HMS Sylph (1795)

HMS Sylph (R) and the cutter Mary Ann, 1795
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Sylph
Namesake	Sylph
Ordered	13 July 1795
Cost	£5,322
Laid down	July 1795
Launched	3 September 1795
Completed	23 September 1795
Commissioned	August 1795
Fate	Broken up, April 1811
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	Albatross-class brig-sloop
Tons burthen	36952⁄94 (bm)
Length	96 ft 2 in (29.3 m) (gundeck) 73 ft 10+1⁄2 in (22.5 m) (keel)
Beam	30 ft 8 in (9.3 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 9 in (3.9 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Complement	121
Armament	Gun deck: 16 × 32-pounder carronades + 2 × 6-pounder bow chasers

HMS Sylph was a 16-gun Albatross-class brig-sloop of the Royal Navy designed by William Rule and launched in 1795 at Deptford Dockyard. Her namesake was the air spirit sylph. She commissioned in August 1795 under Commander John Chambers White, who would have her until the end of 1799. She was later commanded by Charles Dashwood.

Sylph was an active ship through the French Revolutionary Wars, participating in actions such as the action of 12 May 1796 and taking a number of warships and privateers during service as a blockade and patrol ship. The majority of her service would be spent in the North Sea, English Channel and off the coast of Spain. Sylph served actively until 1805, when she was laid up at Portsmouth. She was broken up there in 1811.