The Roebuck-class ship was a class of twenty 44-gun sailing two-decker warships of the Royal Navy. The class carried two complete decks of guns, a lower battery of 18-pounders and an upper battery of 9-pounders. This battery enabled the vessel to deliver a broadside of 285 pounds. Most were constructed for service during the American Revolutionary War but continued to serve thereafter. By 1793 five were still on the active list. Ten were hospital ships, troopships or storeships. As troopships or storeships they had the guns on their lower deck removed. Many of the vessels in the class survived to take part in the Napoleonic Wars. In all, maritime incidents claimed five ships in the class and war claimed three.
Argo as flagship at Gibraltar in 1799
Battle between Continental Ship Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779, by Thomas Mitchell, 1780, US Naval Academy Museum
Cybèle and Prudente fighting Centurion and Diomede
Guardian hitting an iceberg in 1789
HMS Mediator was a Roebuck-class 44-gun fifth rate of the Royal Navy. She was built and served during the American War of Independence, but was reduced to a storeship and renamed HMS Camel in 1788. She spent the French Revolutionary and part of the Napoleonic Wars in this capacity before being broken up in 1810.
HMS 'Mediator' engaging French and American vessels, 11–12 December 1782, a 1783 work by Thomas Luny of the action of 12 December 1782
Mediator about to attack the enemy convoy off Cape Ortegal, 12 December 1782
Captain James Luttrell, commander of Mediator at the action of 12 December 1782, and commended by King George III for his skill and bravery.
Cuthbert Collingwood, depicted by Henry Howard. Collingwood commanded Mediator in the West Indies, serving with his friend and colleague Horatio Nelson.