HMS Atalanta (1775)

Drawing of the Atalanta, 1775
History
Great Britain
NameHMS Atalanta
Ordered1 December 1773
BuilderSheerness Dockyard
Laid down9 April 1774
Launched12 August 1775
CommissionedAugust 1775
RenamedHMS Helena in March 1797
FateSold August 1802
General characteristics
Tons burthen300 494 bm
Length
  • 96 ft 7 in (29.4 m) (gundeck)
  • 78 ft 10 in (24.0 m) (keel)
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Depth of hold12 ft 10 in (3.9 m)
Complement125
Armament
  • 14 × 6-pounder guns;
  • 2 more added ca. 1780
Scale model

HMS Atalanta was a 14 gun ship sloop of the Swan class, launched on 12 August 1775. She served during the American Revolutionary War. On 28 May 1781, Atlanta was engaged by the privateer Alliance, in which 24 crew were killed or wounded.[1] In May 1782, under the command of Brett, she destroyed an American privateer (6 guns, 25 men), under then command of Ayret, near Cape d'Or. Privateers from Cumberland (including Samuel Rogers) were on board. The privateers escaped to the woods leaving their provisions, which Captain Brett took to Cumberland.[2]

She also served in the French Revolutionary War, and was then renamed HMS Helena in March 1797 before being sold for disposal in 1802.[3]