HMS Drake (1777)

History
Name	HMS Drake
Acquired	By purchase, 1777
Fate	Captured by USS Ranger, 24 April 1778
General characteristics
Type	Sloop-of-war
Tons burthen	274 61⁄94 bm
Length	91 ft 5 in (27.9 m) (gundeck); 75 ft 10.75 in (23.1 m) (keel);
Beam	26 ft 1 in (8.0 m)
Depth of hold	18 ft 3.5 in (5.58 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	100
Armament	14 x 4-pounder guns

HMS Drake was a Royal Navy 14-gun ship rigged sloop-of-war with a displacement of 275 tons burthen. Originally named the Royal Oak, she was built in New England in 1775 by John Wharton from Philadelphia. She first sailed between London and Stettin as a tobacco-ship. She was then sold in 1776 and renamed Resolution. Captained by Edward Hawker, the ship traded between London, Boston, and Cork. On 4 March 1777 the British navy purchased her at Plymouth for 3,000 pounds sterling. She completed fitting out as a warship on 24 May 1777. She became the ship-rigged sloop-of-war Drake with either 14, 18 or 20 guns. From July 17, 1777, she served in the American Revolutionary War. Her first mission was protecting the packet-boats between Harwich and Gorée

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