HMS Basilisk (1848)
HMS Basilisk (1848)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameBasilisk (1848)Explanation
Type1st class sloop   
Launched22 August 1848
HullWooden
PropulsionPaddle
Builders measure1031 tons
Displacement1710 tons
Guns6
Fate1882
Class 
Ships book
Note 
Snippets concerning this vessels career
DateEvent
25 May 1852
- 14 February 1855
Commanded by Commander Hon. Francis Egerton (Portsmouth), particular service, then (1854) the Baltic during the Russian War
February 1855Commanded by Commander Robert Jenner, Baltic during the Russian war
February 1856Commanded by Commander Stephen Smith Lowther Crofton
28 July 1856Commanded by Commander George Annesley Phayre, North America and West Indies
1865
- 1869
Commanded by Captain William Nathan Wrighte Hewett, China
23 January 1871
- 15 December 1874
Commanded (from commissioning until paying off at Sheerness) by Captain John Moresby, Australia; first exploring the area of what is now Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, in 1873
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Th 21 June 1849The Basilisk and Niger.— The most contradictory opinions continue to be expressed regarding the comparative merits of these steam-vessels. Generally speaking, those naval officers who were long accustomed to the propulsion of shipping by sails, before the introduction of steam, are most attached to the principle of the screw. They say that the machinery of the Niger is 150 tons less heavy than that of her competitor, that she can keep closer to the wind, carry double the metal, and in case of action that her paddle being under water is entirely free from dancer. On the other side, the supporters of the Basilisk prove by the last experiments that her steam power of propulsion is undoubtedly superior to that of the Niger, and they contend that the screw ought not to be considered in any other light than that of an auxiliary.
Fr 16 April 1852

SHEERNESS, Thursday Morning, April 15.

Her Majesty’s screw steam frigate Horatio, 22, Captain the Hon. S.T. Carnegie, completed, the adjustment of her compasses yesterday, and was towed to the Little Nore by the Myrtle, where she will this day take in her powder. She is, we are informed, nearly 50 hands short of her complement, which deficiency is for the present to be supplied by the seamen riggers of the dockyard. Her crew are to be paid to-day three months' wages in advance. She is to start forthwith on an experimental cruise to the Scilly Islands, and will not return for 10 days. Her present armament consists of 18 eight-inch guns on her main deck, which throw 56lb. solid, or 68lb. hollow shot, and four ten-inch 84-pounders on her upper deck. Although 381 tons less than the Amphion, 32, she can discharge a heavier broadside. She stows 116 tons of coal, which, when steaming expansively, will suffice for seven days' consumption. On a trial cruise some time since, when light, her average speed per hour by screw propulsion was 8 1/3 knots. The Highflyer is reported to accompany the Horatio on her present trial cruise.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-sloop Basilisk, 6, Captain Gardiner, from Portsmouth, brought to off the Little Nore yesterday afternoon, and soon afterwards came into harbour and let go her anchor.
Her Majesty's screw steam-sloop Desperate, 8, arrived here shortly after the Basilisk.
Her Majesty's ship Nymph was towed yesterday by the Myrtle from her anchorage on the west shore to moorings off the Lapwell.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-frigate Cyclops, 6, has been warped to the north side of the fitting basin, to take on board her stores, &c.
Sa 17 April 1852

WOOLWICH, April 16.

Lieutenant Richard V. Hamilton, of the Resolute, proceeded to Greenwich yesterday to receive the chronometers for Captain Sir Edward Belcher's Arctic expedition, and take charge of them to Greenhithe...
Several lighters will proceed down the river to the Nore to-morrow with extra stores to be put on board the Basilisk and Desperate steamers, which these vessels will convey to the edge of the ice, and then put them on board of the vessels of the Expedition.
The North Star, Commander Pullen, was taken to the middle of the stream to-day to be in readiness to be towed down to Greenhithe to-morrow by the Adder and Monkey steam vessels. The North Star is very deeply loaded, and her decks piled with split logs, to be used for firewood.
Ma 19 April 1852

SHEERNESS, April 18.

Her Majesty's screw steam frigate Horatio, 22, Captain the Hon. S.T. Carnegie, took in her powder on Thursday, and her crew received three months' wages in advance. She was inspected the following morning by Captain the Hon. Montagu Stopford, flag captain to Vice-Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, who was accompanied by the flag lieutenant, the Hon. O.W.M. Lambart, and will sail most probably this day on a trial cruise to the Land's-end. The Horatio was built at BursledonExternal link, in 1807, on the lines of the Lively; she is of 1,000 tons burden, and has an auxiliary screw propeller of 350-horse power, fitted on a plan suggested by the late Rear-Admiral Lord John Hay.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam vessel Lizard, Mr. Brockman, master commanding, conveyed Captain the Hon. Montagu Stopford and other officers to the Horatio on Friday forenoon. She at the same time towed the boats belonging to that ship. The Lizard remained alongside during the inspection, and afterwards returned with the flag captain, who mustered the officers and crews of the ships in harbour.
Her Majesty's screw steam sloop Desperate, 8, having completed coaling, came to moorings abreast of the dockyard, and adjusted her compasses. It is stated she will proceed to Chatham for the purpose of towing the Herald, Captain H. Denham, as far as the channel.
Her Majesty's paddle wheel steam sloop Basilisk, 6, Mr. G.H. Gardiner, commander pro tem., will shortly proceed to Woolwich, to assist in towing the vessels destined for the Arctic regions, under the command of Sir E. Belcher, as far as the ice.
We 21 April 1852

SHEERNESS, April 20.

Her Majesty's screw steamer Desperate, 8, and paddlewheel steamer Basilisk, 6, Commander G.H. Gardner, remain in harbour, waiting to receive on board stores and provisions for the use of Sir E. Belcher's expedition, which they will convey to the icy regions.
Fr 23 April 1852

SHEERNESS, Thursday Morning.

Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steamsloop Basilisk, 6, Commander G.H. Gardner, and screw steamvessel Desperate, 8, Lieutenant Stevens, left port on Tuesday, at 5 p.m., and anchored at the Nore, waiting the arrival of the vessels forming the Arctic Expedition...
Her Majesty's ships Assistance, 2, Captain Sir E. Belcher, C.B.; Resolute, 2. Captain H. Kellett, C.B.; North Star, 2, Commander William J.S. Pullen; Intrepid, 2, screw steamship, tender to the Resolute; and Pioneer, 2, screw steamvessel, tender to the Assistance, arrived at the Great Nore, from Greenhithe, at 7.30 a.m. yesterday, the first three in tow of the Lightning, the Monkey, and the African steamers respectively. At 9 a.m. Her Majesty’s steamvessel Myrtle, Mr. W.S. Bourchier master commanding, conveyed Captain C. Hope, Superintendent of the Dockyard, and senior port naval officer (pro. tem.), on a visit to Sir E. Belcher, returning at noon with the captains of the several ships, who were entertained at luncheon by Captain C. Hope. A dockyard cutter was kindly placed at the disposal of the officers belonging to the ships in port, for the purpose of affording them an opportunity of visiting the Arctic exploring squadron, of which many availed themselves. At 1 p.m. the Myrtle, with the broad pendant flying of Captain C. Hope, returned to the Nore with the officers, who came into port. Between 1 and 2 p.m. signal was made to the Basilisk, Desperate, and the other steamers to get up their steam, and at 3 o’clock the squadron weighed anchor and started on their voyage, the sailing-vessels being each in tow of a tug-vessel, and carrying with them the hearty wishes of every one for success in the enterprise in which they are engaged. The Basilisk and Desperate will accompany them to the edge of the ice, in order to render any assistance they may require.


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