Granado was one of twelve bomb vessels that were built to supplement the depleted bomb vessel fleet at the outbreak of the War of Jenkins's Ear in 1739 and the ensuing War of the Austrian Succession.
These small ketch-rigged vessels were designed for laying siege from the sea and were built to accomodate huge and heavy mortars with their tremendous recoils.

A brief outline of the development of bomb vessels is followed by an in-depth description of the Granado herself and an account of her career.