List of corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy

This is a list of Sixth-rate, corvette, and sloop classes of the Royal Navy.

During the Age of Sail, warships were divided into ranks or classes. The English Royal Navy adopted a scheme of six classes or "rates" in 1626. This system was in place until the 1840s, when steam power was introduced. The vessels classed as "Sixth-rates" were used in trade protection and at times could be used as scouts for the fleet (a task normally associated with "Fifth-rates"). In 1626, a "Sixth-rate" was defined as a ship having a crew of 40 to 50 men. In 1653, this was changed, to from 40 up to 79 men. After the Restoration in 1660, a "Sixth-rate" carried up to 24 guns, though 18 to 20 was more common. By the end of the 1600s, the crew size had grown to over 100 men, with a flush deck battery of six pound guns. By the 1750s, a "Sixth-rate" would carry up to 28 guns. In the mid 18th-century, the definition was formally established based on ship size, armament, and crew size.

With the advent of steam assisted and steam powered vessels, the term "Sixth-rate" was replaced by "Sloop" as an official type of ship in the Royal Navy. The term "Corvette", adopted from the French, was not adopted as an official ship type until 1862. This only lasted until 1888 when it was replaced by the term "Third Class Cruiser". The term sloop returned during World War I for vessels dedicated to convoy escort. It remained in use until the 1960s. The term corvette did not reappear as an official ship type until just before the start of World War II, as a convoy escort vessel, and is still used in some navies today.

Note that vessels captured from other countries and incorporated into the Royal Navy were rated in accordance with the ship rating classification.

Late 17th-century Sixth Rate groups

 * Anthony Deane group. All designed by the notable Master Shipwright.
 * HMS Fanfan (1666), built as a yacht – made into a harbour craft 1692.
 * HMS Roebuck (1666), 16 guns – sold 1683.
 * HMS Francis (1666), 16 guns – wrecked 1684.
 * HMS Truelove (1647) (rebuilt as a fireship in 1668), 12 guns – expended in 1672.
 * HMS Saudadoes (1669), 16 guns as rebuilt 1673, captured and burnt by the French 1696.
 * HMS Greyhound (1672), 16 guns – sold 1698.
 * HMS Larke (1675), 18 guns – sold 1698.
 * Maidstone Group – 18 ships, guns 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1693–1697
 * HMS Maidstone (1693) – sold 1714.
 * HMS Jersey (1694) – renamed Margate 1698, wrecked 1707.
 * HMS Lizard (1694) – wrecked 1696.
 * HMS Newport (1694) – captured by the French 1696.
 * HMS Falcon (1694) – captured by the French 1696, retaken 1703 and broken up.
 * HMS Queenborough (1694) – sold 1719.
 * HMS Swan (1694) – foundered 1707.
 * HMS Drake (1694) – wrecked 1694.
 * HMS Solebay (1694) – wrecked 1709.
 * HMS Seahorse (1694) – wrecked 1704.
 * HMS Bideford (1695) – wrecked 1699.
 * HMS Penzance (1695) – sold 1713.
 * HMS Dunwich (1695) – sunk as a breakwater 1714.
 * HMS Oxford (1695) – renamed Newport 1698, sold 1714.
 * HMS Lizard (1697) – sold 1714.
 * HMS Flamborough (1697) – captured by the French 1705 and scuttled.
 * HMS Seaford (1697) – rebuilt in 1722.
 * HMS Deal Castle (1697) – captured by the French 1706.
 * HMS Seaford (1695) (Purchased from builder in 1695), with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. – captured by the French 1697.

18th-century (1700–51) Sixth Rate Groups

 * Peregrine Galley – 1 ship, with 16 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1700
 * Nightingale Group – 3 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1702–1704
 * HMS Nightingale (1702) – taken by the French 1707, retaken and renamed Fox 1708, rebuilt in 1724.
 * HMS Squirrel (1703) – taken by the French 1703.
 * HMS Squirrel (1704) – taken by the French 1706, retaken 1708 and foundered.
 * Ex-French Prizes 1704 – 1709
 * HMS Sun Prize (1704)
 * HMS Medway's Prize (1704)
 * HMS Valeur (1705)
 * HMS Triton's Prize (1705)
 * HMS Cruizer (1705)
 * HMS Fox Prize (1705)
 * HMS Enterprise (1705)
 * HMS Dunkirk's Prize (1705)
 * HMS Child's Play (1706)
 * HMS Orford's Prize (1708)
 * HMS Fame (1709)
 * Purchased Group – 3 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1706–1707
 * HMS Aldborough (1706) – broken up 1727 and rebuilt under same name
 * HMS Nightingale (1707) – sold 1716.
 * HMS Deal Castle (1706) – rebuilt under same name 1719 Establishment
 * Flamborough Group – 2 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1707
 * HMS Flamborough (1707) – dismantled for rebuilding in 1727.
 * HMS Squirrel (1707) – broken up 1727.
 * Ex-Scottish Acquisitions – 2 24-gun sixth rates
 * HMS Glasgow (1707) - Ex Royal Mary of the Scottish Navy, sold 1719
 * HMS Dumbarton Castle (1707) - taken by French 1708
 * Gibraltar Group – 12 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1711–1716
 * HMS Solebay (1711) – sold 1748.
 * HMS Gibraltar (1711) – dismantle for rebuilding 1725 thru 1727.
 * HMS Port Mahon (1711) – broken up 1740.
 * HMS Blandford (1711) – foundered 1719.
 * HMS Hind (1712) – wrecked 1721.
 * HMS Seahorse (1712) – dismantled for rebuild 1727.
 * HMS Rose (1712) – dismantled at Woolwich for rebuilding in 1722.
 * HMS Bideford (1712) – docked at Chatham for rebuilding in 1727.
 * HMS Success (1712) – sold 1743.
 * HMS Greyhound (1712) – captured by Spain 1718, retaken 1719 and burnt.
 * HMS Lively (1713) – broken up 1738.
 * HMS Speedwell (1690) – converted to bomb-vessel 1719, wrecked 1720.
 * Dursley Galley – 1 ship, with 20 × 6-pdrs. 1719. Sold 1745
 * 1719 Establishment Group – 20 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs. 1720–1727
 * HMS Lyme (1720) – ex-fifth rate, broken up 1739.
 * HMS Greyhound (1720) – broken in 1741.
 * HMS Blandford (1720) – sold 1742.
 * HMS Shoreham (1720) – ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
 * HMS Scarborough (1722) – ex-fifth rate, sold 1739.
 * HMS Scarborough (1694) – renamed Garland, ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
 * Seaford – rebuild of HMS Seaford (1697) and broken up 1740.
 * HMS Lowestoffe (1723) – ex-fifth rate, sold 1744.
 * Rose – rebuilt HMS Rose (1712) and sold 1744.
 * Deal Castle – rebuild of HMS Deal Castle (1706) and sold 1746.
 * Fox – rebuild of HMS Nightingale (1702), renamed Fox in 1708, broken up 1738.
 * Gibraltar – rebuild of HMS Gibraltar (1711) and sold 1749.
 * Bideford – rebuild of HMS Bideford (1712), foundered 1736.
 * Seahorse – rebuild of HMS Seahorse (1712), sold 1748.
 * Squirrel – rebuild of HMS Squirrel (1707), sold 1749.
 * HMS Phoenix (1694) – sold 1744.
 * Aldborough – rebuild of HMS Aldborough (1706) and broken up 1742.
 * Flamborough – rebuild of HMS Flamborough (1707) and sold 1749.
 * HMS Experiment (1689) – ex-fifth rate, broken up 1738.
 * HMS Rye (1727) – broken up 1735.
 * Modified 1719 Establishment Group – 2 ships, with 20 × 6-pdrs. 1732
 * Sheerness – rebuild of HMS Sheerness (1691) sold 1744.
 * HMS Dolphin (1732) – renamed Firebrand 1755, then Penguin 1757, captured by French and burnt 1760.
 * 1733 Establishment Group – 16 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1734–1742
 * HMS Tartar (1734) – broken up 1755.
 * HMS Kennington (1736) – broken up 1749.
 * HMS Fox (1740) – foundered 1745.
 * HMS Winchelsea (1740) – broken up 1761.
 * HMS Lyme (1740) – foundered 1747.
 * HMS Rye (1740) – wrecked 1744.
 * HMS Experiment (1740) – sold 1763.
 * HMS Lively (1740) – sold 1750.
 * HMS Port Mahon (1740) – sold 1763.
 * HMS Scarborough (1740) – sold 1749.
 * HMS Success (1740) – broken up 1779.
 * HMS Rose (1740) – sold 1755.
 * HMS Bideford (1740) – broken up 1754.
 * HMS Bridgewater (1740) – wrecked 1743.
 * HMS Seaford (1741) – broken up 1754.
 * HMS Solebay (1742) – sold 1763.
 * Modified 1733 Establishment Group – 2 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1741
 * HMS Greyhound (1741) – sold 1768.
 * HMS Blandford (1741) – sold 1763.
 * 1741 Establishment Group – 15 ships, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1742–1746
 * HMS Lowestoffe (1742) – sold 1749.
 * HMS Aldborough (1743) – sold 1749.
 * HMS Alderney (1743) – sold 1749.
 * HMS Phoenix (1743) – sold 1762.
 * HMS Sheerness (1743) – sold 1768.
 * HMS Wager (1744) – sold 1763.
 * HMS Shoreham (1744) – sold 1758.
 * HMS Bridgewater (1744) – burnt to avoid capture 1758.
 * HMS Glasgow (1745) – sold 1756.
 * HMS Triton (1745) – burnt to avoid capture 1758.
 * HMS Mercury (1745) – broken up 1753.
 * HMS Surprise (1746) – sold 1770.
 * HMS Siren (1745) – sold 1764.
 * HMS Fox (1746) – wrecked 1751.
 * HMS Rye (1746) – sold 1763.
 * Modified 1741 Establishment Group – 2 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746
 * HMS Centaur (1746) – sold 1761.
 * HMS Deal Castle (1746) – broken up 1754.
 * HMS Nightingale (1746) purchase – sunk as a breakwater 1783.
 * 1745 Establishment Group – 7 ships, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1746–1751
 * HMS Garland (1748) – sold 1761.
 * HMS Arundel (1746) – sold 1765.
 * HMS Queenborough (1747) – foundered 1761.
 * HMS Fowey (1749) – burnt to avoid capture 1781.
 * HMS Hind (1749) – sold 1784.
 * HMS Sphinx (1748) – sold 1770.
 * HMS Dolphin (1751) – broken up 1777.
 * Modified 1745 Establishment Group – 1 ship, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1748
 * HMS Boston (1748) – broken up 1752.
 * HMS Seahorse (1748) – sold 1784.
 * HMS Mermaid (1749) – bilged 1759 and abandoned 1760.

