HMS Viper was a small, 6-gun galley that served in the Royal Navy from its commissioning in 1779 until her decommissioning and breaking up in 1785. Originally, she was the South Carolina Navy vessel Rutledge, which the British captured on 4 November 1779 at Tybee. The vessel was a former South Carolina galley, and after her capture, she was renamed Viper by the British. The vessel’s origins as a galley suggest a sleek, oared design suitable for coastal and riverine operations, though specific dimensions are not provided. Her armament consisted of six guns, indicating a relatively small but potentially agile combat vessel. After her capture, she was commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wroughton from 18 November 1779, and her service record included participation in notable sieges and fleet actions. During the Siege of Charleston (28 March to 12 May 1780), HMS Viper was among the vessels present, under the command of Acting Lieutenant Thomas Chambers. Her operational history also saw her with Admiral Parker at Jamaica in 1781, under the command of W. Bowman, and later under W.R. Dunlop as part of the North America squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Robert Rigby. These deployments highlight her role in significant theaters of the American Revolutionary War, especially in the Caribbean and North American waters. HMS Viper’s service concluded with her being paid off in May 1784, and she was subsequently broken up in 1785, marking the end of her relatively brief but active service. Her history reflects the versatility of small galley vessels in 18th-century naval operations, and her capture and service exemplify the fluid nature of naval assets during the American Revolutionary War.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.