Venus-class frigate
# Venus-class frigate

The Venus-class frigates were three 36-gun sailing frigates of the fifth rate produced for the Royal Navy. They were designed in 1756 by Sir Thomas Slade, and were enlarged from his design for the 32-gun Southampton-class frigates, which had been approved four months earlier.

The 36-gun frigates, of which this was to be the only British design in the era of the 12-pounder frigate, carried the same battery of twenty-six 12-pounders as the 32-gun predecessors; the only difference lay in the secondary armament on the quarter deck, which was here doubled to eight 6-pounders. Slade's 36-gun design was approved on 13 July 1756, on which date two ships were approved to be built by contract to these plans. A third ship was ordered about two weeks later, to be built in a royal dockyard.

The Venus-class were faster than their Southampton-class predecessors, making up to 13 knots ahead of strong winds and ten knots while close-hauled compared with Southampton-class speeds of 12 and 8 knots respectively. Both Venus- and Southampton-class frigates were highly maneuverable and capable of withstanding heavy weather, in comparison with their French counterparts during the Seven Years' War.

## Ships in class

| Ship | Ordered | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| HMS Pallas | 13 July 1756 | William Wells & Company, Deptford Dockyard | July 1756 | 30 August 1757 | 8 October 1757 at Deptford | Run ashore due to leaks and burnt on Sao Jorge (Azores) on 12 February 1783 |
| HMS Venus | 13 July 1756 | John Okill, Liverpool. | 16 August 1756 | 11 March 1758 | 30 June 1758 at Liverpool | Reduced to 32 guns in 1792. Renamed Heroine on 14 July 1807. Paid off 1809 and laid up. Sold to break up at Deptford Dockyard on 22 September 1828 |
| HMS Brilliant | 29 July 1756 | Thomas Bucknall, Plymouth Dockyard | 28 August 1756 | 27 October 1757 | 20 November 1757 | Sold at Deptford Dockyard, 1 November 1776 |