18th-century (1752–99) Sixth Rate Groups

 * Gibraltar class – 1 ship, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1754.
 * HMS Gibraltar (1754) – broken up 1773.
 * Seaford class – 1 ship, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1754.
 * HMS Seaford (1754) – 33 guns in 1780, sold 1784.
 * Squirrel-class post ship – 10 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1775–1781.
 * HMS Squirrel (1755) – sold 1783.
 * HMS Deal Castle (1756) – wrecked 1780.
 * Bideford class – 1 ship, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1756.
 * HMS Bideford (1756) – wrecked 1761.
 * Later Gibraltar – 6 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1756.
 * HMS Flamborough (1756) – sold 1772.
 * HMS Aldborough (1756) – broken up 1777.
 * HMS Kennington (1756) – broken up 1774.
 * HMS Lively (1756) – sold 1784.
 * HMS Mercury (1756) – wrecked 1777.
 * HMS Scarborough (1756) – foundered 1780.
 * Later Seaford – 2 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs. 1757.
 * HMS Rose (1757) – sunk as blockship 1779.
 * HMS Glasgow (1757) – burnt by accident 1779.
 * Sphinx-class post ship – 10 ships, with 20 × 9-pdrs, + 4 smaller. 1775–1781.
 * HMS Sphinx (1775) – broken up 1811.
 * HMS Camilla (1776) – sold 1831.
 * HMS Daphne (1776) – sold 1802.
 * HMS Galatea (1776) – broken up 1783.
 * HMS Ariadne (1776) – sold 1814.
 * HMS Vestal (1777) – foundered 1777.
 * HMS Perseus (1776) – broken up 1805.
 * HMS Unicorn (1776) – broken up 1787.
 * HMS Ariel (1777) – captured by the French 1779.
 * HMS Narcissus (1781) – wrecked 1796.
 * Porcupine-class post ship – 10 ships, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1777–1781.
 * HMS Porcupine (1777) – broken up 1805.
 * HMS Pelican (1777) – wrecked 1781.
 * HMS Eurydice (1781) – broken up 1834.
 * HMS Hyaena (1778) – sold 1802.
 * HMS Penelope (1778) – foundered 1780.
 * HMS Amphitrite (1778) – wrecked 1794.
 * HMS Crocodile (1781) – wrecked 1784.
 * HMS Siren (1779) – wrecked 1781.
 * HMS Pandora (1779) – wrecked 1791.
 * HMS Champion (1779) – sold 1816.
 * Myrmidon class – 1 ship, with 20 × 6-pdrs, + 2 smaller. 1781.
 * HMS Myrmidon (1781) – broken up 1811.
 * Squirrel class (of 1782 design) – 1 ship, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 2 × 6-pdrs. 1785.
 * HMS Squirrel (1785) – sold 1817.

