Post ship facts for kids
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A post ship was a special kind of warship used by the Royal Navy (the British navy) in the late 1700s and early 1800s. These ships were smaller than a frigate, usually carrying between 20 and 26 guns.
What made a ship a "post ship" was its captain. If a ship had at least 20 guns, its captain had to be a "post captain." This was a higher rank than a lieutenant or a commander. So, even though post ships were smaller, they were important enough to be commanded by a high-ranking officer. This rule changed after 1817.
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What Made Them Special?
Post ships looked a lot like frigates. They had a traditional quarterdeck (the back part of the upper deck) and a forecastle (the front part of the upper deck). These features helped tell them apart from other smaller warships called "ship-sloops."
However, post ships were different from true frigates because they didn't have an "orlop platform" in the middle of the ship. This meant they were not as stable and could be slow in rough seas. Even so, they were strong and safe to sail.
How They Were Used
During times of peace, the Royal Navy often sent post ships to faraway places to do the jobs usually done by larger frigates. They were useful for patrolling distant areas.
When there was a war, post ships were mostly used to protect groups of merchant ships, known as convoys. They would sail alongside these ships to keep them safe from enemy attacks. Their slower speed made them good for this job.
Their Sails
The term "post ship" didn't describe how the ship's sails were set up. However, all post ships were "ship-rigged." This means they had three masts, and each mast had square sails. This was a common way to rig large sailing ships at the time.
An Example: HMS Camilla
One good example of a post ship was the HMS Camilla. She was built in 1776 and was part of a group of ten similar ships called the Sphinx-class post ships.
Images for kids
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The HMS Ariadne, a type of post ship, leaving St. Helena in 1830.
