HMS Ariadne was a Hermes-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy, built during the 1810s and completed in 1816. She measured 121 feet 7 inches (37.1 meters) at the gundeck and had a keel length of 100 feet 6 inches (30.6 meters). The vessel featured a beam of 30 feet 11 inches (9.4 meters), a draught of 10 feet (3.0 meters), and a depth of hold of 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 meters). With a tonnage of approximately 511 tons burthen, Ariadne was armed initially with eighteen 32-pounder carronades, later increased to twenty-four, along with two 9-pounder cannon serving as chase guns. The ship's complement consisted of around 135 officers and ratings. Laid down in April 1815 at Pater Dockyard in Wales and launched on 10 February 1816 by John Campbell, Lord Cawdor, Ariadne was the third vessel of her name to serve in the Royal Navy. She was completed in March 1816 at a cost of £11,936, with an additional £3,579 spent on fitting out. Initially placed in ordinary, she was converted into a 26-gun post ship between January and May 1820 at Plymouth Dockyard, where her structure was modified by adding a quarterdeck, forecastle, and additional carronades. She was fitted for sea service by August 1822. Ariadne’s active service began in April 1823 under Captain Robert Moorsom, later transferring command to Captain Isaac Chapman in December 1824. She was assigned to the Cape of Good Hope Station and later to the Mediterranean fleet. Notably, Captain Chapman was court-martialed and dismissed in 1826 for purchasing a female slave and bringing her aboard, although Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence had taken command earlier that year. After serving in the Mediterranean, she was paid off in 1828, underwent a refit, and in 1828 was appointed to Captain Frederick Marryat for service in the Central Atlantic. Subsequently, she was assigned to the North America and West Indies Station from 1829 to 1835. In 1836-1837, Ariadne was repurposed as a coal hulk at Alexandria, Egypt. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1841, marking the end of her maritime service. Her operational history and modifications reflect her adaptability and the typical lifecycle of Royal Navy vessels of her era.

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