19th-century sailing post ship (and subsequently corvette) classes
This section lists the 'post ships' of 20 to 24 guns (after 1817, up to 28 guns) which in the 1830s would be merged with the larger sloops to form the new category of corvette. From 1817 the upper limit (in terms of numbers of guns) would be raised to 28 guns.
 * Banterer-class post ship – 6 ships, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1807
 * HMS Crocodile (1806) – broken up 1816.
 * HMS Daphne (1806) – sold 1816.
 * HMS Cossack (1806) – broken up 1816.
 * HMS Cyane (1806) – captured 1815.
 * HMS Banterer (1807) – wrecked 1808.
 * HMS Porcupine (1807) – sold 1816.
 * Laurel-class post ship – 6 ships, with 22 × 9-pdrs, + 10 smaller. 1806–1812
 * HMS Boreas (1806) – wrecked 1807.
 * HMS Laurel (1806) – renamed Laurestinus 1810, wrecked 1813.
 * HMS Comus (1806) – wrecked 1816.
 * HMS Garland (1807) – sold 1817.
 * HMS Perseus (1812) – broken up 1850.
 * HMS Volage (1807) – sold 1818.
 * Hermes-class post ship – 4 ships, 1811–1816
 * HMS Hermes (1811) – burnt in action 1814.
 * HMS Myrmidon (1813) – broken up 1823.
 * HMS Ariadne (1816) – sold 1841.
 * HMS Valorous (1816) – broken up 1829.
 * Cyrus-class post ship – 16 ships, 1813–1814
 * HMS Medina (1813) – sold 1832.
 * HMS Cyrus (1813) – sold 1823.
 * HMS Levant (1813) – broken up 1820.
 * HMS Esk (1813) – sold 1829.
 * HMS Carron (1813) – wrecked 1820.
 * HMS Tay (1813) – wrecked 1816.
 * HMS Slaney (1813) – broken up 1838.
 * HMS Erne (1813) – wrecked 1819.
 * HMS Leven (1813) – broken up 1848.
 * HMS Falmouth (1814) – sold 1825.
 * HMS Cyrene (1814) – sold 1828.
 * HMS Bann (1814) – sold 1829.
 * HMS Spey (1814) – sold 1822.
 * HMS Lee (1814) – broken up 1822.
 * HMS Hind (1814) – sold 1827.
 * HMS Larne (1814) – sold 1828.
 * Conway-class post ship – 10 ships, 1814–1817
 * HMS Mersey (1814) – broken up 1852.
 * HMS Eden (1814) – broken up 1833.
 * HMS Conway (1814) – sold 1825.
 * HMS Tamar (1814) – sold 1837.
 * HMS Dee (1814) – sold 1819.
 * HMS Towey (1814) – broken up 1832.
 * HMS Menai (1814) – broken up 1853.
 * HMS Tyne (1814) – sold 1825.
 * HMS Wye (1814) – broken up 1852.
 * HMS Tees (1817) – sold 1872.
 * Atholl-class corvette – 18 ships (of which 4 cancelled or re-ordered to other designs), 1820–1828
 * HMS Atholl (1820) – broken up 1863.
 * HMS Niemen (1820) – broken up 1828.
 * HMS Ranger (1820) – sold 1832.
 * HMS Rattlesnake (1822) – broken up 1860.
 * HMS North Star (1824) – broken up 1860.
 * HMS Tweed (1823) – sold 1852.
 * HMS Talbot (1824) – sold 1896.
 * HMS Rainbow (1823) – sold 1838.
 * HMS Alligator (1821) – sold 1865.
 * HMS Termagant (1822) – renamed Herald 1824, sold 1862.
 * HMS Samarang (1822) – sold 1883.
 * Andromeda (-) – re-ordered as Nimrod below
 * HMS Success (1825) – broken up 1849.
 * HMS Crocodile (1825) – sold 1861.
 * Alarm (-) – re-ordered as Conway class vessel
 * Daphne (-) – cancelled 1832
 * Porcupine (-) – cancelled 1832
 * HMS Nimrod (1828) – sold 1907.
 * HMS Volage (1825) – 1 ship, 1825
 * HMS Tyne (1826) – 1 ship, 1826
 * Conway-class corvette – 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1832
 * HMS Imogene (1831) (originally Pearl – renamed before launch)
 * HMS Conway (1832)
 * Alarm (-) – cancelled 1832
 * HMS Challenger (1826) – 1 ship, 1826
 * HMS Sapphire (1827) – 1 ship, 1826
 * HMS Actaeon (1831) – 1 ship, 1831
 * Andromache-class corvette – 5 ships (of which the last 3 were re-ordered as the following Vestal class), 1832–1837
 * HMS Calliope (1837) – broken up 1883.
 * HMS Andromache (1832) – broken up 1875.
 * Vestal-class corvette – 3 ships, 1833–1836
 * HMS Vestal (1833) – sold 1862.
 * HMS Cleopatra (1835) – sold 1862.
 * HMS Carysfort (1836) – sold 1861.
 * Spartan-class corvette – 8 ships (of which 2 cancelled), 1840–1845
 * HMS Spartan (1841) – sold 1862.
 * HMS Iris (1840) – sold 1869.
 * HMS Juno (1844) – renamed Mariner 1878, foundered 1880.
 * HMS Creole (1845) – broken up 1875.
 * HMS Amethyst (1844) – sold 1869.
 * Niobe (-) – re-ordered as Diamond-class vessel
 * Malacca (-) – re-ordered as screw ship
 * HMS Alarm (1845) – sold 1904.
 * HMS Eurydice (1843) – 1 ship, 1843
 * Diamond-class corvette – 3 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1848–1849
 * HMS Diamond (1848) – sold 1885.
 * Tribune (-) – completed as a screw frigate.
 * HMS Niobe (1849) – sold 1862 to Prussian Navy.

19th-century screw corvettes

 * Highflyer-class corvette – 2 ships, 1851–1854
 * HMS Highflyer (1851) – broken up 1871.
 * HMS Esk (1854) – broken up 1870.
 * Pylades class – 1 ship, 1854
 * HMS Pylades (1854) – sold 1875.
 * Cossack-class corvette – 2 ships, 1854
 * HMS Cossack (1854) – sold 1875.
 * HMS Tartar (1854) – sold 1866.
 * Pearl-class corvette – 10 ships, 1855–1858
 * HMS Pearl (1855) – sold 1884.
 * HMS Satellite (1855) – broken up 1879.
 * HMS Cadmus (1856) – broken up 1879.
 * HMS Scout (1856) – broken up 1877.
 * HMS Scylla (1856) – sold 1882.
 * HMS Charybdis (1859) – sold 1884.
 * HMS Pelorus (1857) – broken up 1869.
 * HMS Challenger (1858) – hulked 1880, sold 1921.
 * HMS Racoon (1857) – broken up 1877.
 * HMS Clio (1858) – training ship 1876, sold 1919.
 * Jason-class corvette – 7 ships (of which 1 cancelled), 1859–1863
 * HMS Jason (1859) – broken up 1877.
 * HMS Barrosa (1860) – broken up 1877.
 * Galatea (-) – completed as a screw frigate.
 * HMS Orpheus (1860) – wrecked 1863.
 * HMS Orestes (1860) – broken up 1866.
 * HMS Rattlesnake (1861) – broken up 1882.
 * HMS Wolverine (1863) – training ship 1881, sold 1923.
 * North Star-class corvette – 10 ships, 1860 design – all cancelled
 * Juno-class corvette – 2 ships, 1867–1869
 * HMS Juno (1867) – sold 1887.
 * HMS Thalia (1869) – sold 1920.
 * Briton-class corvette – 3 ships, 1869–1871
 * HMS Druid (1869)
 * HMS Briton (1869)
 * HMS Thetis (1871)
 * Volage-class corvette – 2 ships, 1869–1869
 * HMS Volage (1869)
 * HMS Active (1869)
 * Amethyst-class corvette – 5 ships, 1873–1874
 * HMS Encounter (1873)
 * HMS Amethyst (1873)
 * HMS Modeste (1873)
 * HMS Diamond (1874)
 * HMS Sapphire (1874)
 * HMS Rover (1874)
 * Emerald-class corvette – 6 ships, 1875–1877
 * HMS Opal (1875)
 * HMS Turquoise (1876)
 * HMS Ruby (1876)
 * HMS Tourmaline (1875)
 * HMS Emerald (1876)
 * Garnet (1877)
 * Bacchante-class corvette – 3 ships, 1875–1877
 * HMS Boadicea (1875)
 * HMS Bacchante (1876)
 * HMS Euryalus (1877)
 * Comus-class corvette – 9 ships, 1878–1881
 * HMS Comus (1878)
 * HMS Curacoa (1878)
 * HMS Champion (1878)
 * HMS Cleopatra (1878)
 * HMS Carysfort (1878)
 * HMS Conquest (1878)
 * HMS Constance (1880)
 * HMS Canada (1881)
 * HMS Cordelia (1881)
 * Calypso-class corvette – 2 ships, 1883–1884
 * HMS Calypso (1883)
 * HMS Calliope (1884)

World War II corvettes
After more than half a century, the category of corvette was revived during World War II to designate a smaller form of escort vessel than the existing sloops. It was thus not comparable with the pre-1887 corvettes in the Royal Navy. Two classes of wartime corvette were designed and built in considerable numbers (see separate articles):


 * Flower-class corvette – 267 ships, 1939–1945
 * Castle-class corvette – 44 ships, 1943–1944

Sloops (early single-masted type)
Note that early sloops were single-masted, including (initially) the Swift, Jamaica, and Hazard groups listed below for 1700–1711; however, all surviving sloops by 1716 had been re-rigged as two-masted, and all new sloops continued to be two-masted until the 1750s, when three-masted – ship-rigged – sloops were introduced.
 * Swift group – 3 vessels, 1704
 * Swift (1704) – sold 1719.
 * Ferret (1704) – captured 1706 by French.
 * Weazle (1704) – sold 1712.
 * Jamaica group – 4 vessels, 1709–1711
 * Jamaica (1709) – wrecked 1715.
 * Trial (1709) – rebuilt 1719.
 * Ferret (1711) – captured by Spanish 1718.
 * Shark (1711) – rebuilt 1722.
 * Hazard group – 2 vessels, 1711
 * Hazard (1711) – wrecked 1714.
 * Happy (1711) – rebuilt 1724–25.

