HMS Alarm was a 32-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Niger class, constructed at King's Yard in Harwich by shipbuilder John Barnard. Launched in 1758, she was notably the first Royal Navy vessel to bear the name "Alarm." Her design classified her as a frigate, suitable for a variety of roles including patrol, reconnaissance, and combat. A significant milestone in naval technology, HMS Alarm was the first Royal Navy ship to be fully copper-sheathed, a process carried out in 1761. Copper sheathing aimed to reduce damage caused by marine organisms such as the teredo woodworm and to prevent the growth of barnacles and weeds, thus maintaining hull speed and durability. The sheathing involved covering her hull with copper plates after applying a soft layer of hair, yarn, and brown paper. Her copper hull performed well during her deployment in the West Indies, protecting her from marine infestation. However, during her 1776 resurvey, it was discovered that the copper sheathing had become detached due to corrosion of the iron nails fastening it, which had rotted or been insulated by trapped brown paper. This highlighted the issue of iron-copper contact in saltwater, leading to modifications in future ship design. HMS Alarm served in various theaters, including the Mediterranean, under the command of notable officers such as John Jervis and Samuel Hood. Her crew included Samuel Hood, who served as purser from 1765 to 1772. A notable rescue occurred in April 1770 when Georges René Le Peley de Pléville saved her from wreckage off Marseille after a storm, an act of bravery that earned him a distinguished silver urn from the British Admiralty, engraved with maritime motifs and a tribute to his courage. Throughout her service, HMS Alarm participated in several engagements. In 1783, she was involved in intercepting American vessels during the American Revolutionary War, although she did not actively participate in the battle. She also sank the corvette Liberté in 1795 and captured the Spanish corvette Galgo in 1796 off Grenada. Her long service culminated in her being broken up in September 1812 after 54 years in active duty, marking her as a vessel of notable technological and operational significance in the Royal Navy’s mid-18th to early-19th-century fleet.

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