HMS Surly (1855)
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Surly |
Ordered | 6 October 1854 |
Builder | Money Wigram & Son, Blackwall Yard |
Laid down | 9 October 1854 |
Launched | 31 March 1855 |
Renamed | MV9 on 19 October 1855 |
Fate | Broken up in November 1863 |
General characteristics | |
Tons burthen | 11723⁄94 (bm) |
Length |
|
Beam | 20 feet 10 inches (6.35 m) |
Depth of hold | 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) |
Armament | 1x mortar |
HMS Surly was a
Construction
HMS Surly was ordered by the
Service
In 1855 Surly was deployed to the Baltic Sea during the Crimean War fought by Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire against Russia. Commanded by a petty officer, she was one of a number of mortar vessels that participated in the Bombardment of Sweaborg, Finland.[1] The mortars used by the Royal Navy in this action suffered from a number of defects.[3] Surly's mortar destroyed its suspension gear, which allowed it to be trained onto a target independent of the orientation of the ship, on its first firing.[3][4] After firing 14 rounds it was taken out of action for repairs to cracks at the base of its chamber. These were temporarily patched by pouring in a mixture of tin and zinc, after which a further 34 shells were fired before the mortar required repair again. A final 30 shells were fired before the vent of the mortar was blown. In addition during the second day of the bombardment the mortar had to be reinforced with chains to prevent the barrel from bursting after the original reinforcing band gave way.[4]
Despite similar issues on the other British mortar vessels it was later deemed that the mortars had performed better than expected in inflicting damage upon the defences.
Surly was renamed MV9 (presumably for "mortar vessel 9") on 19 October 1855.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84832-169-4.
- ^ Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard (1857). Shells and Shell-guns. London: King & Baird. p. 433.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4094-8259-8.
- ^ a b Mordecai, Alfred (1860). Military Commission to Europe in 1855 and 1856. Washington: G. W. Bowman, printer. p. 67.
- ^ a b Dodd, George (1856). Pictorial History of the Russian War 1854-5-6: With Maps, Plans, and Wood Engravings. Edinburgh: W. & R. Chambers. pp. 481–482.
- ISBN 978-1-84832-169-4.