Two-masted sloops (to 1732)
All early two-masted sloops were mainly either ketch-rigged or snow-rigged.


 * Drake – 1 brig-rigged vessel, 1705 – rebuilt 1728
 * Trial – 1 vessel, 1719 (rebuilt from 1709 vessel) – BU 1731.
 * Bonetta group – 2 vessels, 1721
 * Bonetta (1721) – sold 1731.
 * Ferret (1721) – sold 1731.
 * Otter group – 2 vessels, 1721
 * Otter (1721) – wrecked 1742.
 * Swift (1721) – sold 1741.
 * Cruizer group – 4 vessels, 1721
 * Cruizer (1721) – BU 1732.
 * Weazle (1721) – sold 1732.
 * Hawk (1721) – foundered 1739.
 * Spy (1721) – sold 1731.
 * Shark group – 2 vessels, 1723–1725
 * Shark (1723) – sold 1732.
 * Happy (1725) – sold 1735.
 * Spence – 1 vessel, 1723 – BU 1730.
 * Drake class – 2 vessels, 1729
 * Drake (1729) – BU 1740.
 * Spence (1729) – sold 1749.
 * Grampus – 1 vessel, 1731 – foundered 1742.
 * Wolf – 1 vessel, 1731 – wrecked 1741.
 * Bonetta group – 8 vessels, 1732
 * Shark (1732) – sold 1755.
 * Bonetta (1732) – wrecked 1744.
 * Fly (1732) – BU 1751.
 * Spy (1732) – sold 1745.
 * Saltash (1732) – sold 1741.
 * Cruizer (1732) – sold 1745.
 * Hound (1732) – BU 1745.
 * Trial (1732) – scuttled 1741.

Two-masted sloops (1739 to 1745)
From the outbreak of the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739, the Navy recognised that there was a growing need for smaller vessels for amphibious operations, as escorts for commercial traffic, and for minor combatant roles. Over the next six years, some 36 specialist vessels were procured (34 designed by the Navy and 2 purchased on the stocks where builders had begun them as speculative ventures), as listed below; of these, the first four were essentially repeats of the previous group of 200-ton sloops of 1732, while the later vessels were progressively enlarged. In addition, a small number were captured from the Spanish during this era, and a dozen bomb vessels of similar construction supplemented the purpose-built sloops in a cruising role.
 * Drake class – 3 vessels, 1741
 * Drake (1741) – wrecked 1742.
 * Hawk (1741) – BU 1747.
 * Swift (1741) – lost 1756.
 * Purchased vessel – Saltash (1741) – burned 1742
 * Wolf class – 3 vessels, 1742–1743
 * Wolf (1742) – wrecked 1748.
 * Otter (1742) – sold 1763.
 * Grampus (1743) – captured by the French 1744.
 * Baltimore class – 3 vessels, 1742–1743
 * Baltimore (1742) – sold 1762.
 * Saltash (1742) – capsized 1746.
 * Drake (1743) – sold 1748.
 * Purchased vessel – Ferret (1743) – foundered 1757
 * Merlin class – 21 vessels, 1744–1747
 * Swallow (1744) – wrecked 1744.
 * Merlin (1744) – sold 1748.
 * Speedwell (1744) – sold 1750.
 * Falcon (1744) – captured by French 1745, retaken 1746 and renamed Fortune, sold 1770.
 * Hazard (1744) – sold 1749.
 * Lizard (1744) – wrecked 1748.
 * Hinchingbrooke (1745) – captured by French 1746.
 * Tavistock (1745) – renamed Albany 1747, sold 1763.
 * Hound (1745) – sold 1773.
 * Hornet (1745) – sold 1770.
 * Raven (1745) – sold 1763.
 * Swan (1745) – sold 1763.
 * Badger (1745) – wrecked 1762.
 * Falcon (1745) – wrecked 1759.
 * Scorpion (1746) – wrecked 1762.
 * Swallow (1745) – sold 1769.
 * Kingfisher (1745) – sold 1763.
 * Dispatch (1745) – sold 1773.
 * Viper (1746) – renamed Lightning as fireship 1755, sold 1762.
 * Grampus (1746) – converted to fireship 1762, renamed Strombolo 1771, sold 1780.
 * Saltash (1745) – sold 1773.
 * Hind class – 4 vessels, 1744
 * Hind (1744) – foundered 1747.
 * Vulture (1744) – sold 1761.
 * Jamaica (1744) – wrecked 1770.
 * Trial (1744) – BU 1776.

Two-masted sloops (1749 to 1770)

 * Wasp group – 4 vessels, 1749–1750
 * Wasp (1749) – sold 1781.
 * Peggy (1749) – wrecked 1770.
 * Hazard (1749) – sold 1783.
 * Savage (1750) – wrecked 1776.
 * Fly class – 2 vessels, 1752
 * Ranger (1752) – sold 1783.
 * Fly (1752) – sold 1772.
 * Cruizer class – 4 vessels, 1752–1754
 * Speedwell (1752) – sold 1780.
 * Cruizer (1752) – burned 1776.
 * Happy (1754) – wrecked 1766.
 * Wolf (1754) – sold 1781.
 * Hawk – 1 vessel, 1756 – sold 1781.
 * Bonetta class – 3 vessels, 1756
 * Bonetta (1756) – sold 1776.
 * Merlin (1756) – burned 1780.
 * Spy (1756) – sold 1773.
 * Hunter class – 2 vessels, 1756
 * Hunter (1756) – sold 1780.
 * Viper (1756) – wrecked 1779.
 * Alderney class – 3 vessels, 1756–1757. Although designed and begun as two-masted sloops, Stork and Alderney were completed as three-masted ships.
 * Stork (1756) – taken 1758 by the French.
 * Alderney (1757) – sold 1783.
 * Diligence (1756) – sold 1780.
 * Druid class – 2 vessels, 1761. Although designed as two-masted sloops, both vessels were later reported as three-masted (ship-rigged).
 * Druid (1761) – sunk as a breakwater 1773.
 * Lynx (1761) – sold 1777.

Ship-rigged sloops (1745–88)
Ship sloops (i.e. sloops carrying three masts, and rigged as ships) were built frigate-style, and initially were referred to as frigates, in spite of their size and relative lack of guns.


