HMS Lapwing (1785)

HMS Lapwing was a Dromedary-class storeship of the Royal Navy launched in 1785. She served primarily as a transport and stores vessel, supporting British naval operations in various parts of the world.

The Dromedary-class ships were designed to carry large quantities of supplies and personnel, vital for maintaining fleets operating far from home ports. Specific details of Lapwing's early deployments are somewhat scarce, but records indicate she was active throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Lapwing saw service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, likely playing a role in supplying the blockading squadrons off the French coast and supporting British forces in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Storeships like Lapwing were crucial for sustaining these operations, enabling the Royal Navy to maintain its dominance at sea.

Details regarding her decommissioning or ultimate fate are currently limited but naval records confirm her active service within the specified timeframe. Further research into naval logbooks, admiralty records, and period newspapers may reveal more specific details about her deployments and activities. The lack of detailed historical records for ships of this type, which typically served in a logistical rather than combat role, makes reconstructing her complete history challenging.