HMS Vulture (1744)

HMS Vulture was a 10-gun two-masted Hind-class sloop of the Royal Navy, designed by Joseph Allin and built by John Greaves at Limehouse on the Thames River, England and launched on 4 May 1744, during the War of the Austrian Succession. Her name was often written as Vulter.

Plans of the Vulture
History
Great Britain
Name	HMS Vulture
Ordered	6 August 1743
Builder	John Greaves, Limehouse
Laid down	16 September 1743
Launched	4 May 1744
Completed	24 May 1744 at Deptford Dockyard
Commissioned	April 1744
Fate	Sold to break up at Portsmouth on 30 January 1761
General characteristics
Class and type	Hind-class sloop
Tons burthen	267 3⁄94 (bm)
Length	91 ft 4 in (27.8 m) (gundeck) 73 ft 10.875 in (22.5 m) (keel)
Beam	26 ft 0.75 in (7.9 m)
Depth of hold	12 ft 1.75 in (3.7 m)
Sail plan	Snow brig
Armament	10 × 6-pounder guns (14 guns from 1748)

The Vulture set sail from Portsmouth as part of a joint Anglo-Dutch fleet under Vice Admiral Thomas Davers in September 1744.[1] In the spring of 1746, the Vulture and the 14-gun sloop Shark engaged two superior French men of war. The Vulture broke off from the action to alert two nearby British cruisers. The arrival of these reinforcements caused the French ships to surrender.[2] The sloop was part of a squadron that sailed from Britain in 1747 under Admirals Anson and Warren.[3] On 3 June, the Vulture intercepted the lightly armed Cherbourg dogger privateer L'Huitre in the English Channel between the British coast and the Isle of Wight. The sloop captured the privateer intact after a three-hour chase.[4]

After service from 1744 to 1749 (when her armament was increased to 14 x 6-pounder guns), and then from 1751 to 1758, she was sold to be taken to pieces at Portsmouth on 30 January 1761.