HMS Swift (1777)

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

HMS Swift was a 14-gun Swan-class ship-sloop, launched on 1 January 1777. She was commissioned that month under Lieutenant George Keppel and sailed for North America on 27 March. Command later passed to Thomas Lennox Frederick, who captained her in operations on the Delaware River. On 22 November 1778, she was in pursuit of an American privateer, Rattlesnake, off Cape Henry in Chesapeake Bay. During the action Swift grounded on Middle Ground and she was burnt by her crew to prevent her from falling into enemy hands. Rattlesnake was wrecked also.^[1][2]

Swift
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Swift
Ordered	16 October 1775
Builder	Portsmouth Dockyard
Laid down	January 1776
Launched	1 January 1777
Commissioned	January 1777
Fate	Burnt to avoid capture 22 November 1778
General characteristics
Tons burthen	302 53⁄94 bm
Length	96 ft 7 in (29.4 m) (gundeck) 79 ft 0 in (24.1 m) (keel)
Beam	26 ft 10 in (8.2 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Complement	125
Armament	14 × 6-pounder guns