HMS Vulture (1843)

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Bogue on the way to Hong Kong after the Expedition to Canton
, 9 April 1847
History
United Kingdom
NameVulture
Ordered18 March 1841
BuilderPembroke Dockyard
Laid downSeptember 1841
Launched21 September 1843
Decommissioned1866
General characteristics
Displacement1,960 
long tons
Complement175
Armament6 × guns

HMS Vulture was one of three 6-gun, steam-powered Cyclops-class second-class paddle frigates built for the Royal Navy in the 1840s. She was initially deployed to the East Indies where she participated in actions against China and then played a minor role in the Crimean War of 1854–1855. The ship was sold for scrap in 1863.

Design and construction

Vulture had a length at the

hold of 23 feet (7.0 m). The ship's tonnage was 1,1905594 tons burthen and she displaced 1,960 long tons (1,990 t). Her crew numbered 175–195 officers and ratings.[1]

The ship was fitted with a pair of

8-inch guns of 65 cwt on broadside trucks.[3]

She was

nhp engines). Vulture was first commissioned in February 1845 for the East Indies, and completed fitting for sea (for a further £9,173) at Sheerness Dockyard until 7 June 1845.[1]

Career

She was involved in the

Baltic theatre of the Crimean War in 1854. She was in action with the Russians on 7 June 1854, in the action at Gamla Carleby, Finland.[4] On 27 August 1855, she ran aground off Hanko Head, Grand Duchy of Finland whilst towing a vessel from Nargen to Farosund. She was severely damaged and was sent back to England for repairs.[5] In February 1859, she ran aground on the Barbary Coast. Vulture was refloated and escorted by HMS Perseverance to Malta, where she arrived on 21 February in a leaky condition.[6] She was recommissioned again in December 1859 for service in the Mediterranean. The ship was paid off on 5 April 1860, and laid up at Portsmouth. She was sold to Castle & Son, Charlton for scrap in October 1863.[1]

Vulture, with the 18th Royal Irish on board, at the Bogue forts or First Pass of the Canton River, 2 April 1847.
English sailors and French soldiers, dancing on board Vulture in the Baltic, 7 August 1854

Notes

  1. ^ "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 56 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Winfield, p. 1216
  2. ^ "Engines of Her Majesty's steam frigate, the Vulture", The Practical Mechanic and Engineer's Magazine, July 1844, p. 314
  3. ^ Lyon & Winfield, p. 151
  4. ^ Lambert, Andrew (2004). "Looking for gunboats: British Naval operations in the Gulf of Bothnia, 1854–55". Journal for Maritime Research 6:1, 69, DOI: 10.1080/21533369.2004.9668337
  5. ^ "The Attack on Sweaborg". Daily News. No. 2900. London. 4 September 1855.
  6. ^ "The Mediterranean Station". Hampshire Advertiser and Salisbury Guardian. No. 1854. Southampton. 12 March 1859. p. 8.

Bibliography

External links