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| Name | Assistance (1850) | Explanation | |
| Type | Discovery vessel | ||
| Acquired | March 1850 | ||
| Hull | Wooden | ||
| Propulsion | Sail | ||
| Builders measure | 420 tons | ||
| Displacement | |||
| Guns | 2 | ||
| Fate | 1854 | ||
| Class | |||
| Ships book | |||
| Note | 1835 Launched. Ex-Baboo, purchased. 1854.08.25 abandoned Bathurst Island, Artic | ||
| Snippets concerning this vessels career | |||
| Date | Event | ||
| 28 February 1850 - 15 October 1851 | Commanded by Captain Erasmus Ommanney, in Horatio Thomas Austin's squadron in search of Sir John Franklin . | ||
| 10 February 1852 - 25 August 1854 | Commanded by Captain Edward Belcher, particular service: searching, together with Pioneer (Sherard Osborn, tender to Assistance), Resolute (Henry Kellett) and Intrepid ( McClintock, tender to Resolute) for Sir John Franklins' ill-fated 1845 North-West Passage expedition, until abandoned at Bathurst Island | ||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | |||
| Date | Extract | ||
| 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. | ||
| Ma 26 April 1852 | SHEERNESS, Sunday Morning, April 25. Her Majesty’s steam-tugvessel African returned to port on Friday morning, having, when near Yarmouth on Thursday, parted company with the ships of the Arctic Expedition, under the command of Sir E. Belcher. When the African left them the North Star was under canvas, the Resolute and Assistance in tow of the Lightning and Desperate steamers. | ||
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