Venus-class frigate

The Venus-class frigates were three 36-gun sailing frigates of the fifth rate produced for the Royal Navy. They were designed in 1756 by Sir Thomas Slade, and were enlarged from his design for the 32-gun Southampton-class frigates, which had been approved four months earlier.[1]

Class overview
Built: 1756–1758
In commission: 1758–1809
Completed: 3
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 718 ​18⁄94 bm (as designed)
Length:
  • 128 ft 4 in (39 m) (gundeck)
  • 106 ft 2.625 in (32.37548 m) (keel)
Beam: 35 ft 8 in (11 m)
Depth of hold: 12 ft 4 in (4 m)
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Complement: 240
Armament:
  • 36 guns comprising:
  • Upperdeck: 26 × 12-pounder guns
  • Quarterdeck: 8 × 6-pounder guns
  • Forecastle: 2 × 6-pounder guns

The 36-gun frigates, of which this was to be the only British design in the era of the 12-pounder frigate, carried the same battery of twenty-six 12-pounders as the 32-gun predecessors; the only difference lay in the secondary armament on the quarter deck, which was here doubled to eight 6-pounders. Slade's 36-gun design was approved on 13 July 1756, on which date two ships were approved to be built by contract to these plans. A third ship was ordered about two weeks later, to be built in a royal dockyard.[1]

The Venus-class were faster than their Southampton-class predecessors, making up to 13 knots ahead of strong winds and ten knots while close-hauled compared with Southampton-class speeds of 12 and 8 knots respectively. Both Venus- and Southampton-class frigates were highly maneuverable and capable of withstanding heavy weather, in comparison with their French counterparts during the Seven Years' War.[2]

Ships in class
Ship Ordered Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate Ref.
HMS Pallas 13 July 1756 William Wells & Company, Deptford Dockyard July 1756 30 August 1757 8 October 1757 at Deptford Run ashore due to leaks and burnt on Sao Jorge (Azores) on 12 February 1783 [3]
HMS Venus 13 July 1756 John Okill, Liverpool. 16 August 1756 11 March 1758 30 June 1758 at Liverpool Reduced to 32 guns in 1792. Renamed Heroine on 14 July 1807. Paid off 1809 and laid up. Sold to break up at Deptford Dockyard on 22 September 1828 [3]
HMS Brilliant 29 July 1756 Thomas Bucknall, Plymouth Dockyard 28 August 1756 27 October 1757 20 November 1757 Sold at Deptford Dockyard, 1 November 1776 [3]

References
  1. Winfield 2007, p. 191
  2. Gardner 1992, p. 98
  3. Winfield 2007, pp. 191–193

Bibliography
  • Gardner, Robert (1992). The First Frigates: Nine-Pounder and Twelve-Pounder Frigates, 1748-1815. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0851776019.
  • Winfield, Rif (2007). British Warships of the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 9781844157006.
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