| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1756–1758 |
| In commission | 1758–1809 |
| Completed | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 718 18⁄94 bm (as designed) |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 35 ft 8 in (11 m) |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 4 in (4 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 240 |
| Armament |
|
The Venus-class frigates were three 36-gun sailing frigates of the fifth rate produced for the Royal Navy. They were designed in 1756 by Sir Thomas Slade, and were enlarged from his design for the 32-gun Southampton-class frigates, which had been approved four months earlier.[1]
The 36-gun frigates, of which this was to be the only British design in the era of the 12-pounder frigate, carried the same battery of twenty-six 12-pounders as their 32-gun predecessors; the only difference lay in the secondary armament on the quarterdeck which was here doubled to eight 6-pounders. Slade's 36-gun design was approved on 13 July 1756, on which date two ships were approved to be built by contract to these plans. A third ship was ordered about two weeks later, to be built in a royal dockyard.[1]
The Venus-class were faster than the Southampton-class, making up to 13 knots ahead of strong winds and ten knots while close-hauled compared with Southampton-class speeds of 12 and 8 knots respectively. Both Venus- and Southampton-class frigates were highly maneuverable and more capable of withstanding heavy weather than their French equivalents during the Seven Years' War.[2]