HMS Vigilant (1777)

HMS Vigilant (1777) image
History
Great Britain
Name	Grand Duchess of Russia
Builder	Whitby
Launched	1774
Renamed	HMS Vigilant
Fate	Purchased by the Royal Navy before 23 April 1777
Great Britain
Name	HMS Vigilant
Acquired	Before 23 April 1777
Decommissioned	9 April 1780
Fate	Burnt as unfit, 1780
General characteristics
Tons burthen	68414⁄94 bm
Length	122 ft 6 in (37.3 m) (at the gundeck)
Beam	34 ft 10 in (10.6 m)
Sail plan	Barque-rigged
Complement	about 180
Armament	14 × 24–pounder guns 2 × 9–pounder guns 4 × 6–pounder guns

HMS Vigilant was the merchantman Grand Duchess of Russia, converted into a warship during the American Revolution. She served as a transport in North American waters from 1775. The Royal Navy (RN) purchased her in 1777, named her HMS Vigilant, and modified her for shore bombardment duties. She was instrumental in the eventual British success during the siege of Fort Mifflin that same year and supported British operations in Georgia and South Carolina in 1779–80. Her heavy armament proved to be more than Vigilant was designed to handle and she was condemned and burnt in 1780.