HMS Bustler (1782)

HMS Bustler was a British Royal Navy vessel launched in 1782. She was a Bustler-class gun-brig, one of two ships of that class. These vessels were designed by Sir Thomas Slade and differed slightly from the Gnat-class.

Bustler displaced approximately 200 tons and carried ten 4-pounder guns. She typically had a complement of around 40 men. Like other gun-brigs, Bustler was intended for coastal patrol, convoy escort, and anti-privateering operations. Her shallow draft made her suitable for operating in shallower waters where larger ships of the line could not.

Details regarding Bustler's specific service history are somewhat limited. Records indicate that she was active during the latter part of the American Revolutionary War. Gun-brigs like Bustler played a vital role in maintaining British naval presence in contested waters, disrupting enemy shipping, and supporting land-based military operations.

Further research is needed to uncover a complete timeline of Bustler's commissions, deployments, and engagements. Her ultimate fate and date of decommissioning or disposal are currently unknown but would likely be documented in Admiralty records and other historical sources.