HMS Frolic (1820)

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HMS Frolic was a Cherokee-class brig-sloop built for the Royal Navy in the 1810s. The Cherokee class, designed by Henry Peake, were small, fast ships with a crew and armament suited to quick, versatile work. They earned the nickname “coffin brigs” because many ships in the class wrecked, though later analysis suggests this was more about tough duties and inexperienced captains than a design fault. Frolic’s own story is a mix of shipbuilding and service.

Frolic was ordered on 13 June 1817, laid down in August 1818 at Pembroke Dockyard, launched on 10 June 1820, and completed on 3 August 1820. She displaced about 297 tons, was around 90 ft 2 in long on the gundeck, had a beam of 24 ft 9 in, a draught of 9 ft 4 in, and a hold depth of 11 ft. The ship carried ten guns: eight 18-pound carronades and two 6-pounder guns in the bow. She had a crew of 52 when fully manned, or 33 as a packet ship.

Frolic was converted into a packet ship in 1823 (March–June) and commissioned in July 1823. She then served with the Falmouth packet service until being paid off on 25 November 1832. Frolic was sold on 16 August 1838.