 * Purchased sloops 1745–46
 * HMS Weazel (1745) purchased on the stocks
 * HMS Porcupine (1746) purchased on the stocks
 * Favourite class – 3 ships (including 1 cancelled), 1757–1758
 * HMS Favourite (1757)
 * HMS Tamar (1758)
 * Flora – cancelled 1761
 * Purchased sloops 1757
 * HMS Merlin (1757)
 * HMS Racehorse (1757)
 * HMS Pelican (1757)
 * HMS Roman Emperor (1757)
 * Ferret class – 1 ship, 1760
 * HMS Ferret (1760)
 * Senegal class – 1 ship, 1760
 * HMS Senegal (1760)
 * Beaver class – 2 ships, 1761
 * HMS Beaver (1761)
 * HMS Martin (1761)
 * Modified Favourite class – 1 ship, 1762
 * HMS Nautilus (1762)
 * Swift class – 2 ships, 1763. Begun as two-masted vessels, but completed with three-masted (ship)rig.
 * HMS Swift (1763)
 * HMS Vulture (1763)
 * Otter class – 1 ship, 1767
 * HMS Otter (1767)
 * Swallow class – 2 ships, 1769–1771
 * HMS Swallow (1769)
 * HMS Falcon (1771)
 * Swan class – 25 ships, 1766–1780
 * HMS Swan (1767)
 * HMS Kingfisher (1770)
 * HMS Cygnet (1776)
 * HMS Atalanta (1775)
 * HMS Pegasus (1776)
 * HMS Fly (1776)
 * HMS Swift (1777)
 * HMS Dispatch (1777)
 * HMS Fortune (1777)
 * HMS Hound (1776)
 * HMS Hornet (1776)
 * HMS Vulture (1776)
 * HMS Spy (1776)
 * HMS Cormorant (1776)
 * HMS Zebra (1777)
 * HMS Cameleon (1777)
 * HMS Fairy (1778)
 * HMS Nymph (1778)
 * HMS Savage (1778)
 * HMS Fury (1779)
 * HMS Delight (1778)
 * HMS Thorn (1779)
 * HMS Bonetta (1779)
 * HMS Shark (1779)
 * HMS Alligator (1780)
 * Purchased ship sloops – 2 ships, 1771
 * HMS Raven (1771)
 * HMS Scorpion (1771)
 * Ceres class – 1 ship, 1777
 * HMS Ceres (1777)
 * Purchased ship sloops – 1 ship, 1780
 * HMS Termagant (1780) – Corvette, purchased on the Stocks while building by Hillhouse at Bristol, 22 × 6-pdrs and 4 × 12-pdr carronades, reduced to an 18-gun Ship-Sloop in 1782, 1795 sold.
 * Zebra class – 3 ships, 1780–1782 (a fourth was cancelled)
 * HMS Zebra (1780)
 * HMS Ariel (1781)
 * HMS Bulldog (1782)
 * Serpent cancelled 1783
 * Inspector class – 1 ship, 1782
 * HMS Inspector (1782)
 * Echo class – 6 ships, 1782–1785, designed by Edward Hunt and armed with 16 6-pounders on the upper deck and 6 12-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck, with a further 2 on the forecastle
 * HMS Echo (1782) – broken up 1797
 * HMS Rattler (1783) – sold 1792
 * HMS Calypso (1783) – sank after being rammed by a merchantman in the Atlantic in August 1803
 * HMS Brisk (1784) – sold 1805
 * HMS Nautilus (1784) – wrecked off Flamborough Head on 2 February 1799
 * HMS Scorpion (1785) – sold 1802

Brig-rigged sloops (1778–84)

 * Childers class – 1 vessel, 1778
 * HMS Childers (1778)
 * Purchased brigs 1779–82 – 11 vessels purchased on stocks
 * HMS Swallow (1779)
 * HMS Drake (1779)
 * HMS Zephyr (1779)
 * HMS Scourge (1779)
 * HMS Lively (1779)
 * HMS Alert (1779)
 * HMS Scout (1780)
 * HMS Fortune (1780)
 * HMS Swallow (1781)
 * HMS Wasp (1782)
 * HMS Kingfisher (1782)
 * Purchased brigs 1781 – 2 vessels purchased from mercantile service
 * HMS Cameleon (1781)
 * HMS Swan (1781)
 * Speedy class – 2 ships, 1782
 * HMS Speedy (1782)
 * HMS Flirt (1782)
 * Modified Childers class – 4 ships, 1782–1784
 * HMS Falcon (1782)
 * HMS Otter (1782)
 * HMS Weazel (1783)
 * HMS Ferret (1784)

Ship-rigged sloops (1788 to 1815)

 * Hound class – 5 ship sloops, 1789–1791
 * HMS Hound (1790)
 * HMS Martin (1790)
 * HMS Rattlesnake (1791)
 * HMS Fury (1790)
 * HMS Serpent (1789)
 * Hawk class – 2 ship sloops, 1793
 * HMS Hawk (1793)
 * HMS Swift (1793)
 * Pylades class – 6 ship sloops, 1793–1795
 * HMS Pylades (1794)
 * HMS Alert (1793)
 * HMS Albacore (1793)
 * HMS Peterel (1794)
 * HMS Ranger (1794)
 * HMS Rattler (1795)
 * Cormorant class – 7 ship-sloops, 1794–1796; a second batch of 24 ship sloops (including 1 cancelled) followed 1804–1806
 * HMS Cormorant (1794)
 * HMS Favourite (1794)
 * HMS Hornet (1794 sloop-of-war)
 * HMS Lynx (1794)
 * HMS Lark (1794)
 * HMS Hazard (1794)
 * HMS Stork (1796)
 * HMS Hyacinth (1806)
 * HMS Sabrina (1806)
 * HMS Herald (1806)
 * HMS Anacreon (1813)
 * HMS Rosamund (1807)
 * HMS Fawn (1807)
 * HMS Acorn (1807)
 * HMS Racoon (1808)
 * HMS North Star (1810)
 * HMS Myrtle (1807)
 * HMS Hesper (1809)
 * HMS Cherub (1806)
 * HMS Minstrel (1807)
 * HMS Wanderer (1806)
 * HMS Sapphire (1806)
 * HMS Blossom (1806)
 * HMS Partridge (1809)
 * HMS Egeria (1807)
 * HMS Tweed (1807)
 * HMS Favourite (1806)
 * HMS Ranger (1807)
 * HMS Jalouse (1809)
 * Serpent – cancelled
 * HMS Dauntless (1808)
 * Dart class – 2 experimental ship sloops, designed by Samuel Bentham, 1796, with 24 32-pounder Carronades on gun deck and 2 32-pounder Carronades each on quarterdeck and forecastle
 * HMS Dart (1796) – broken up 1809
 * HMS Arrow (1796) – taken by the French Frigates Hortense and Incorruptible on 4 February 1805, but sank on the same day due to the damage it had sustained.
 * Bittern class – 5 ship sloops, 1796 (except Brazen in 1808)
 * HMS Bittern (1796)
 * HMS Cyane (1796)
 * HMS Plover (1796)
 * HMS Termagant (1796)
 * HMS Brazen (1808)
 * Merlin class – 2 ship sloops, 1796–1798; a second batch of 14 ship sloops followed 1804–1806.
 * HMS Merlin (1796)
 * HMS Pheasant (1798)
 * HMS Cygnet (1804)
 * HMS Ariel (1806)
 * HMS Kingfisher (1804)
 * HMS Helena (1804)
 * HMS Albacore (1804)
 * HMS Wolf (1804)
 * HMS Fly (1804)
 * HMS Otter (1805)
 * HMS Kangaroo (1805)
 * HMS Martin (1805)
 * HMS Rose (1805)
 * HMS Brisk (1805)
 * HMS Starr (1805)
 * HMS Halifax (1806)
 * Purchased ship-sloops – 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1795.
 * HMS Hunter (1795)
 * HMS Rover (1795)
 * Dasher class – 2 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1797.
 * HMS Dasher (1797)
 * HMS Driver (1797)
 * Echo class – 1 ship sloop, 1797.
 * HMS Echo (1797)
 * Osprey class – 1 ship sloop, 1797.
 * HMS Osprey (1797)
 * Snake class – 2 ship sloops, 1797–1798.
 * HMS Snake (1797)
 * HMS Victor (1798)
 * Purchased ship sloops – 20 ships, 1803–1804
 * HMS Merlin (1803)
 * HMS Curlew (1803)
 * HMS Vulture (1803)
 * HMS Hermes (1803)
 * HMS Speedy (1803)
 * HMS Orestes (1803)
 * HMS Inspector (1803)
 * HMS Bonetta (1803)
 * HMS Avenger (1803) (i)
 * HMS Drake (1804)
 * HMS Avenger (1804) (ii)
 * HMS Alert (1804)
 * HMS Espiegle (1804)
 * HMS Railleur (1804)
 * HMS Cormorant (1804)
 * HMS Utile (1804)
 * HMS Eugenie (1804)
 * HMS Spy (1804)
 * HMS Heron (1804)
 * HMS Anacreon (1804)
 * Combatant class – 3 ship sloops, 1804.
 * HMS Valorous (1804)
 * HMS Dauntless (1804)
 * HMS Combatant (1804)
 * Bermuda class – 6 Bermuda-built ship sloops, 1805–1812.
 * HMS Indian (1805)
 * HMS Bermuda (1806)
 * HMS Atalante (1808)
 * HMS Martin (1809)
 * HMS Morgiana (1811)
 * HMS Sylph (1812)

