HMS Supply (1759) was an 8-gun armed tender constructed for the Royal Navy, designed in 1759 by shipwright Thomas Slade primarily as a yard craft for ferrying naval supplies. Built by Henry Bird of Rotherhithe, her construction began on 1 May 1759 and was completed in approximately five months, launching on 5 October 1759. She measured 174 76/94 tons (bm), slightly larger than her initial design of 168 20/94 tons, with an overall length of 79 feet 4 inches, a beam of 22 feet 6 inches, and a hold depth of 11 feet 6 inches. Rigged as a brig, she was equipped with two masts and initially carried four small 3-pounder cannons along with six 1/2-pounder swivel guns. Her armament was later increased in 1786 with the addition of four 12-pounder carronades. Her original complement consisted of 14 men, which expanded to 55 when converted to serve as an armed tender for the First Fleet in 1788. Primarily used for transporting naval supplies between Thames and Channel ports, Supply was based at Deptford Dockyard and underwent routine repairs to maintain her seaworthiness. Her significant maritime role emerged during the First Fleet voyage, departing Spithead on 13 May 1787 and arriving in Botany Bay on 18 January 1788, making her the first vessel to reach the Australian coast. Under Captain Arthur Phillip and command of Henry Lidgbird Ball, Supply played a crucial role in establishing the initial colony at Port Jackson and was noted as the first ship to sail into Port Jackson after the original landing site at Botany Bay proved unsuitable. Following the settlement's establishment, Supply acted as the colony's link to Norfolk Island, making ten trips. After the loss of HMS Sirius in 1790, she became the colony’s sole supply vessel, even traveling to Batavia for provisions. She returned to England via Cape Horn in April 1792 and was subsequently sold at auction in July 1792, renamed Thomas and Nancy, and used commercially for coal transportation until about 1806. In 1793, the Admiralty purchased the American mercantile ship New Brunswick, renamed her HMS Supply, and sent her to New South Wales to replace her predecessor. She was broken up at Port Jackson in 1806. Her service history highlights her importance in the early maritime logistics and settlement efforts of the British in Australia.

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