HMS Solebay was a sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy which saw active service between 1766 and 1782, during the latter part of the Seven Years' War and throughout the American Revolutionary War. After a successful career in which she captured seven enemy vessels, she was wrecked ashore on the Caribbean Island of Nevis.
Solebay was one of three Royal Navy vessels designed according to a 1760 schematic drawn up by Sir Thomas Slade, a naval architect and newly appointed Surveyor of the Navy. Slade had been impressed with the sailing qualities of a captured French vessel, Abénaquise, and used this vessel as his template for Solebay with modifications to incorporate a heavier hull and better sailing qualities in poor weather. His plans for the new 28-gun sixth-rate were approved by Admiralty on 30 January 1762.[1] At the time, the Royal Dockyards were fully engaged in maintaining and fitting-out the Navy's ships of the line.[2] Consequently, the contracts for Solebay were issued to a private shipyard, Thomas Airey and Company of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with a requirement that the vessel be completed within 14 months at a cost of £9.3s per ton burthen.[1]
Solebays keel was laid down on 10 May 1762 and work proceeded swiftly with the vessel ready to be launched by 9 September 1763, just outside Admiralty's stipulated construction time. As built, Solebay was 124feet long with a 102feet keel, a narrow beam of 33feet, and a hold depth of 11feet. She measured 619 tons burthen. Construction and fit-out cost £9,979.7s, including provision of 24 nine-pounder cannons located along her gun deck, supported by four three-pounder cannons on the quarterdeck and twelve -pounder swivel guns ranged along her sides.[1]
She was named on 30 April 1763 after Sole Bay in Southwold in Suffolk.[1] In selecting her name the Board of Admiralty continued a tradition dating to 1644, of using prominent geographic features; Sole Bay having been the site of a naval engagement between the English and the Dutch in 1672. 17.[3] Her designated complement was 200, comprising two commissioned officers a captain and a lieutenant overseeing 40 warrant and petty officers, 91 naval ratings, 38 Marines and 29 servants and other ranks.[4] Among these other ranks were four positions reserved for widow's men fictitious crew members whose pay was intended to be reallocated to the families of sailors who died at sea.[4]
Solebay commissioned in August 1763 under Captain William Hay. She captured sloop Hope 31 August 1776.[5] In 1777-78 the vessel was used as a floating prison for John McKinly, the first President of Delaware, who was captured by the British Army after the Battle of Brandywine.[6] On 28 January 1778 she chased ashore an unknown schooner near Cape Henry, schooner destroyed later that day.[7] On 5 February a sloop ran aground off Cherry Point while being pursued by and Solebay and was burned.[8] On 9 February HMS Richmond and Solebay captured Maryland State Govt. trading vessel Lydia off St. Mary's River, later ruled a recapture.[9] On 23 February she captured French ship Vicomte de Veaux off Cape Henry.[10] On 5 March she captured a schooner, probably Newport, off Cape Henry.[11] On 13 March 1778 she captured schooner Portsmouth 2 or 3 Leagues off Cape Henry.[12]
On 9 December 1780 Solebay and captured two French privateers behind the Isle of Wight after a short action. The two were Comptesse of Buzanisis, Lux, master, and Marques de Seiguley. Each had a crew of 150 men. Comptesse was armed with twenty 12-pounder guns and Marques was armed with twenty 9-pounder guns. In the action Solebay had one man wounded, and Portland had nine, two of whom died later. Comptesse of Buzanisis was believed to have been the English privateer .[13] The Royal Navy took Marques de Seiguley into service as the 14-gun sloop as .