Brig-rigged sloops (1788 to 1815)
This table excludes the small gun-brigs (of less than 200 burthen tons) that were built in considerable numbers during this period: for these gun-brigs see List of gun-brigs of the Royal Navy


 * Albatross class – 8 brig-sloops, 1795–1796
 * HMS Pelican (1795)
 * HMS Kite (1795)
 * Dispatch (1795)
 * HMS Albatross (1795)
 * HMS Raven (1796)
 * HMS Star (1795)
 * HMS Sylph (1795)
 * HMS Swallow (1795)
 * Diligence class – 8 brig-sloops, 1795–1796
 * HMS Curlew (1795)
 * HMS Diligence (1795)
 * HMS Seagull (1795)
 * HMS Harpy (1796)
 * HMS Hound (1796)
 * HMS Kangaroo (1795)
 * HMS Cameleon (1795)
 * HMS Racoon (1795)
 * Busy class (brig-rigged version of the Echo-class ship sloop) – 1 brig-sloop, 1797.
 * HMS Busy (1797)
 * Cruizer class (brig-rigged version of the Snake-class ship sloops) – 107 brig-sloops, 1797–1815
 * see full list of Cruizer class brig-sloops under article Cruizer-class brig-sloop.
 * Seagull class – 13 brig-sloops, 1805–1806
 * HMS Seagull (1805)
 * HMS Oberon (1805)
 * HMS Imogen (1805)
 * HMS Nightingale (1805)
 * HMS Savage (1805)
 * HMS Skylark (1806)
 * HMS Paulina (1805)
 * HMS Delight (1806)
 * HMS Orestes (1805)
 * HMS Electra (1806)
 * HMS Julia (1806)
 * HMS Satellite (1806)
 * HMS Sheldrake (1806)
 * Fly class – 7 brig-sloops, 1805–1806
 * HMS Kite (1805)
 * HMS Sparrow (1805)
 * HMS Fly (1805)
 * HMS Raven (1805)
 * HMS Wizard (1805)
 * HMS Goshawk (1806)
 * HMS Challenger (1806)
 * Crocus class – 10 brig-sloops, 1808–1814
 * HMS Podargus (1808)
 * HMS Crocus (1808)
 * HMS Merope (1808)
 * HMS Apelles (1808)
 * HMS Portia (1810)
 * HMS Prospero (1809)
 * HMS Muros (1809)
 * HMS Zephyr (1809)
 * HMS Banterer (1810)
 * HMS Wolf (1814)
 * Cherokee class – 114 brig-sloops, 1808–1830
 * see full list of Cherokee-class brig-sloops under article Cherokee-class brig-sloop.
 * Rapid class – 1 brig-sloop, 1808.
 * HMS Rapid (1808)
 * Primrose class – 1 brig-sloop, 1810.
 * HMS Primrose (1810)
 * Icarus class – 1 brig-sloop, 1814.
 * HMS Icarus (1814)

Ship-rigged sloops (after 1816)

 * Rose class – 1 ship-sloop, 1821
 * HMS Rose (1821)
 * Martin class – 1 ship-sloop, 1821
 * HMS Martin (1821)
 * Comet class – 3 ship-sloops, 1828–1837
 * HMS Comet (1828)
 * HMS Lightning (1829)
 * HMS Electra (1837)
 * Orestes class – 1 ship-sloop, 1824
 * HMS Orestes (1824)
 * Pylades class – 1 ship-sloop, 1824
 * HMS Pylades (1824)
 * Snake class (revival of 1797 design) – 2 ship-sloops, 1827–1828
 * HMS Childers (1827)
 * HMS Cruiser (1828)
 * Favorite class – 4 ship-sloops, 1829–1837
 * HMS Favorite (1829)
 * HMS Hyacinth (1829)
 * HMS Racehorse (1830)
 * HMS Hazard (1837)
 * Champion class – 1 ship-sloop, 1824
 * HMS Champion (1824)
 * Pearl class – 1 ship-sloop, 1828
 * HMS Pearl (1828)
 * Wolf class – 1 ship-sloop, 1826
 * HMS Wolf (1826)
 * Satellite class – 2 ship-sloops, 1826
 * HMS Satellite (1826)
 * HMS Acorn (1826)
 * Scout class – 3 ship-sloops (2 cancelled), 1832
 * HMS Scout (1832)
 * Pheasant cancelled 1831
 * Redwing cancelled 1831
 * Rover class – 1 ship-sloop, 1832
 * HMS Rover (1832)
 * Fly class – 4 ship-sloops (2 cancelled), 1831
 * HMS Fly (1831)
 * HMS Harrier (1831)
 * Argus cancelled 1831
 * Acorn cancelled 1831
 * Daphne class – 4 ship-sloops (1 cancelled), 1836–1845, later re-classed as corvettes.
 * HMS Dido (1836)
 * HMS Daphne (1838)
 * HMS Calypso (1845)
 * Coquette cancelled 1851
 * Modeste class – 1 ship-sloop, 1837, later re-classed as corvette.
 * HMS Dido (1836)
 * Challenger class – 1 ship-sloop (cancelled).
 * Challenger cancelled 1849
 * Arachne class – 3 ship-sloops (1 cancelled), 1847, later re-classed as corvettes.
 * HMS Arachne (1847)
 * HMS Terpsichore (1847)
 * Narcissus cancelled 1847

