HMS Aurora was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy, belonging to the Enterprise-class designed by John Williams in 1770. Built at Woolwich by John Perry and Co, she was launched in June 1777, with a length of 120 feet 6 inches along the gun deck, a beam of 33 feet 7 inches, and a keel length of 99 feet 4 inches. Her depth in the hold was 11 feet, and her displacement was approximately 595 tons (bm). The vessel’s initial cost was £6,595.7.5d, with an additional £4,283.7.5d spent on fitting. Aurora was originally armed with twenty-four 9-pounder guns on her main deck, complemented by four 3-pounder guns on the quarterdeck, and twelve swivel guns. An Admiralty order in 1780 mandated upgrades, including replacing quarterdeck guns with 6-pounders and adding six 18-pound carronades. Commissioned in July 1777 under Captain James Cumming, Aurora first served in the West Indies, participating in anti-American shipping operations under Vice-admiral Clark Gayton. She captured the American privateer St. Peter in January 1778 and also seized the sloop Fly before March 1778. During her service in the Caribbean and Atlantic, Aurora captured several privateers, including French and Spanish vessels, and recaptured merchant ships, notably in 1782 and 1798. Throughout her career, Aurora participated in significant military actions, including the capture of San Fiorenzo, Corsica, in 1794, and the capture of Minorca in 1798. She also took part in the blockade and capture operations around the Mediterranean and West Indies, notably aiding in the seizure of Samaná in 1808 and Santo Domingo in 1809. Her service extended through the American and French Revolutionary Wars, as well as the Napoleonic Wars, reflecting her role as a versatile and active frigate. Aurora was laid up in December 1810 and sold on 3 November 1814 for £1,620, marking the end of her distinguished service. Her design, armament, and active engagement in key naval campaigns underscore her maritime significance during a turbulent era of naval warfare.

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