![]() Design of the Maidstone and Alcmene classes
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Class overview | |
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Name | Maidstone-class frigate |
Builders | Deptford Dockyard |
Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | Hermione class |
Succeeded by | Thames class |
Cost |
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Built | 1795–1796 |
In commission | 1796–1804 |
Planned | 2 |
Completed | 2 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Type | Fifth-rate frigate |
Tons burthen | 796 17⁄94 (bm) |
Length | |
Beam | 36 ft 6 in (11.1 m) |
Depth of hold | 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) |
Propulsion | Sails |
Complement | 240 |
Armament |
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The Maidstone-class frigate was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate class of two ships designed by Sir John Henslow and ordered on 4 February 1795. The class was a close copy of Henslow's earlier Alcmene class, but was constructed of pitch pine instead of oak. With concerns over whether the lighter building material would safely hold an armament of 18-pounder long guns, the class was instead armed with smaller 12-pounders. Both ships of the class served through the French Revolutionary Wars, but neither had a long career. Shannon was sold at Sheerness Dockyard in May 1802 and Maidstone was placed in ordinary at Chatham Dockyard in 1804 before being broken up in 1810.