Merlin-class packet boat

	John Wilson Carmichael
Class overview
Name	Merlin class
Builders	Pembroke Dockyard
Operators	Royal Navy
Cost	£44,450 (average per vessel)
Built	1838–1840
In service	1839–1872
Completed	3
Scrapped	3
General characteristics
Type	Packet boat
Tons burthen	889+14⁄94 bm
Length	175 ft (53.3 m) Gun deck; 153 ft 6 in (46.8 m) Keel for tonnage;
Beam	33 ft 2 in (10.1 m) maximum; 33 ft 0 in (10.1 m) for tonnage;
Depth	16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
Installed power	312 nhp
Propulsion	2 × Fawcett, Preston & Co steam engines
Armament	2 × 6 pdr carronades

The Merlin-class packet boat of 1838 was a Sir William Symonds (the Surveyor of the Navy) design that was approved on 2 April 1838.

survey ship. Medusa went to the Black Sea. Medina remained in the Mediterranean being converted to a survey ship for Mediterranean service. Merlin served on the West Coast of Africa and was sold for commercial use in 1863. Medina was sold at Malta in April 1864. Medusa was converted to a tugboat in 1861 and remained in that service until sold in 1872.^[3]

Merlin was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a 10-gun pinnace, built in 1579 and listed until 1601.[4]

Medusa was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a 50-gun fourth rate, launched at Plymouth Dockyard on 23 July 1785 and wrecked on the coast of Portugal on 26 November 1798.^[5]

Medina was the third named vessel since it was used for a six gun yacht (named Portsmouth) launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 9 January 1702, rebuilt and named Medina in August 1772 and broken in August 1832.^[6]

Design and specifications

The first two vessels were laid down in April and May 1838 with the third vessel laid down in June 1839. The first two were launched in the fall of 1838 with the last vessel launched in 1840. The ships had a length at the

hold was 16 feet 5 inches (5.00 metres). The ships' tonnage calculation was 88914⁄94 tons burthen.^[7]

Their machinery was supplied by Fawcett, Preston & Company of Liverpool.

paddlewheels.^[9] The vessels had a very light armament of two 6-pounder carronades mounted.^[10]

All vessels were completed at an average cost of £35,276.[Note 1]^{[Note 2]}

Pembroke-built vessels
Name	Launch date	Fate
Merlin	18 September 1838	Sold 18 May 1863
Medusa	31 October 1838	Sold 17 February 1872
Medina	18 March 1840	Broken up March 1864

Notes

^ An average cost accounting for inflation of approximately £3,379,100 in today's money.
^ Average cost compiled by author. Actual break down of actual costs will be given on individual ship articles