They were named the First to the Tenth Whelp and were built to deal with the Dunkirk privateers which played havoc with English trade in the Channel during the French war.
Kwathiwa ziiwhelp zokuqala nzeshumi kwaye zokhiwa ukusebenza neeDunkirk zeenkwili ezazitshabalalisa urhwebo lwamaNgesi kwiChannel ngexesha lemfazwe yamaFrentshi.