HMS Guadeloupe (or Guadaloupe) was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate belonging to the Coventry class of the Royal Navy. Designed by Sir Thomas Slade, she was initially contracted to be built by the shipwright John Williams of Neyland in Pembrokeshire. However, due to Williams's bankruptcy, the construction contract was transferred to the Plymouth Naval Dockyard, where the vessel was completed. The frigate served notably during the American War of Independence. In May 1778, she was under the command of Captain Hugh Robinson. Her role included supporting British military operations, and she participated in the siege of Yorktown, where her crew's men, stores, and guns were landed to bolster the British Army. During this campaign, HMS Guadeloupe came under fire from shore batteries, leading to her being scuttled in the York River, Virginia, on 10 October 1781, to prevent her capture by the French forces. Subsequently, the French Navy salvaged the vessel and undertook extensive repairs, after which they commissioned her in April 1783. Following her refit, she was sailed to Brest. Her service with the French was relatively brief; she was ordered to be decommissioned and delisted on 8 July 1786 at Rochefort. Overall, HMS Guadeloupe's maritime significance lies in her active role during a pivotal period of naval warfare, notably her involvement in the American Revolution and her subsequent salvage and service under the French flag. Her design as part of the Coventry class, combined with her participation in key military events, underscores her importance as a representative example of 18th-century naval frigates.

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