Snipe had a length at the gundeck of 63feet and 46feet at the keel. She had a beam of 22feet, a draught of about 10feet and a depth of hold of 9feet. The ship's tonnage was 122 tons burthen.[1] The Nightingale class was armed with two 6-pounder cannon and four 6-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 34 officers and ratings.[2]
Snipe, the second ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy after the gun-brig HMS Snipe,[3] was ordered in 1822, laid down in October 1827 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 28 June 1828.[2] She was completed on 6 September 1828 at Plymouth Dockyard.[4]