The Hermes class were a series of four 20-gun ships, launched between 1811 and 1816. Two pairs of ships were produced, to slightly different designs – the first two had 20 guns and were unrated flush-decked ship-sloops, whilst the latter two were converted to 26-gun sixth-rates. The design was based on the ex-French 20-gun corvette , which the British had captured in 1796.
The first pair was built at Milford Dockyard on the north side of Milford Haven. was launched in 1811 and in 1813. Milford Dockyard was closed following their construction, and the second pair were built at the new Pater (later Pembroke Dock) Dockyard on the south side of Milford Haven.
The second pair – and – were launched on the same date in 1816. They were modified at Plymouth Dockyard in 1820 and 1821 respectively, before their first commission, by the addition of quarterdecks and forecastle to what had originally been flush-deck vessels, and they were at that time re-classed as 26-gun sixth rate post ships.
The Cyrus class was based on the design of the Myrmidon of the Hermes class.
Ships in class
Builder: Milford Dockyard
Ordered: 18 January 1810
Laid down: May 1810
Launched: 22 July 1811
Completed: 7 September 1811
Fate: Grounded and burnt in action at Mobile in 1814.
Builder: Milford Dockyard
Ordered: 2 August 1811
Laid down: July 1812
Launched: 18 June 1813
Completed: 6 February 1814 at Plymouth Dockyard
Fate: Broken up at Portsmouth in 1823.
Builder: Pater Dockyard
Ordered: 28 November 1812
Laid down: April 1815
Launched: 10 February 1816
Completed: 21 March 1816
Fate: Sold to break up at Alexandria in 1841.
Builder: Pater Dockyard
Ordered: 28 November 1812
Laid down: March 1815
Launched: 10 February 1816
Completed: 26 March 1816 at Plymouth Dockyard
Fate: Broken up at Chatham in 1829.
References
Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793–1817, Chatham Publishing, London 2005. Davy Lyon, The Sailing Navy List – all the Ships of the Royal Navy 1688-1860, Conway Maritime Press, London 1993.