HMS Cherub was the name assigned to more than one vessel of the Royal Navy. The most notable ships bearing this name were:
HMS Cherub (1794)
- Type: Cutter
- Launch: 1794, at an unspecified Royal Dockyard.
- Armament: Equipped with a small number of guns appropriate for a cutter of the period (exact count varies among sources).
- Service: Employed in coastal patrol and convoy escort duties during the French Revolutionary Wars. Records of her specific actions and ultimate disposition are limited.
HMS Cherub (1821)
- Class and Type: Cherokee‑class brig‑sloop
- Builder: Deptford Dockyard, United Kingdom
- Launched: 1821
- Displacement: Approximately 237 tons (burthen)
- Dimensions: Length on the gundeck about 90 ft; beam around 24 ft.
- Armament: Typically carried ten 18‑pounder carronades and two 6‑pounder long guns, consistent with the standard armament of Cherokee‑class vessels.
- Operational History:
- Assigned to the West Africa Squadron, a Royal Navy formation tasked with suppressing the trans‑Atlantic slave trade.
- Participated in several anti‑slavery patrols, intercepting vessels engaged in the illegal transport of enslaved persons.
- Later transferred to other duties, including survey work and occasional escort assignments.
- Later Use and Fate: Converted to a coal hulk in the mid‑19th century and remained in this auxiliary role until being sold for scrap in 1865.
General Characteristics of the Cherokee‑class
The Cherokee‑class comprised a series of 10‑gun brig‑sloops built between 1807 and 1828. They were noted for their shallow draught and maneuverability, making them suitable for coastal operations, anti‑smuggling patrols, and the suppression of the slave trade. However, the class also earned a reputation for being “hard‑handed” in heavy seas due to their relatively light construction.
Legacy
Ships named HMS Cherub contributed to the Royal Navy’s efforts in maintaining maritime security and enforcing British anti‑slavery legislation during the early 19th century. The name reflects the practice of assigning mythological or celestial designations to smaller warships of the period.
No further vessels bearing the name HMS Cherub are recorded in major naval registries.