (1832)
Medea (1833)
Hermes class
Hermes (1835)
Volcano (1836)
Megaera (1837)
Acheron (1838)
Gorgon class
Gorgon (1837)
Hydra class
Hydra (1838)
Hecla (1839)
Hecate (1839)
Merlin class - originally classed as packets
Merlin (1838)
Medusa (1838)
Medina (1840)
Stromboli class
Stromboli (1839)
Vesuvius (1839)
Alecto class - 5 third-class sloops (1 cancelled), 1839–1841
Alecto (1839)
Prometheus (1839)
Polyphemus (1840)
Ardent (1841)
Rattler cancelled, re-ordered as screw sloop 1842
Driver class - 12 first-class sloops, 1840–1846
Driver (1840)
Styx (1841)
Vixen (1841)
Devastation (1841)
Geyser (1841)
Growler (1841)
Thunderbolt (1842)
Cormorant (1842)
Spiteful (1842)
Eclair (1843)
Virago (1842)
Sphinx (1846)
Bulldog class - 4 first-class sloops, 1844–1845
Inflexible (1845)
Scourge (1844)
Bulldog (1845)
Fury (1845)
Janus class - 1 first-class sloop, 1844
Janus (1844)
Trident class - 1 third-class sloop (iron-hulled), 1845
Trident (1845)
Antelope class - 3 third-class sloops (iron-hulled), 1846–1847
Antelope (1846)
Oberon (1847)
Triton (1846)
Basilisk class - 1 first-class sloop, 1848
Basilisk (1848)
Buzzard class - 1 second-class sloop, 1849
Buzzard (1849)
Argus class - 1 second-class sloop, 1849
Argus (1849)
Barracouta class - 1 second-class sloop, 1851
Barracouta (1851)
Rattler (1843) - sold 1856.
Phoenix (1845 conversion from paddle sloop of 1832) - sold 1864.
Encounter class — 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
Encounter (1846) - broken up 1866.
Harrier (-) - cancelled 1851.
Niger class — 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
Niger (1846) - sold 1869.
Florentia (-) - cancelled 1849.
Conflict class — 4 ships (second pair cancelled), 1846–1849.
Conflict (1846) - sold 1863.
Desperate (1849) - 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.
Harrier (1854) - broken up 1866.
Fawn (1856) - sold 1884.
Falcon (1854) - sold 1869.
Alert (1856) - loaned to US Navy and then Canadian Government 1884.
Swallow class — 4 ships, 1854–1866.
Curlew (1854) - sold 1865.
Swallow (1854) - sold 1866.
Ariel (1854) - sold 1865.
Lyra (1857) - broken up 1876.
Racer class — 5 ships, 1856–1860.
Cordelia (1856) - sold 1870.
Racer (1857) - broken up 1876.
Gannet (1857) - broken up 1877.
Icarus (1858) - sold 1875.
Pantaloon (1860) - 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.
[the 8 vessels cancelled in 1863–64 were Harlequin, Tees, Sappho, Trent, Circassian, Diligence, Imogene and Success - although 2 were completed as the ironclads Research and Enterprise.]
Rosario class — 7 ships, 1860–1862 (another 6 cancelled).
Rosario (1860) - sold 1884.
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".
[the 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
Wild Swan (1876) - base ship 1904 (renamed Clyde), sold 1920.
Penguin (1876) - survey ship 1890, to Australia 1913, sold 1924.
Osprey (1876) - sold 1890.
Pelican (1877) - sold 1901.
Cormorant (1877) - hulked 1889, renamed Rooke 1946, broken up 1949.
Doterel class — improved Osprey class, 9 ships, 1878–1880
Dragon (1878) - sold 1892.
Pegasus (1878) - sold 1892.
Gannet (1878) - training ship 1903, renamed President 1903 then Mercury 1913; preserved at Chatham 1890.
Phoenix (1879) - wrecked 1882.
Miranda (1879) - survey vessel 1883, sold 1892.
Kingfisher (1879) - training ship 1892, renamed Lark 1892 then Cruizer 1893; sold 1919.
Doterel (1880) - sank in accidental explosion 1881.
Mutine (1880) - boom defence vessel 1899, renamed Azov 1904; sold 1921.
Espiegle (1880) - boom defence vessel 1899, renamed Argo 1904; sold 1921.
Satellite class — 7 ships, 1881–1884 - reclassed as corvettes 1884.
Satellite (1881) - drill ship 1904, sold 1947.
Heroine (1881) - sold 1902.
Hyacinth (1881) - sold 1902.
Royalist (1883) - hulked 1900, sold 1948.
Rapid (1883) - hulked 1906, sold 1948.
Caroline (1882) - hulked 1897, sold 1929.
Pylades (1884) - sold 1906.
Nymphe class — 4 ships, 1885–1888
Swallow (1885) - sold 1904.
Buzzard (1887) - drill ship 1904, renamed President 1911, sold 1921.
Daphne (1888) - sold 1904.
Nymphe (1888) - base ship 1906, sold 1920.
Beagle class — 2 ships, 1889
Basilisk (1889) - sold 1905.
Beagle (1889) - sold 1905.
Alert class — 2 ships, 1894
Alert (1894) - sold 1926.
Torch (1894) - sold 1920.
Phoenix class — 2 ships, 1895
Phoenix (1895) - foundered 1906.
Algerine (1895) - wrecked 1924.
Condor class — 6 ships, 1898–1900
Condor (1898) - foundered 1901.
Rosario (1898) - sold 1921.
Mutine (1900) - sold 1932.
Rinaldo (1900) - sold 1921.
Shearwater (1900) - sold 1922.
Vestal (1900) - sold 1921.
Cadmus class — 6 ships, 1901–1903
Espiegle (1900) - sold 1923.
Fantome (1901) - sold 1925.
Merlin (1901) - sold 1923.
Odin (1901) - sold 1920.
Clio (1903) - sold 1920.
Cadmus (1903) - sold 1921.
Flower classes of "convoy sloops"
Acacia class — 24 ships, 1915
Azalea class — 12 ships, 1915
Arabis class — 36 ships, 1915–1916
Aubretia 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
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
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
