Albacore-class gunboat (1855)

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HMS Raven (1856).jpg
HMS Raven, one of the Albacore class, in Kingstown Harbour, Dublin
Class overview
NameAlbacore class (1855)
OperatorsNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Preceded by Dapperclass
Succeeded by Cheerfulclass
Built1855–56
In commission1855 – 1881
Completed98
General characteristics [1]
Type'Crimean' gunboat
Tons burthen232 68⁄94 tons bm
Length
  • 106 ft (32 m) (gundeck)
  • 93 ft 2.5 in (28.410 m) (keel)
Beam22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
Draught6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2-cylinder horizontal single expansion steam engine
  • Single screw
Speed7.5 kn (13.9 km/h)
Crew36–40
Armament

The Albacore-class gunboat, also known as "Crimean gunboat", was a class of 98 gunboats built for the Royal Navy in 1855 and 1856 for use in the 1853-1856 Crimean War. [1] The design of the class, by W. H. Walker, was approved on 18 April 1855. The first vessels were ordered the same day, and 48 were on order by July; a second batch, which included Surly, were ordered in early October. [2]

Contents

Design

The Albacore class was almost identical to the preceding Dapperclass, also designed by W.H. Walker. The ships were wooden-hulled, with both steam power and sails, and of shallow draught for coastal bombardment in the shallow waters of the Baltic and Black Seas during the Crimean War. [1]

The Albacore-class vessels measured 106 feet (32 m) in length at the gundeck and 93 feet 2+1⁄2 inches (28.410 m) at the keel. They were 22 feet (6.7 m) in beam, 8 feet (2.4 m) deep in the hold and had a draught of 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m). Their displacement was 284 tons and they measured 23268⁄94 tons Builder's Old Measurement. [2] The Albacore-class carried a crew of 36-40 men. [2]

One of the vessels of the class, HMS Surly, cost £9,867, of which the hull accounted for £5,656 and machinery £3,298. [3]

Propulsion

Half of the ships had two-cylinder horizontal single-expansion trunk steam engines, built by John Penn and Sons, with two boilers. The other half had two-cylinder horizontal single-expansion direct-acting steam engines, built by Maudslay, Sons and Field, with three boilers. Both versions provided 60 nominal horsepower through a single screw, sufficient for 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph). [1]

Armament

Ships of the class were armed with one 68-pounder (95 cwt) muzzle-loading smoothbore gun, one 32-pounder muzzle-loading smoothbore gun (originally two 68-pounders were planned but the forward gun was substituted by a 32-pounder) and two 24-pounder howitzers. [1]

