► Royal Navy ► Vessels
Browse RN vessels: A; B; C; D; E - F; G - H; I - L; M; N - P; Q - R; S; T - U; V - Z; ??
| Name | Royal George (1827) | Explanation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | First rate | Type | Three-decker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launched (Sail) | 22 September 1827 | Converted to screw | 22 June 1853 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull | Wooden | Length | 206 feet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Sail | Men | 950 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Builders measure | 2616 tons | Builders measure (as screw) | 2616 tons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement | Displacement (as screw) | 4205 tons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guns | 120 | Guns (as screw) | 120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fate | 1875 | Last in commission | 1869 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ships book | ADM 135/408 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snippets concerning career prior to conversion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Event | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 September 1827 | Launched as 1st rate sailing ship at Chatham Dockyard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1840 | Out of commission at Sheerness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career as unarmoured wooden screw vessel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Event | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 June 1853 | Undocked as screw at Chatham Dockyard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 October 1853 - 13 February 1856 | Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain Henry John Codrington, the Baltic during the Russian War | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 January 1856 - 24 August 1856 | Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Captain Robert Spencer Robinson, troop transport from the Crimea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 March 1858 - 30 June 1858 | Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain John Coghlan Fitzgerald, guard ship of Ordinary, Sheerness, and Captain-Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1860 | Cut down to two-decker of 89 guns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| April 1864 - 3 April 1865 | Commanded by Captain Michael De Courcy, Coast Guard, Kingstown (replacing Ajax) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 April 1865 - 8 April 1868 | Commanded by Captain Thomas Miller, Coast Guard, Kingstown (and in July 1867 to Spithead for Royal Review on the occasion of the visit of the Ottoman Sultan to Britain) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (9 April 1868) - 31 December 1869 | Commanded (until paying off at Plymouth) by Captain Robert Jenkins, flagship of Vice-Admiral Henry Keppel, Coast Guard, Kingstown (and May 1869, cruise of the Reserve Fleet) until replaced by Pallas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 December 1869 | Paid off (replaced at Kingstown by Pallas) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 January 1875 | Sold to Castle for breaking up at Charlton. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extracts from the Times newspaper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Extract | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 6 March 1854 | PORTSMOUTH, March 5. The victualling of the ships at Spithead for six months foreign service was completed yesterday. There are now at this rendezvous to-day the following ships, the complements of which we give, as nearly as we can arrive at them without consulting the ships' books:—
Every day will add to this force, which will eventually include the three-deckers, Duke of Wellington, 131; St. George, 120; Waterloo, 120; Neptune, 120; Caesar, 91; Nile, 91; James Watt, 91; Algiers, 91; Monarch, 84; Ganges, 84; Cressy, 81; Majestic, 81; Blenheim, 60; Ajax, 60; Euryalus, 51 ; Fox, 42; Pique, 40; and numerous others. Sir Charles Napier will, we believe, command personally 20 sail of the line, and 10 sail of French. There will be about 50 sail of smaller ships, which will be apportioned to the English and French Rear-Admirals and Commodore Martin, and it is reported a squadron of sailing-sloops or brigs is to be commissioned to cruise off the Scotch coast to prevent privateering. Rear-Admiral Corry