HMS Vulture (1776)

HMS Vulture was a Swan-class sloop-of-war of the Royal Navy, launched in 1776. She played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, particularly during the events surrounding the capture of Major John André.

Vulture was commissioned in 1776 and served primarily in North American waters during the American Revolution. Her armament consisted of sixteen 6-pounder cannons and a number of smaller swivel guns. She displaced approximately 300 tons and had a crew of around 125 officers and men.

Her most notable action involved her use by the British to communicate with Major General Benedict Arnold, who was secretly plotting to surrender West Point to the British. Major John André, adjutant to General Sir Henry Clinton, Commander-in-Chief of British forces, met with Arnold near Haverstraw, New York. Vulture transported André to a location where he could meet with Arnold.

After the meeting, André attempted to return to British lines overland, as Vulture had been forced to move further downstream due to American artillery fire. André was captured by American militia while wearing civilian clothes and carrying incriminating documents. He was subsequently tried as a spy and executed. The discovery of André's papers led to the exposure of Arnold's treason.

Following the Revolutionary War, Vulture continued to serve in the Royal Navy. Details of her later service are somewhat sparse, but she remained active for a number of years. She was eventually paid off and disposed of, the exact date and circumstances of which are not definitively documented. She is primarily remembered today for her connection to the Arnold-André affair, a pivotal event in the American Revolution.