The Coventry-class frigates were 28-gun sixth rate frigates of the Royal Navy, principally in service during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. They were designed in 1756 by Britain's Surveyor of the Navy, Sir Thomas Slade, and were largely modeled on , which was regarded as an exemplar among small frigates due to its speed and maneuverability. The 1750s were a period of considerable experimentation in ship design, and Slade authorized individual builders to make "such alterations withinboard as may be judged necessary" in final construction. A total of twelve Coventry-class frigates were built in oak during the Seven Years' War. Eleven of these were ordered from private shipyards and built over the relatively short period of three years; the twelfth was completed following the close of the War in a royal dockyard after its original contractor became bankrupt. A variant was designed for building with fir hulls rather than oak; five vessels were built to this design, all in Royal Dockyards. these five vessels differed in external appearance to the oak-built frigates, as they had a square tuck stern. The use of fir instead of oak increased the speed of construction but reduced the frigate's durability over time. More than a quarter-century after the design was produced, two further oak-built ships to this design were ordered to be built by contract in October 1782. One of these was cancelled a year later, when the builder became bankrupt. Ships First batch Second batch 5 fir-built ships Boreas Ordered: 18 April 1757 Built by: Woolwich Dockyard. Keel laid: 21 April 1757 Launched: 29 July 1757 Completed: 6 September 1757 Fate: Sold 29 June 1770. Hussar Ordered: 18 April 1757 Built by: Chatham Dockyard. Keel laid: 3 May 1757 Launched: 23 July 1757 Completed: 17 August 1757 Fate: Taken by the French off Cape Francois on 23 May 1762. Shannon Ordered: 18 April 1757 Built by: Deptford Dockyard. Keel laid: 11 May 1757 Launched: 17 August 1757 Completed: 8 October 1757 Fate: Taken to pieces at Portsmouth Dockyard in December 1765. Trent Ordered: 5 May 1757 Built by: Woolwich Dockyard. Keel laid: 19 May 1757 Launched: 31 October 1757 Completed: 23 November 1757 Fate: Sold at Portsmouth Dockyard on 26 January 1764. Actaeon Ordered: 5 May 1757 Built by: Chatham Dockyard. Keel laid: 26 May 1757 Launched: 30 September 1757 Completed: 9 November 1757 Fate: Sold at Deptford Dockyard