will shift his flag to-morrow from the Prince Regent, 90, to the Neptune, 120, an order having been received yesterday, appointing Captain Hutton to the Neptune, and Captain Smith, C.B., from the Neptune, to the Prince Regent. Captain Hutton takes with him Commander Bunce, Lieutenant Brandreth, and 50 of the Prince Regent's crew. When the change of officers and ships was made known on board the Prince Regent yesterday, the whole ship's company, who really love their admiral and captain, and are devotedly attached to their matchless ship, wanted to follow the admiral, as one man, into the Neptune, and when told that only 50 would be allowed to be draughted by the Admiralty, their countenances betokened the sincerest dejection. Subsequently all the petty officers went aft on the quarter deck and respectfully requested that the Admiralty might be memorialised for their removal with their admiral and captain. The Neptune will be some time getting ready. She has lower yards and topmasts up and topgallant masts pointed, but has only 150 men on her books besides her draught of Royal Marines. We expect, therefore, that Rear-Admiral Chads will be the first despatched with a "flying squadron" of frigates towards the Baltic, that Sir Charles Napier will follow, and that Rear-Admiral Corry will bring up the rear. Captain Hay, of the Victory, has declined the flag-captaincy to Sir Charles Napier. The Prince Regent, the St. Jean d’Acre, the Amphion and the Odin were paid wages down to the 31st of January yesterday. The Impérieuse, Tribune, and Valorous will be paid to-morrow, leaving only the Arrogant (whose pay books have not yet been landed) of Admiral Corry's division to be paid. The Blenheim, 60, Captain the Hon, F.J. Pelham, has readjusted her compasses and will be ready to join the fleet to morrow. The Caesar, 91, Captain Robb, is rattling down her rigging. The Odin, 16, Captain F. Scott, is repairing boilers in the steam-basin. The fleet are daily exercised in gunnery, reefing, furling, &c. Mr. Parratt, of the Treasury, brought down last night from London a small tubular collapsing boat, upon the principle of his admirable liferaft, which he has this day taken off to the St. Jean d'Acre, for the Hon. H. Keppell. The 23d, 42d, and 79th Regiments are preparing for active service. The two latter corps will be augmented by volunteers from the 72d and 79th depots, 31 volunteers from the 11th Foot, 32 from the 65th, and 62 from the 35th embarked from this dockyard at 6 o'clock this morning, in the Foyle, British and Irish Steam-pocket Company's vessel, to join the 1st battalion of the Royals, at Plymouth. The Foyle embarks the 93d depôt at Plymouth, to-morrow, for the Isle of Wight. The depôt of the 2d battalion of the Rifle Brigade will be conveyed to the Isle of Wight to-morrow in Her Majesty's steam-tender Sprightly. The Cruiser, 14, Commander G.H. Douglas, will join the Baltic fleet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 26 February 1855 | As far as can be ascertained at present, the fleet about to be despatched to the Baltic will be thus composed:— Commander-in-Chief.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, the Hon. Richard Saundars Dundas, C.B. Second in Command.— Rear-Admiralof the Blue, Michael Seymour. Third in Command.— Rear-Admiral of the Blue, Robert Lambert Baynes, C.B. Captain of the Fleet.— The Hon. F.T. Pelham.
The Æolus, 42, ammunition magazine. The Perseverance, storeship. The Volcano, floating engineers' factory, Master-Commander Dyer. Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour has hoisted his flag (pro tem.) as second in command of the Baltic Fleet on board the Nile, 91, Captain Mundy, at Plymouth. Mr. Dyer, secretary at the Devonport dockyard, goes to sea with Admiral Seymour as secretary. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 10 March 1855 | Har Majesty is expected at Portsmouth en route to Osborne on the 15th inst., and, it is supposed, will inspect the Baltic fleet prior to its sailing from Spithead. An advanced squadron of steam-frigates, denominated the "flying squadron," was ordered to proceed to Kiel, but whether this intention of the late First Lord of the Admiralty will be carried out by Sir C. Wood is not known. Captain Rundle Watson, C. B., of the Imperieuse, was intended to be the senior officer in command of this advanced flying division of the Baltic Fleet. The Royal George, 102, screw ship, Captain Codrington, C.B., arrived at Spithead yesterday, from the Nore, and joined the fleet. