Amazon-class frigate (1773)

The Amazon-class frigates of 1773, made up of 32-gun fifth rates with a main battery of 12-pounder guns.^[1] They were designed by the Surveyor of the Navy, John Williams during his employment by the Admiralty.^[2]

Ambuscade (right) fighting Bayonnaise
Class overview
Builders	Adams & Barnard, Deptford James Betts, Mistleythorn Joseph Graham, Harwich Robert Batson & Co, Limehouse Rotherhithe Wyatt & Co. Buckler's Hard
Operators	United Kingdom, France
Built	1773-1787
In commission	1773-1830
Completed	18
General characteristics
Type	32-gun fifth-rate frigate
Tons burthen	68929⁄94 (bm)
Length	126 ft 6+1⁄2 in (38.6 m) (overall) 104 ft 7+1⁄2 in (31.9 m) (keel)
Beam	35 ft 2+1⁄4 in (10.7 m)
Draught	8 ft (2.4 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 1+1⁄2 in (3.7 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	220
Armament	Upper deck: 26 × 12-pounder guns QD: 4 × 6-pounder guns + 4 × 18-pounder carronades Fc: 2 × 6-pounder guns + 2 × 18-pounder carronades

The class comprised eighteen ships; Amazon, Ambuscade and Thetis were launched in 1773; the second batch - Cleopatra, Amphion, Orpheus, Juno, Success, Iphigenia, Andromache, Syren, Iris, Greyhound, Meleager, Castor, Solebay, Terpsichore and Blonde - were launched in 1779 to 1787.^[3]