Narcissus-class frigate

Plan of the Narcissus-class frigates
Class overview
NameNarcissus-class frigate
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byAmphion class
Succeeded byApollo class
Built1800–1808
In service1801–1837
Planned5
Completed3
Cancelled2
Lost1
General characteristics
TypeFifth-rate frigate
Tons burthen885 9094 (bm)
Length
  • 142 ft 0+12 in (43.3 m) (gundeck)
  • 118 ft 5 in (36.1 m) (keel)
Beam37 ft 8 in (11.5 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)
PropulsionSails
Complement254
Armament

The Narcissus-class frigate was a 32-gun, 18-pounder fifth-rate frigate class of five ships of the Royal Navy. Designed by Surveyor of the Navy Sir John Henslow, the class was created to make use of shipyards that could not construct larger frigates. They were similar in design to the preceding 32-gun frigate class, the Amphion class, but were slightly shorter. Two ships were initially constructed, with a later batch of three being ordered in response to an Admiralty request for the resumption of production of proven frigate designs. The final two ships of the class were cancelled when the shipyard they were being constructed at went bankrupt. Unlike her sister ships, the name ship of the class Narcissus was armed with experimental short 24 pounders rather than 18 pounders.

The ships of the class were not especially fast, slower than the Amphion class, but were well-liked because of their easy sailing qualities and manoeuvrability. The three completed vessels all saw service during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, with key actions including Narcissus at the Battle of Blaauwberg in 1806 and cutting out USRC Surveyor in 1813, Tartar at the Battle of Alvøen in 1808, and Cornelia at the invasions of Isle de France and Java in 1810–1811. Of the three, Narcissus survived until 1837 serving as a hospital ship, while Tartar was wrecked in 1811 and Cornelia broken up in 1814.