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, was taken out of the steam-basin yesterday, and Her Majesty’s steamyacht Osborne taken in, supposed for the purpose of clearing out her cabin furniture, prior to being turned over to special service. The Falcon, 17, Commander Pullen, was taken into dock yesterday to have the well of her propeller altered, the same as the Ariel, 9, Commander Luce, which was taken out at Portsmouth yesterday. The Centaur, 6, paddle frigate, Captain Clifford, bent sails yesterday in the basin at Portsmouth, and is ready to go out. She was reported complete in her outfit last evening. The Pembroke and Hastings, screw blockships, Captains Seymour and Caffin, were reported out of the hands of the dockyard artificers at Portsmouth last evening, and will leave the steam-basin next week. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 17 March 1855 | We learn by electric telegraph that an advance squadron of the fleet will leave Spithead for the Baltic to-morrow or Sunday, a signal having been made yesterday by the Commander-in-Chief of the following nature:— "Officers of flying squadron on loave to be recalled immediately; ships to be ready for sea by Sunday. — C.B." The ships thus denoted we believe to be the Imperieuse, 51, Captain Watson, C.B. (who will hoist a broad pendant aa commodore of the second class, and command the squadron); the Euryalus, 51, Captain G. Ramsay; the Arrogant, 47, Captain Yelverton; the Dragon, 6, Captain Stewart; the Centaur, 6, Captain Clifford; the Magicienne, 16, Captain Vansittart; the Bulldog, 6, Commander S. Gordon; the Archer, 15, Captain Heathcoate; the Conflict, 8, Commander Cumming; and the Falcon, 14, Commander Pullen. The Amphion, 33, Captain Key; and the Pylades, 21, Captain D’Eyncourt, both at Sheerness, will follow, when ready. The fleet at Spithead was augmented yesterday by the arrival of the Exmouth, 91, Captain the Hon. F.T. Pelham (captain of the fleet), and the Magicienne, 16, paddle-frigate, Captain Vansittart, from Plymouth, making the following force, which is hourly being increased, at the anchorage:— The Duke of Wellington, Neptune, St. George, Royal George, Exmouth, Nile, Cressy, Majestic, Calcutta, Ajax, Imperieuse, Euryalus, Arrogant, Esk, Magicienne, Archer, Dragon, Bulldog, Falcon, Ariel, &. The Blenheim, 60, Captain Hall, will join to-day, and one or two from Plymouth or Sheerness are expected. The Port-Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B., struck his flag on board the Victory yesterday, and went on leave, owing to indisposition. Rear-Admiral Martin is senior officer pro tem. The Pelter, screw-gunboat, was docked again yesterday to have another screw applied, and some further alterations made in her lee boards to keep her from rolling; this vessel has been on the doctor's list ever since she arrived at Portsmouth. The Ruby, steam-gunboat, is also to be brought into dock to have some alterations made. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 26 March 1855 | The fleet at Portsmonth yesterday consisted of the
The Hastings, 60, Captain Caffin, got up her steam again on Saturday, and proceeded out of harbour to test her engines, returning aftre the trial. The Pembroke, 60, Captain Seymour, also got up steam for a similar test, bul did not go out. The Hogue, 60, Captain Ramsay, steamed out of harbour, and joined the fleet, which has been supplied with an enormous quantity of Congreve rockets for boat service, and shot, shell, and powder, at the discretion of each Captain, and not regulated by any before regulated "establishment." Saturday, the 7th proximo, is the day rumoured as that of the departure of this fleet for the Baltic. The Driver, 6, steam sloop left Spithead on Friday night with supernumeraries for the squadron in the Downs, and returned to Spithead yesterday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fr 6 April 1855 | The ships left at Spithead after the departure of the main body of the Baltic expedition shifted berths yesterday under sail, and formed two lines, as ordered, thus:—
