 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1782–1787 |
| Completed | 8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 896 54/94 (as designed) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 38 ft 3 in (12 m) |
| Depth of hold | 16 ft 10 in (5 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 300 (294 from 1794) |
| Armament |
|
TheAdventure-class ship was a class of eight 44-gun sailingtwo-decker warships of theRoyal Navy, classed as afifth rate like a frigate, but carrying two complete decks of guns, a lower battery of 18-pounders and an upper battery of 12-pounders. This enabled the vessel to deliver a broadside of 318 pounds.
The class was designed in 1782 by Edward Hunt, Surveyor of the Navy, as a successor to theRoebuck class design of SirThomas Slade. The design saw a slight increase in breadth over theRoebuck class, but was otherwise very similar.
Like theRoebuck class, theAdventure class were not counted by the Admiralty as frigates; although sea officers sometimes casually described them and other small two-deckers as frigates, the Admiralty officially never referred to them as such. By 1750, the Admiralty strictly defined frigates as ships of 28 guns or more, carrying all their main battery (24, 26 or even 28 guns) on the upper deck, with no guns or openings on the lower deck (which could thus be at sea level or even lower). A frigate might carry a few smaller guns – 3-pounders or 6-pounders, later 9-pounders – on their quarterdeck and (perhaps) on the forecastle. TheAdventure-class ships were two-deckers with complete batteries on both decks, and hence not frigates.
Eight ships were ordered during 1782 and completed to this design, although none were ready to take part in theAmerican War of Independence. Most were not brought into service until the outbreak of theFrench Revolutionary War, and survived to serve the Royal Navy during theNapoleonic War.