Ships

NameShip builder [1] Launched [1] Fate [1]
Beaver Money Wigram & Son, Northam 28 November 1855This vessel was built hastily of unseasoned wood with the result that she was unsound and saw no service at all. [4] Broken up at Portsmouth in 1864.
Whiting Money Wigram & Son, Northam9 January 1856Broken up in December 1881
Nightingale C J Mare & Company, Leamouth 22 December 1855Sold to W Lethbridge for breaking on 16 July 1867
Violet C J Mare & Company, Leamouth9 January 1856Sold to Marshall for breaking at Plymouth on 7 October 1864
Seagull W & H Pitcher, Northfleet 4 June 1855Sold to Marshall for breaking at Plymouth on 7 October 1864
Skipjack W & H Pitcher, Northfleet4 August 1855Boilers removed in 1862, became a cooking depot in 1874. Breaking at Devonport completed on 4 February 1879
Sandfly W & H Pitcher, Northfleet1 September 1855Sold to W Lethbridge for breaking on 5 November 1867
Sheldrake W & H Pitcher, Northfleet1 September 1855Sold at Montevideo on 30 June 1865
Plover W & H Pitcher, Northfleet8 September 1855Sunk in action with the Taku forts in the Peiho river on 26 June 1859
Tickler W & H Pitcher, Northfleet8 September 1855Breaking at Deptford completed on 21 November 1863
Banterer W & H Pitcher, Northfleet29 September 1855Grounded in action with the Taku forts in the Peiho river on 25 June 1859, but refloated and sold at Hong Kong on 30 December 1872
Bullfrog W & H Pitcher, Northfleet6 October 1855Broken up at Sheerness on 8 June 1875
Bustard W & H Pitcher, Northfleet20 October 1855Fitted for foreign service in 1856. Sold to Cheeong Loong at Hong Kong on 18 November 1869
Carnation W & H Pitcher, Northfleet20 October 1855Broken up at Sheerness in 1863
Charger W & H Pitcher, Northfleet13 November 1855Became a buoy boat at Halifax in June 1866. Later renamed YC3 on 24 June 1866, then YC6 in 1869. Sold in July 1887 as merchant vessel SS Rescue. Broken up in 1921
Cockchafer W & H Pitcher, Northfleet24 November 1855Fitted for service in China in 1859. Sold to Telge Northing Company at Shanghai in 1872
Dove W & H Pitcher, Northfleet24 November 1855Sold to the P&O Company at Shanghai on 14 April 1873
Forward W & H Pitcher, Northfleet8 December 1855Fitted for service in British Columbia in 1859. Sold to Hill & Ready, Esquimault
Grasshopper W & H Pitcher, Northfleet12 January 1856Sold at Newchang in May 1871
Hasty W & H Pitcher, Northfleet10 January 1856Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton in November 1865
Herring W & H Pitcher, Northfleet10 January 1856Broken up at Sheerness in August 1865
Insolent W & H Pitcher, Northfleet26 January 1856Lent to the Board of Works for the Maintenance of Lighthouses in 1856 - later returned. Sold at Chefoo in China on 1 May 1869
Mayflower W & H Pitcher, Northfleet31 January 1856Became tender to HMS President in 1862. Broken up at Sheerness in the summer of 1867
Staunch W & H Pitcher, Northfleet31 January 1856Fitted for foreign service in September 1856. Between 30 July 1862 and 3 August 1862 she stuck on a rock at Canton but managed to get off. Sold at Hong Kong in December 1866 and broken up
Goldfinch Money Wigram & Son, Northam2 February 1856Broken up at Pembroke on 22 June 1869
Goshawk Money Wigram & Son, Northam9 February 1856Broken up at Devonport on 18 March 1869
Julia Fletcher & Fearnall, Limehouse 27 November 1855Broken up by Marshall at Plymouth in February 1866
Louisa Fletcher & Fearnall, LimehouseDecember 1855Sold to W Lethbridge for breaking on 27 August 1867
Bouncer C J Mare & Company, Leamouth23 February 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 1 February 1871
Hyena C J Mare & Company, Leamouth3 April 1856Sold to W E Joliffe as a salvage vessel on 8 March 1870. Broken up in 1894
Savage C J Mare & Company, Leamouth5 May 1856Became mooring lighter YC3 in 1864. Broken up at Malta in September 1888
Wolf C J Mare & Company, Leamouth5 July 1856Completed breaking on 8 July 1864
Griper R & H Green, Blackwall Yard 11 December 1855Became tender to a Coast Guard ship in 1861 and was fitted for Armstrong guns in 1862. Broken up at Devonport on 18 March 1869
Fervent R & H Green, Blackwall Yard23 January 1856Broken up at Devonport in February 1879
Forester R & H Green, Blackwall Yard23 January 1856Became yard craft YC7 at Hong Kong in 1868 and was lost in a typhoon at Hong Kong on 2 September 1871
Spanker R & H Green, Blackwall Yard22 March 1856Broken up at Chatham in August 1874
Traveller R & H Green, Blackwall Yard13 March 1856Fitted for Armstrong guns in 1861. Completed breaking at Portsmouth on 28 December 1863
Thrasher R & H Green, Blackwall Yard22 March 1856Sold by order dated 9 May 1883
Opossum Money Wigram & Son, Northam26 February 1856Became a hospital hulk in 1876, then a mooring vessel in 1891. Renamed Siren in 1895 and sold at Hong Kong in 1896
Partridge Money Wigram & Son, Northam29 March 1856Fitted for reserve, commissioned in 1859 as tender to HMS Royal Albert. Sold to Messrs. Habgood for breaking on 8 September 1864
Charon W & H Pitcher, Northfleet9 February 1856Broken up by Marshall at Plymouth in October 1865
Haughty W & H Pitcher, Northfleet9 February 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 23 May 1867
Leveret W & H Pitcher, Northfleet8 March 1856Broken up at Portsmouth in October 1867
Mackerel W & H Pitcher, Northfleet8 March 1856Breaking completed at Portsmouth on 18 July 1862
Procris W & H Pitcher, Northfleet13 March 1856Cooking depot ship at Devonport on 30 June 1869. Sold to T Hockling on 31 May 1893 and broken up at Stonehouse
Shamrock W & H Pitcher, Northfleet13 March 1856Sold to Marshall for breaking at Plymouth in April 1867
Spey W & H Pitcher, Northfleet29 March 1856Broken up at Deptford in December 1863
Tilbury W & H Pitcher, Northfleet29 March 1856Broken up by Marshall at Plymouth on 2 August 1865
Peacock W & H Pitcher, Northfleet12 April 1856Broken up at Portsmouth on 25 March 1869