Brig-rigged sloops (after 1816)
Between 1815 and 1826 numerous additional brig-sloops of the wartime Cherokee class were ordered; these have been included with the numbers mentioned in the previous section.
 * Columbine class – 1 brig-sloop, 1826
 * HMS Columbine (1826)
 * Pantaloon class – 1 brig-sloop, purchased 1831
 * HMS Pantaloon (1831)
 * Snake class – 2 brig-sloops, 1832
 * HMS Snake (1832)
 * HMS Serpent (1832)
 * Pandora class – 8 brig-sloops (1 cancelled), 1833–1847
 * HMS Pandora (1833)
 * HMS Bonetta (1836)
 * HMS Dolphin (1838)
 * HMS Spy (1841)
 * HMS Rapid (1840)
 * HMS Sealark (1843)
 * HMS Dart (1847)
 * Daring cancelled 1843
 * Racer class – 9 brig-sloops, 1833–1853
 * HMS Harlequin (1836)
 * HMS Racer (1833)
 * HMS Ringdove (1833)
 * HMS Wanderer (1835)
 * HMS Wolverene (1836)
 * HMS Sappho (1837)
 * HMS Lily (1837)
 * HMS Liberty (1850)
 * HMS Squirrel (1853)
 * Alert class – 18 brig-sloops (4 cancelled), 1835–1846
 * HMS Star (1835)
 * HMS Ranger (1835)
 * HMS Linnet (1835)
 * HMS Alert (1835)
 * HMS Express (1835)
 * HMS Swift (1835)
 * HMS Penguin (1838)
 * HMS Peterel (1838)
 * HMS Crane (1839)
 * HMS Cygnet (1840)
 * HMS Ranger (1840)
 * Dispatch cancelled 1839
 * Dove cancelled 1839
 * HMS Philomel (1842)
 * HMS Heroine (1841)
 * HMS Hound (1846)
 * Mariner cancelled 1839
 * Martin cancelled 1839
 * Waterwitch class – 1 brig-sloop, 1834
 * HMS Waterwitch (1834)
 * Acorn class – 14 brig-sloops, 1838–1852
 * HMS Grecian (1838)
 * HMS Fantome (1839)
 * HMS Pilot (1838)
 * HMS Acorn (1838)
 * HMS Arab (1847)
 * HMS Persian (1839)
 * HMS Bittern (1840)
 * HMS Albatross (1842)
 * HMS Elk (1847)
 * HMS Heron (1847)
 * HMS Mariner (1846)
 * HMS Despatch (1851)
 * HMS Martin (1850)
 * HMS Kangaroo (1852)
 * Helena class – 7 first class brigs, 1841–1853
 * HMS Siren (1841)
 * HMS Helena (1843)
 * HMS Jumna (1848)
 * HMS Atalanta (1847)
 * HMS Camilla (1847)
 * HMS Musquito (1851)
 * HMS Rover (1853)
 * Frolic class – 1 first-class brig, 1842
 * HMS Frolic (1842)
 * Experimental brigs – 9 third-class brigs (to 8 different designs), 1844–1847
 * HMS Daring (1844)
 * HMS Mutine (1844)
 * HMS Flying Fish (1844)
 * HMS Kingfisher (1845)
 * HMS Osprey (1844)
 * HMS Espiegle (1844)
 * HMS Britomart (1847)
 * HMS Recruit (1846) – iron-hulled
 * HMS Contest (1846)
 * Nerbudda class – 1 second-class brig, 1848
 * HMS Nerbudda (1848)

Paddle-driven sloops
These vessels were initially rated as steam vessels until 1844, when the category of steam sloops was created.
 * Messenger class – originally built for private use and purchased in 1830, classed as packets until 1831
 * HMS Messenger (1830)
 * Hermes (1830)
 * Dee class
 * HMS Dee (1832)
 * Batch of 4 ordered in January 1831
 * HMS Salamander (1832)
 * HMS Phoenix (1832)
 * HMS Rhadamanthus (1832)
 * HMS Medea (1833)
 * Hermes class
 * HMS Hermes (1835)
 * HMS Volcano (1836)
 * HMS Megaera (1837)
 * HMS Acheron (1838)
 * Gorgon class
 * HMS Gorgon (1837)
 * Hydra class
 * HMS Hydra (1838)
 * HMS Hecla (1839)
 * HMS Hecate (1839)
 * Merlin class – originally classed as packets
 * HMS Merlin (1838)
 * HMS Medusa (1838)
 * HMS Medina (1840)
 * Stromboli class – improved Gorgon
 * HMS Stromboli (1839)
 * HMS Vesuvius (1839)
 * Alecto class – 5 third-class sloops (1 cancelled), 1839–1841
 * HMS Alecto (1839)
 * HMS Prometheus (1839)
 * HMS Polyphemus (1840)
 * HMS Ardent (1841)
 * Rattler cancelled, re-ordered as screw sloop 1842
 * Driver class – 12 first-class sloops, 1840–1846
 * HMS Driver (1840)
 * HMS Styx (1841)
 * HMS Vixen (1841)
 * HMS Devastation (1841)
 * HMS Geyser (1841)
 * HMS Growler (1841)
 * HMS Thunderbolt (1842)
 * HMS Cormorant (1842)
 * HMS Spiteful (1842)
 * HMS Eclair (1843)
 * HMS Virago (1842)
 * HMS Sphinx (1846)
 * Bulldog class – 4 first-class sloops, 1844–1845, lengthened Driver
 * HMS Inflexible (1845)
 * HMS Scourge (1844)
 * HMS Bulldog (1845)
 * HMS Fury (1845)
 * Janus class – 1 first-class sloop, 1844
 * HMS Janus (1844)
 * Trident class – 1 third-class sloop (iron-hulled), 1845
 * HMS Trident (1845)
 * Antelope class – 3 third-class sloops (iron-hulled), 1846–1847
 * HMS Antelope (1846)
 * HMS Oberon (1847)
 * HMS Triton (1846)
 * Basilisk class – 1 first-class sloop, 1848
 * HMS Basilisk (1848)
 * Buzzard class – 1 second-class sloop, 1849
 * HMS Buzzard (1849)
 * Argus class – 1 second-class sloop, 1849, modified Alecto
 * HMS Argus (1849)
 * Barracouta class – 1 second-class sloop, 1851
 * HMS Barracouta (1851)

