The Southampton-class frigates were 32-gun sailing frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

s of the fifth rate produced for the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. They were designed in 1756 by Sir Thomas Slade

Thomas Slade

Sir Thomas Slade was an English naval architect, most famous for designing HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.-Career Outline:...

, and were the first 'true' fifth-rate frigates produced to the new single-deck concept (that is, without any gunports on the lower deck). They were, however, designed with sweep ports (for rowing) along the lower deck.

Unlike the contemporary sixth-rate frigates of 28 guns, which were derived from French designs by Slade, the Southampton class were fully British-designed. Unlike the French models, these ships had considerably more height on the lower deck, and were originally intended to work their cables here.

A total of four ships were built in oak during the Seven Years’ War, all ordered from private shipyards. The initial design was approved on 12 March 1756, and provided for a ship of 648 37/94 tons burthen, and the contract with Robert Inwood to build the prototype reflected this. On 25 May the design was modified by Slade to lengthen the ship on the lower deck by 3 inches, and along the keel by 10½ inches, thus raising the tonnage to 652 51/94 burthen; on the same date, the name Southampton was approved for the prototype, and two further ships were ordered to be built to this design, with a fourth vessel being ordered one week later.

Ships in class

• Southampton
  HMS Southampton (1757)
  HMS Southampton was the name ship of the 32-gun Southampton-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1757 and served for more than half a century until wrecked in 1812.- Fate :...
  
  
  • Ordered: 12 March 1756
  • Built by: Robert Inwood, Rotherhithe.
  • Keel laid: April 1756
  • Launched: 5 May 1757
  • Completed: 19 June 1757 at Deptford Dockyard.
  • Fate: Wrecked in the Bahamas on 27 November 1812.
• Minerva
  HMS Minerva (1759)
  HMS Minerva was one of the four 32-gun Southampton-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1759 and served through the American Revolutionary War before being broken up in 1784.- References :...
  
  
  • Ordered: 25 May 1756
  • Built by: John Quallet, Rotherhithe.
  • Keel laid: 1 June 1756
  • Launched: 17 January 1759
  • Completed: 3 March 1759 at Deptford Dockyard.
  • Fate: Captured by the French on 22 August 1778. Retaken on 4 January 1781 and renamed Recovery 20 April 1781. Sold at Deptford Dockyard 30 December 1784.
• Vestal
  HMS Vestal (1757)
  HMS Vestal was one of the four 32-gun Southampton-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1757 and was broken up in 1775.- References :...
  
  
  • Ordered: 25 May 1756
  • Built by: John Barnard & John Turner, Harwich.
  • Keel laid: June 1756
  • Launched: 17 June 1757
  • Completed: 17 August 1757 at the builder's shipyard.
  • Fate: Taken to pieces at Deptford Dockyard in June 1775.
• Diana
  HMS Diana (1757)
  HMS Diana was one of the four 32-gun Southampton-class fifth-rate frigates of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1757 and served through the American Revolutionary War before being broken up in 1793.- References :...
  
  
  • Ordered: 1 June 1756
  • Built by: Robert Batson, Limehouse.
  • Keel laid: June 1756
  • Launched: 30 August 1757
  • Completed: 12 September 1757 at Deptford Dockyard.
  • Fate: Sold at Deptford Dockyard on 16 May 1793.