The Geyser, 6, paddle, was ordered to take officers and men for the Baltic fleet in the Downs, and left last evening. The Driver, 6, paddle, will leave Spithead to-morrow, and will then also take supernumeraries to join the larger ships. The Falcon returned to Spithead on Wednesday night from the Channel. Rear-Admiral Baynes remains at Portsmouth to take out the third division; but his flagship, the Retribution, will not be out of the hands of the engineer department until the 10th, and then the shipwrights will not have done with her. She remains in the steam basin, with Admiral Baynes's flag at her mizen, and is being proceeded with as fast as possible. The Odin, 16, paddle frigate, is also in the steam basin, having new covers to her cylinders fitted, her old ones not being strong enough to contain the pressure of the additional power of steam generated by her new boilers; she will be refitted in this respect by the 10th. The Ruby, Pelter, and Grinder gunboats are all in the hands of the dockyard artificers; the latter, which came up from Cowes on Monday from the shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Robert White, is in dock, being fitted out for the fleet. The Pelter is having moveable iron plates of a quarter of an inch thickness fitted on to the gunwale, and projecting above the bulwarks about 18 inches, for, the protection of her crew from rifle bullets from without, when in close proximity with the enemy, and also the better to enable those onboard to shield themselves while at rifle firing themselves. This vessel needed some new tubes for her boilers, but those sent to replace the defective ones are said to be four inches too short for her! The Hastings, 60, new screw blockship, went out of harbour yesterday again to make a trial of her steaming properties at the measured mile. She went out with most of her weights on board, and drawing 22 feet. The mean of four runs showed an average speed realized of 6·7 knots — a result far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the scientific on board and ashore; revolution of engines, 78; and pressure of steam in the boilers, 55lb. The inexperience of the stokers alone prevented a better mean speed being realized, and there is little doubt that greater speed will be ultimately obtained. She victuals now 279 out of her intended complement of 600. The Ruby gunboat was undocked yesterday. The Bellerophon, 78, landed her invalids yesterday morning at the dockyard jetty, and they were conveyed to the invalid depôt by railway. The ship is now returning stores, preparatory to being put out of commission. Her officers will be paid off, but the crew will be paid down, and after a fortnight’s leave draughted for service in the Baltic. None of her bulkheads or internal fittings are to be removed. We learn by electric telegraph from Deal that the Baltic fleet at anchor in the Downs yesterday comprised the following vessels:—The Duke of Wellington, 131, Royal George, 101, Nile, 91, James Watt, 91, Caesar, 91, Exmouth, 91, Majestic, 81, Cressy, 81, Colossus, 81, Hogue, 60, Blenheim, 60, Edinburgh. 60, Vulture, 6, Dragon, 6, Gorgon, 6, Basilisk, 6, Bulldog. 6. The Ajax, 60, was coming in. The weather being very fine visitors were flocking in to Deal by every train. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sa 7 April 1855 | THE BALTIC FLEET. The port division was led by the Exmouth with the flag of Admiral Seymour (second in command) and followed by the Nile, the James Watt, the Majestic, the Hogue and the Ajax. The six paddle steamers, the Dragon, the Bulldog, the Vulture, the Basilisk, the Magicienne, and the Gorgon kept station on either side of the lines. In this order the fleet proceeded up Channel with the moon (nearly at the full) shining brightly, and a gentle breeze, just enough to call a ripple on the water, when, about opposite Brighton, at 10 o’clock, a large merchant ship running under all sail with the wind a little on her starboard quarter, ran foul of the Duke of Wellington, doing some serious damage, carrying away her foreyard, port swinging boom, the whole of the port and part of the main chains, quarter gallery, and hammock-netting, breaking the stock of the best bower-anchor, and driving the sheet-anchor from its berth into the gangway. The shock to the merchantman must have been fearful, as she went nearly stem on. Her foremast went by the board like a stick, and she drifted astern a total wreck, carrying her gear with her. It is believed she wag a very large ship. A steamer was sent to assist her almost immediately, but returned after some hours, unable to find her and great fears are entertained that she has foundered. The accident, as far aa I can yet learn, seems to have happened through no "look-out" being kept in the