HMS Pandora was a Royal Navy ship that was launched in 1806. It is best known for its role in capturing mutineers from the HMS Bounty. The ship was a 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship with a crew of 140 men. In 1790, the Pandora was dispatched to capture the Bounty mutineers, who had settled on Pitcairn Island. After capturing 14 of the mutineers, the Pandora struck a reef off the coast of Australia and sank in 1791. Despite efforts to save the crew and prisoners, 31 men perished, including four of the mutineers. The wreck of the Pandora was discovered in 1977 and has since been a popular diving site. The ship's remains have provided valuable historical insights into naval architecture and life at sea during the 18th century. The story of the HMS Pandora and the Bounty mutiny has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, highlighting its significance in maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.