19th-century screw sloops (to 1903)
In 1852 six of the screw sloops (Archer, Brisk, Encounter, Malacca, Miranda and Niger) were reclassed as corvettes, while four others (Conflict, Desperate, Phoenix and Wasp) remained sloops. [the 8 vessels cancelled in 1863–64 were Harlequin, Tees, Sappho, Trent, Circassian, Diligence, Imogene, and Success – although 2 were completed as the ironclads Research and Enterprise.] [the 6 vessels cancelled in 1863 were Circassian, Acheron, Bittern, Fame, Cynthia, and Sabrina.]
 * Rattler (1843) – sold 1856.
 * Phoenix (1845 conversion from paddle sloop of 1832) – sold 1864.
 * Encounter class – 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
 * HMS Encounter (1846) – broken up 1866.
 * Harrier (-) – cancelled 1851.
 * Niger class – 2 ships (second cancelled), 1846.
 * HMS Niger (1846) – sold 1869.
 * Florentia (-) – cancelled 1849.
 * Conflict class – 4 ships (second pair cancelled), 1846–1849.
 * HMS Conflict (1846) – sold 1863.
 * HMS Desperate (1849) – broken up 1865.
 * Enchantress (-) – cancelled 1851.
 * Falcon (-) – cancelled 1851.
 * Plumper (1848) – sold 1865.
 * Reynard (1848) – wrecked 1851.
 * Archer class – 2 ships, 1849–1850.
 * Archer (1849) – sold 1866.
 * Wasp (1850) – sold 1869.
 * Miranda (1851) – sold 1869.
 * Brisk (1851) – sold 1870.
 * Malacca (1853) – sold 1869.
 * Cruizer class – 6 ships, 1852–1856.
 * Cruizer (1852) – training ship Lark 1893; sold 1912.
 * Hornet (1854) – sold 1868.
 * HMS Harrier (1854) – broken up 1866.
 * HMS Fawn (1856) – sold 1884.
 * HMS Falcon (1854) – sold 1869.
 * HMS Alert (1856) – loaned to US Navy and then Canadian Government 1884.
 * Swallow class – 4 ships, 1854–1866.
 * HMS Curlew (1854) – sold 1865.
 * HMS Swallow (1854) – sold 1866.
 * HMS Ariel (1854) – sold 1865.
 * HMS Lyra (1857) – broken up 1876.
 * Racer class – 5 ships, 1856–1860.
 * HMS Cordelia (1856) – sold 1870.
 * HMS Racer (1857) – broken up 1876.
 * HMS Gannet (1857) – broken up 1877.
 * HMS Icarus (1858) – sold 1875.
 * HMS Pantaloon (1860) – sold 1867.
 * Greyhound class – 2 ships, 1859.
 * Greyhound (1859) – harbour service 1869, sold 1906.
 * Mutine (1859) – sold 1870.
 * Camelion class – 8 ships, 1860–1866 (another 8 cancelled).
 * Camelion (1860) – sold 1883.
 * Pelican (1860) – sold 1867.
 * Rinaldo (1860) – sold 1884.
 * Zebra (1860) – sold 1873.
 * Perseus (1861) – training ship 1886, renamed Defiance II 1904, sold 1931.
 * Chanticleer (1861) – sold 1875.
 * Reindeer (1866) – broken up 1876.
 * Rattler (1862) – wrecked 1868.
 * Rosario class – 7 ships, 1860–1862 (another 6 cancelled).
 * Rosario (1860) – sold 1884.
 * Peterel (1860) – hulked 1885, sold 1901.
 * Rapid (1860) – broken up 1881.
 * Shearwater (1861) – broken up 1877.
 * Royalist (1861) – broken up 1875.
 * Columbine (1862) – broken up 1875.
 * Africa (1862) – Sold to Chinese Imperial Customs in 1862, renamed China and sailed to join Sherard Osborn's "Vampire Fleet".
 * Amazon class – 6 ships, 1865–1866.
 * Amazon (1865) – sunk in collision 1866.
 * Vestal (1865) – sold 1884.
 * Niobe (1866) – wrecked 1874.
 * Dryad (1866) – sold 1886.
 * Daphne (1866) – sold 1882.
 * Nymphe (1866) – sold 1884.
 * Eclipse class – 7 ships, 1867–1870
 * Danae (1867) – hulked 1886, sold 1906.
 * Blanche (1867) – sold 1886.
 * Eclipse (1867) – hulked 1888, sold 1921.
 * Sirius (1868) – sold 1885.
 * Spartan (1868) – sold 1882.
 * Dido (1869) – hulked 1886, renamed Actaeon II 1906; sold 1922.
 * Tenedos (1870) – sold 1887.
 * Fantome class – 6 ships, 1873–1874
 * Fantome (1873) – sold 1889
 * Albatross (1873) – scrapped 1889
 * Daring (1874) – sold 1889
 * Egeria (1873) – sold 1911
 * Flying Fish (1873) – sold 1888
 * Sappho (1873) – sold 1887
 * Osprey class – 5 ships, 1876–1877
 * HMS Wild Swan (1876) – base ship 1904 (renamed Clyde), sold 1920.
 * HMS Penguin (1876) – survey ship 1890, to Australia 1913, sold 1924.
 * HMS Osprey (1876) – sold 1890.
 * HMS Pelican (1877) – sold 1901.
 * HMS Cormorant (1877) – hulked 1889, renamed Rooke 1946, broken up 1949.
 * Doterel class – improved Osprey class, 9 ships, 1878–1880
 * HMS Dragon (1878) – sold 1892.
 * HMS Pegasus (1878) – sold 1892.
 * HMS Gannet (1878) – training ship 1903, renamed President 1903 then Mercury 1913; preserved at Chatham 1890.
 * HMS Phoenix (1879) – wrecked 1882.
 * HMS Miranda (1879) – survey vessel 1883, sold 1892.
 * HMS Kingfisher (1879) – training ship 1892, renamed Lark 1892 then Cruizer 1893; sold 1919.
 * HMS Doterel (1880) – sank in accidental explosion 1881.
 * HMS Mutine (1880) – boom defence vessel 1899, renamed Azov 1904; sold 1921.
 * HMS Espiegle (1880) – boom defence vessel 1899, renamed Argo 1904; sold 1921.
 * Satellite class – 7 ships, 1881–1884 – reclassed as corvettes 1884.
 * HMS Satellite (1881) – drill ship 1904, sold 1947.
 * HMS Heroine (1881) – sold 1902.
 * HMS Hyacinth (1881) – sold 1902.
 * HMS Royalist (1883) – hulked 1900, sold 1948.
 * HMS Rapid (1883) – hulked 1906, sold 1948.
 * HMS Caroline (1882) – hulked 1897, sold 1929.
 * HMS Pylades (1884) – sold 1906.
 * Nymphe class – 4 ships, 1885–1888
 * HMS Swallow (1885) – sold 1904.
 * HMS Buzzard (1887) – drill ship 1904, renamed President 1911, sold 1921.
 * HMS Daphne (1888) – sold 1904.
 * HMS Nymphe (1888) – base ship 1906, sold 1920.
 * Beagle class – 2 ships, 1889
 * HMS Basilisk (1889) – sold 1905.
 * HMS Beagle (1889) – sold 1905.
 * Alert class – 2 ships, 1894
 * HMS Alert (1894) – sold 1926.
 * HMS Torch (1894) – sold 1920.
 * Phoenix class – 2 ships, 1895
 * HMS Phoenix (1895) – foundered 1906.
 * HMS Algerine (1895) – wrecked 1924.
 * Condor class – 6 ships, 1898–1900
 * HMS Condor (1898) – foundered 1901.
 * HMS Rosario (1898) – sold 1921.
 * HMS Mutine (1900) – sold 1932.
 * HMS Rinaldo (1900) – sold 1921.
 * HMS Shearwater (1900) – sold 1922.
 * HMS Vestal (1900) – sold 1921.
 * Cadmus class – 6 ships, 1901–1903
 * HMS Espiegle (1900) – sold 1923.
 * HMS Fantome (1901) – sold 1925.
 * HMS Merlin (1901) – sold 1923.
 * HMS Odin (1901) – sold 1920.
 * HMS Clio (1903) – sold 1920.
 * HMS Cadmus (1903) – sold 1921.

World War I sloops

 * Flower classes of "convoy sloops"
 * Acacia class – 24 ships, 1915
 * Azalea class – 12 ships, 1915
 * Arabis class – 36 ships, 1915–1916
 * Aubrietia class – 12 ships, 1916–1917
 * Anchusa class – 28 ships, 1917–1918
 * P class – 45 ships, 1915–1917
 * Kil class – 81 ships, 1917–1919
 * PC class "Q-ships" – 19 ships, 1917–1918
 * 24 class – 22 ships, 1918–1919

Inter-war sloops

 * Bridgewater class – 2 ships, 1928
 * Hastings class – 4 ships (+1 Royal Indian Navy), 1930
 * Shoreham class – 8 ships, 1930–1932
 * Grimsby class – 8 ships (+4 Royal Australian Navy, 1 Royal Indian Navy), 1933–1940
 * Kingfisher class – 9 ships, 1934–1939
 * Bittern class – 3 ships (+4 Royal Indian Navy), 1934–1943
 * Egret class – 3 ships, 1938

World War II sloops

 * Black Swan class – 4 ships, 1939–1941
 * Modified Black Swan class – 30 ships (+4 Royal Indian Navy, 5 cancelled), 1940–1945
 * Banff class – 10 ships, ex-United States Coast Guard cutters, 1927–1931

Book sources

 * Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714–1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Seaforth Publishing, 2007).
 * Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Chatham Publishing, 2005)
 * Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817–1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Seaforth Publishing, 2014) ISBN 978-1-84832-169-4
 * Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Seaforth Publishing, 2009) ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7
 * Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (Seaforth Publishing, 2009) ISBN 978-1-5267-9328-7