merchantman, and the man who was steering her did not see his danger until he was close to the Duke, whose helm was hard to port, steering south to get out of his way. The vessels would have passed each other had he not in his hurry and consternation, put his helm hard a-starboard and run, of course, right into the forechains of the Duke. No blame is to be attached to the officer of the watch, who seems to have done all that was proper to avert the accident, which will detain the ship at least 10 or 12 days, and she will most likely have to go to Sheerness for repairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We 31 December 1856 | The following ships and vessels are now in port at Sheerness, in harbour, fitting-basin, and in docks, viz.:- The Edinburgh, 60 guns, Captain Edward P. Halsted; the Waterloo, 120 guns, Captain Lord Frederick Kerr, flagship; the Formidable, 84 guns, Captain-Superintendent John Jervis Tucker; the Royal George, 102 guns; the Terrible, 21 guns; the new screw steam corvette Scylla. 21 guns; the Argus, 6 guns; the Eurotas, 12 guns, screw mortar-ship; the Hydra, 6 guns; the Terror, 14 guns, floating battery; the Horatio, 12 guns; the Russell, 60 guns; the Hawke, 60 guns, Captain James Willcox, C.B., &c.; the Phoenix, 6 guns.; the Renard, 6 guns; the Foxhound, 6 guns; the Pylades, 21 guns; the Trusty, 14 guns, floating battery; the new screw steam frigate Emerald, 51 guns; the Hermes, 6 guns, Commander William E.A. Gordon; the Lizard steamvessel, Lieutenant-Commander Thomas B. Christopher; the Myrtle steamvessel, Master-Commander William S. Bourchier; the African steamvessel, Second Master-Commander R. Harvey; the Fearless steamvessel; the Wildfire steam tender to Waterloo, Master-Commander George Brockman; the Melampus, 42 guns, Captain L. Heath, C. B., &c. The gunboats Louisa, Magnet, Erne, Mayflower, Ruby, Sandfly, Carnation, Spanker, Pelter, Fly, Hasty, Cochin, Julia, Dwarf, Fidget, Griper, Mastiff, Mistletoe, Traveller, Spey, Surly, Herring, Sepoy, Bullfrog, Tickler, Manly, Thistle, and the new screw steam despatch gunboat Nimrod. The new ship Meeanee, 80 guns, is in No. 2 dry dock, being altered to receive screw steam machinery. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 10 May 1858 | All the artificers at Sheerness are to be henceforth, until further orders, put on what is termed job and task work on unlimited earnings, and all labourers now employed, whether on the establishment or temporarily hired, whose weekly wages do not amount to 14s. Per week, are to have their pay raised to that sum. All extra time to be paid for. Provisions and stores of every description are ordered to be forthwith taken on board the screw steam guard-ship of ordinary Royal George, 102 guns, Captain Superintendent John C. Fitzgerald, and the screw steam guardship of steam reserve Cressy, 80 guns, Captain Edward P. Halsted, &c. If required for immediate service they are ordered to be manned from the different Coastguard stations attached to their district. The ships now under fitment at Sheerness, in the fitting basin and in dry dock, are the Majestic screw steamship, 80 guns; the Colossus screw steamship, 80 guns; the new screw steamship Hero, 91 guns; the Terrible paddle-wheel steam frigate, 21 guns; the new screw steam frigate Emerald, 51 guns, and sundry gunboats. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We 8 September 1858 | The Commander-in-Chief at Sheerness, on the 6th inst. inspected the Colossus, 80 guns, the Royal George, 102 guns, the Emerald, 51 guns, and the Scout, 21 guns, all advanced screw steamships, an Admiralty order having been received to report what time wonld be required to get them ready for foreign service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tu 11 May 1869 | THE NAVAL RESERVE. Yesterday about 250 men of this force were gathered together in the Minories previous to marching down to London-bridge to embark on board a river steamer and proceed by water to Sheerness, there to join Her Majesty's ship Agincourt for a fortnight's cruise and training in the Channel Squadron. These, however, were not the only body of men which assembled yesterday for the same purpose, for one may say that at all the great stations of the Naval Reserve throughout the United Kingdom a similar muster went on, and the men were all volunteers, who had come forward in answer to an invitation to train for two weeks on board the regular ships of war. Though this is the