HMS Sirius was a Royal Navy ship built in 1786. It is notable for being the flagship of the First Fleet, which was the convoy of ships that transported the first convicts to Australia in 1788. The ship played a crucial role in establishing the first European settlement in Australia at Sydney Cove. Sirius was a relatively small vessel, originally designed as a merchant ship before being converted into a naval vessel. The ship had a crew of around 160 men and was armed with 10 cannons. During its time in Australia, Sirius was used for various purposes, including exploring the surrounding coastline and transporting supplies between the settlements. In 1790, the ship was wrecked on a reef near Norfolk Island and ultimately sank. Despite its short lifespan, HMS Sirius holds a significant place in maritime history for its role in the early colonization of Australia.

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