A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper or " rated " warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate , while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war. The modern roles that a corvette fulfills include coastal patrol craft , missile boat and fast attack craft.
These corvettes are typically between and 2, tons. Recent designs of corvettes may approach 3, tons and include a hangar to accommodate a helicopter, having size and capabilities that overlap with smaller frigates. However unlike contemporary frigates, a modern corvette does not have sufficient endurance or seaworthiness for long voyages. The word "corvette" is first found in Middle French , a diminutive of the Dutch word corf , meaning a "basket", from the Latin corbis.
The rank " corvette captain ", equivalent in many navies to " lieutenant commander ", derives from the name of this type of ship. The rank is the most junior of three "captain" ranks in several European e.
During the Age of Sail , corvettes were one of many types of warships smaller than a frigate and with a single deck of guns. The role of the corvette consisted mostly of coastal patrol, fighting minor wars, supporting large fleets, or participating in show-the-flag missions. The English Navy began using small ships in the s, but described them as sloops rather than corvettes.
The first reference to a corvette was with the French Navy in the s, which may be where the term originated. The French Navy's corvettes grew over the decades and by the s they were ships of 20 guns or so, approximately equivalent to the British Navy 's post ships.