very busiest time of a sailor's year, when the spring opens up all the coasting trade and the traffic of the North Sea, and the men can get engagements at almost any terms, no less than 1,900 responded voluntarily to the call, and were yesterday embarked from various ports for service on board Her Majesty’s ships Duncan, Agincourt, Hector, St. George, Mersey, Donegal, Black Prince, Trafalgar, Royal George, and Valiant. The object of this movement is to give both the officers and men of the Naval Reserve a good acquaintance with the real routine of the discipline of the Royal Navy. In mere seamanship they have nothing to learn, for the men of the Naval Reserve are the very pick of the Mercantile Marine, and their lieutenants and commanders are the most skilled officers of our finest lines of steam and sailing vessels. The Naval Reserve now numbers about 16,000 men. Its numbers have stood at a higher figure, but the Applications to enter the force have been so numerous, and its popularity in some ports has been so great, that it is now easy to make a choice of men, and to weed out those who were at first admitted, but for whose places better applicants can now be got. Of this force of 16,000 men about 5,000 would be available in a single week, and at the lowest estimate at least 12,000 within six months, with about 600 of the best officers of the Mercantile Marine. Yesterday at the muster in the Minories all the men who attended were fine, active, thorough-going sailors. Of course, most of them came to the rendezvous with their wives, and of course the wives brought all the children they could conveniently lead or carry. So there was great cheering as the men, headed by their band and colours, marched down to London-bridge, where they were to embark on board the Saloon steamer the Princess Alice, to take them to the Agincourt at Sheerness. With the men went Mr. J.J. Mayo, the Registrar-General of Seamen, Captain Allen Young, Captain Brown, Captain Gardiner, &c. The crews of the vessels in the Pool, the crews of the Fisgard and the training ship Worcester, turned out and cheered the steamer as it passed, and the men of the Naval Reserve roared themselves hoarse in response, and then betook to hornpipes to wile away the shining hours. The fun and merriment on board the steamer were incessant, till the iron walls of the Agincourt were reached, when the men went demurely but cheerily on board, and at once seemed to settle down into their temporary home. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ma 17 May 1869 | Mr. Chiders, First Lord of the Admiralty, Vice-Admiral Sir Sidney Colpoys Dacres, K.C.B., and other gentlemen connected with the Admiralty, arrived at Portland by rail from London yesterday afternoon, and at once proceeded to the armour-plated ship Agincourt, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Astley Cooper Key, C.B. Their lordships were received with the customary salute, and on their arrival on board the Agincourt the Admiralty flag was hoisted at the main. The whole of the vessels composing the Naval Reserve Squadron, consisting of the Agincourt, 26; Black Prince, 41; Hector, 20; Valiant, 24; Duncan, 81; Trafalgar, 60; Royal George, 72; Donegal, 81; St. George, 72 ; Mersey, 36; Cadmus, 21; Scylla, 21; and the paddle-wheel despatch boat Helicon, put to sea this morning shortly after 5 o?clock. The wind at the time of their departure was blowing strongly from the eastward, but so great is the harbour accommodation that the ships had no difficulty whatever in taking up their assigned berths between the end of the great breakwater and the north shore. The iron-clad vessels formed the starboard division, and the wooden two-deckers, frigates, and corvettes the port division. The spectacle presented on the squadron leaving the harbour was fine in the extreme, The atmosphere, unfortunately, became rather hazy shortly after they left, and the vessels were soon out of sight from the shore. The great capabilities of the harbour at Portland were, perhaps, never better exemplified than on this occasion, for, in addition to these large ships, forming the Reserve Squadron, there were upwards of 60 vessels belonging to the mercantile marine at anchor, yet there were ample space and shelter under cover of the breakwater to accommodate at least an equal number of vessels in addition. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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