Pheasant W & H Pitcher, Northfleet1 May 1856Broken up completed at Sheerness on 31 August 1877
Primrose W & H Pitcher, Northfleet3 May 1856Broken up completed on 25 May 1864
Pickle W & H Pitcher, Northfleet3 May 1856Broken up completed on 12 April 1864
Prompt W & H Pitcher, Northfleet21 May 1856Broken up completed on 6 May 1864
Porpoise W & H Pitcher, Northfleet7 June 1856Broken up completed on 22 February 1864
Firm Fletcher & Fearnall, Limehouse22 March 1856Sold at Shanghai in 1872
Flamer Fletcher & Fearnall, Limehouse10 April 1856Coastal defence in 1868. Hospital ship 1871. Blown ashore during a typhoon at Hong Kong on 22 September 1871 and the wreck then sold
Fly Fletcher & Fearnall, Limehouse5 April 1856Broken up in 1862
Sepoy T & Wm Smith, North Shields 13 February 1856Fitted for Armstrong guns in 1861 and broken up in April 1868
Erne T & Wm Smith, North Shields18 February 1856Broken up at Chatham in 1874
Spider T & Wm Smith, North Shields23 February 1856Fitted for Armstrong guns in 1861. Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton on 12 May 1870
Lively T & Wm Smith, North Shields23 February 1856Wrecked on the Dutch coast on 23 December 1863, later salved and became the German mail steamer Heligolanderin
Surly T & Wm Smith, North Shields18 March 1856Became a tender to the Coast Guard in 1861. Sold to Thomas J Begbie in 1869
Swan T & Wm Smith, North Shields12 April 1856Became a coal hulk in 1869. Sold in 1906
Delight Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard15 March 1856Sold at Halifax as merchantman M A Starr in November 1867
Grappler Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard29 March 1856Fitted for service in British Columbia in 1859. Sold as a merchant vessel at Esquimault on 6 January 1868. Burnt on 3 May 1883. Broken up in 1884
Growler Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard8 May 1856Broken up at Malta in August 1864
Parthian Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard8 May 1856Breaking completed on 14 September 1864
Quail Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard2 June 1856Broken up at Malta in September 1861
Ripple Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard2 June 1856Broken up by Marshall at Plymouth April 1866
Cochin R & H Green, Blackwall Yard8 April 1856Broken up at Sheerness in March 1863
Cherokee R & H Green, Blackwall Yard30 April 1856Broken up at Portsmouth on 25 March 1869
Camel R & H Green, Blackwall Yard3 May 1856Broken up on 30 June 1864
Caroline R & H Green, Blackwall Yard9 May 1856Broken up at Portsmouth on 19 February 1862
Confounder R & H Green, Blackwall Yard21 May 1856Broken up on 4 October 1864
Crocus R & H Green, Blackwall Yard4 June 1856Broken up on 27 July 1864
Beacon John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle 11 February 1856Broken up on 27 August 1864
Brave John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle11 February 1856Laid up after completion at Haslar. Broken up at Portsmouth on 25 March 1869
Bullfinch John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle25 February 1856Broken up in August 1864
Redbreast John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle11 March 1856Breaking completed on 24 September 1864
Rose John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle21 April 1856Fitted for Armstrong guns in 1862. Broken up at Devonport in August 1868
Blazer John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle23 February 1856Became dredger YC29 in June 1868, later YC4 at Gibraltar. Sold at Gibraltar on 4 May 1877
Rainbow John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle8 March 1856Survey ship in 1857. RNVR training ship in 1873. Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton in November 1888
Brazen John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle23 February 1856Broken up in August 1864
Raven John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle8 March 1856Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton on 13 April 1875
Rocket John Laird, Sons & Company, Dingle21 April 1856Broken up in October 1864
Hardy Charles Hill & Sons, Bristol 1 March 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 9 February 1869
Havock Charles Hill & Sons, Bristol20 March 1856Sold at Yokohama on 31 March 1870
Highlander Charles Hill & Sons, Bristol29 April 1856Became dredger YC 51 in 1868. Sold in May 1884.
Albacore J & R White, West Cowes 3 April 1856Tank vessel in 1874. Hulked in 1882. Broken up at Bermuda in June 1885
Amelia J & R White, West Cowes19 May 1856Broken up at Pembroke on 29 September 1865
Foam Wigram & Son, Northam8 May 1856Hauled up for storage in 1857. Sold for breaking in June 1867
Wave Wigram & Son, Northam25 June 1856Never completed as a gunboat. Coal hulk in 1869. Hulk, renamed Clinker on 30 December 1882. Sold in 1890
Magnet Briggs & Company, Sunderland 29 January 1856Broken up at Chatham in 1874
Manly Briggs & Company, Sunderland29 January 1856Broken up at Deptford in January 1864
Mastiff Briggs & Company, Sunderland22 February 1856Broken up at Deptford in October 1863
Mistletoe Briggs & Company, Sunderland22 February 1856Breaking completed at Sheerness on 28 September 1864
Earnest William Patterson & Son, Bristol29 March 1856Placed in storage after completion. Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton on 17 January 1885
Escort William Patterson & Son, Bristol26 May 1856Broken up at Pembroke in October 1865

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Winfield, p.225–229
  2. 1 2 3 Winfield, Rif (2014). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. p. 367. ISBN   978-1-84832-169-4.
  3. ↑ Winfield, Rif (2014). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. p. 372. ISBN   978-1-84832-169-4.
  4. ↑ HMS Beaver, - accessed 8 May 2014.

Bibliography


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