Corvette

A corvette is a small warship that is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship, with the class above being a frigate and the class below being a sloop-of-war. Modern corvettes typically range from 500 to 3,000 tons and fulfill roles such as coastal patrol craft, missile boat, and fast attack craft, but are not suitable for long voyages. The term "corvette" originated in Middle French and refers to a diminutive of the Dutch word "corf", meaning a "basket", and has been used to describe various types of warships since the 17th century, including sailing vessels and steam ships.learn more on wikipedia