Porcupine-class post ship

Class overview
NamePorcupine-class post ships
Operators Royal Navy
Completed10
Lost6
General characteristics
TypeSixth-rate post ship
Tons burthen513 5594 (bm; as designed)
Length
  • 114 ft 3 in (34.8 m) (gundeck)
  • 94 ft 3+12 in (28.7 m) (keel)
Beam32 ft (9.8 m)
Depth of hold10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement160
Armament
  • Upperdeck: 22 × 9-pounder guns
  • QD 2 × 6-pounder guns

The Porcupine-class sailing sixth rates were a series of ten 24-gun post ships built to a 1776 design by John Williams, that served in the Royal Navy during the American War Of Independence. Some survived to serve again in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. The first two were launched in 1777. Three were launched in 1778, three more in 1779, and the last two in 1781.