All were ordered in 1740, and were the first to be built by contract with commercial builders, although they were to a common design prepared by Jacob Acworth, the Surveyor of the Navy.

At the start of the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739, the Royal Navy had a shortage of small combatant vessels to undertake the patrol and escort role; basically their only suitable vessels were the twelve 200-ton sloops built in the period from 1728 to 1732 in the Royal Dockyards, each armed with eight 3-pounder or 4-pounder guns.

A large expansion in the number of sloops was urgently needed to cope with the requirements of convoy duties.

A design was produced by the Surveyor of the Navy, and contracts were offered to merchant builders in the River Thames area.

After launching all three vessels were taken to Deptford Dockyard for completion and fitting out there, at an additional cost of £1,593-8-8d for Drake, £1,505-11-11d for Hawk, and £1,626-15-6d for Swift.