HMS Atalanta (1775)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Atalanta.

HMS Atalanta was a 14-gun Swan class ship-sloop of the Royal Navy launched on 12 August 1775. She served during the American Revolutionary War. On 28 May 1781, Atalanta was captured by the privateer Alliance, in which 24 of her crew were killed or wounded. She was recaptured three days later.^[1] In May 1782, under the command of Brett, she destroyed an American privateer (6 guns, 25 men), under then command of Ayret, near Cape d'Or. Privateers from Cumberland (including Samuel Rogers) were on board. The privateers escaped to the woods leaving their provisions, which Captain Brett took to Cumberland.^[2]

Drawing of the Atalanta, 1775
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Atalanta
Ordered	1 December 1773
Builder	Sheerness Dockyard
Laid down	9 April 1774
Launched	12 August 1775
Commissioned	August 1775
Renamed	HMS Helena in March 1797
Fate	Sold August 1802
General characteristics
Tons burthen	300 4⁄94 bm
Length	96 ft 7 in (29.4 m) (gundeck) 78 ft 10 in (24.0 m) (keel)
Beam	26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 10 in (3.9 m)
Complement	125
Armament	14 × 6-pounder guns; 2 more added ca. 1780

Scale model

She also served in the French Revolutionary War, and was then renamed HMS Helena in March 1797 before being sold for disposal in 1802.^[3]