They constituted one of the earliest attempts at building a frigate armed with 24-pounders on the artillery deck, rather than the 18-pounders typical of the day. The attempt was unfruitful, and the ships were commissioned armed with old 18-pounders. Several further such attempts were made later with the, and classes. The concept was eventually perfected with the original six frigates of the United States Navy, before becoming moot with the introduction of a different artillery system based on 30-pounder long guns and 30-pounder short guns in the 1820s.
Builder: Lorient
Ordered: 6 February 1772[1]
Launched: 10 November 1772
Completed: 1773
Fate: Broken up
Builder: Lorient
Ordered:
Launched: 26 June 1775
Completed:
Fate: