These tables show all vessels carried on the books of the Royal Navy in the period 1840-1880.
Name: Follow links in this column for more information, and for details of the career of unarmoured wooden screw vessels (or for snippets for other vessels in service in the period 1840-1880).
Launched: '1800a' means acquired in 1800; '1800r' means renamed in 1800 to name shown in 'Name' column; see 'Note' column for original name, under which entry other details are given.
Fate: year of sale, breaking up or loss; if lost or sold for reuse see details in 'Note' column.
H(ull): C = composite, I = iron, S = steel, W = wood.
P(ropulsion): H = hydraulic, P = paddle, S = screw, W = sail.
B.M. = burthen
, builders measure (tons).
Disp. = displacement (tons); during this period displacement was replacing burthen as a measure of the 'size' of vessels.
Guns = initial number of guns (may have been different later in career). TT = torpedo tubes.
SB = ships book in the National Archives, London: ADM 135/xxx (giving the history of the maintenance of the ship - hull, machinery and armament - from construction to disposal).
Note: '1800 = Nnnnnn' means renamed to Nnnnnn in 1800; '1850 screw 1000 bm' means converted to a screw ship of 1000 tons burthen in 1850. c.h. = coal hulk; d.s. = depot ship.; h.s. = harbour service; r.s = receiving ship; t.s. = training ship; MV = mortar vessel; WV = watch vessel; YC = yard craft. Merchant ship names in italics. Data in red are alternate data when sources disagree.
The data are mainly derived from
these sources. For vessels not given here, try Paul Benyon's
Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels. For earlier vessels, go to Mike Phillip's
Ships of the Old Navy.
Name | Launched | Fate | H. | P. | Type | B.M. | Disp. | Guns | S.B. | Note |
Gadfly | 1856.04.21 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 212 | | 2 | | |
Gadfly | 1879.05.05 | 1918 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 254 | 1 | | 1900 coal lighter YC.230 |
Galatea | 1810.08.31 | 1849 | W | W | Fifth rate | 947 | | 36 | | |
Galatea | 1859.09.14 | 1883 | W | S | Frigate | 3227 | 4686 | 26 | 190 | |
Ganges | 1821.11.10 | 1929 | W | W | Second rate | 2248 | 3594 | 84 | | 1865 t.s. 1906 = Tenedos III. 1910 = Indus V. 1922 = Impregnable III |
Ganges | 1906r | | | | | | | | | See: Minotaur 1863 |
Ganges II | 1906r | | | | | | | | | See: Agincourt 1865 |
Ganges II | 1908r | | | | | | | | | See: Minotaur 1863 |
Gannet | 1857.12.29 | 1877 | W | S | Sloop | 579 | 890 | 11 | 191 | |
Gannet | 1878.08.31 | | C | S | Sloop | | 1130 | 6 | | 1897 restored and now part of the UK's National Historic Fleet |
Garland | 1846.02.26 | 1855 | W | P | Packet | 295 | | | | |
Garland | 1856.05.07 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 212 | | 2 | | |
Garnet | 1856.05.31 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 233 | | 2 | | |
Garnet | 1877.06.30 | 1904 | C | S | Corvette | | 2120 | 12 | | |
Geyser | 1841.04.06 | 1866 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1055 | 1379 | 6 | 192 | |
Gibraltar | 1860.08.16 | 1899 | W | S | Second rate | 3716 | 5724 | 101 | 206 | 1872 t.s. 1889 = Grampian |
Gladiator | 1844.10.15 | 1879 | W | P | 2nd class frigate | 1190 | 1960 | 6 | 193 | |
Glasgow | 1861.03.28 | 1884 | W | S | Frigate | 3027 | 4020 | 51 | 194 | |
Glatton | 1855.04.18 | 1864 | W | S | Floating battery | 1535 | | 14 | 195 | |
Glatton | 1871.03.08 | 1903 | I | S | Breastwork monitor | | 4910 | 4 | 196 | |
Gleaner | 1837.06a | 1849 | W | P | Gunvessel | 371 | | 3 | | Launched 1833. Transferred from Post Office, ex-Gulnare, 351 bm, rebuilt |
Gleaner | 1854.10.07 | 1868 | W | S | Gunboat | 216 | | 4 | 197 | |
Gloucester | 1812.02.27 | 1884 | W | W | Third rate | 1770 | | 74 | | 1832 40 gun 4th rate. 1861 h.s. |
Gnat | 1856.05.10 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 212 | | 2 | 198 | |
Gnat | 1867.11.26 | 1868 | C | S | Gunvessel | 464 | | 4 | 199 | 1868.11.15 wrecked on Balabac Island, China Sea |
Goldfinch | 1856.02.02 | 1869 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 200 | |
Goliath | 1842.07.25 | 1875 | W | W | Second rate | 2596 | | 80 | 201 | 1857 screw. 1870 t.s. 1875.12.22 burnt by accident |
Gorgon | 1837.08.31 | 1864 | W | P | Frigate | 1111 | 1610 | 6 | | |
Gorgon | 1871.10.14 | 1903 | I | S | Coast defence monitor | | 3560 | 4 | 203 | |
Goshawk | 1856.02.09 | 1869 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 204 | |
Goshawk | 1872.01.23 | 1906 | C | S | Gunboat | | 430 | 4 | 205 | 1902 hulk |
Gossamer | 1821a | 1861 | W | W | Tender | 48 | | | | Purchased on stocks |
Grampian | 1889r | | | | | | | | 206 | See: Gibraltar 1860 |
Grampus | 1845r | | | | | | | | | See: Tremendous 1784 |
Grappler | 1845.12.30 | 1850 | I | P | Vessel | 557 | | 3 | | |
Grappler | 1855.05.01 | 1896 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 161 | | 1 | | 1855.10 = MV.18. 1866 hulk |
Grappler | 1856.03.29 | 1885 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 207 | 1868 sold and converted to tug, 1885 burnt |
Grasshopper | 1855.12.08 | 1871 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 208 | |
Grecian | 1838.04.24 | 1865 | W | W | 2nd class brig | 484 | | 16 | | |
Greenock | 1849.04.30 | 1852 | I | S | Frigate | 1413 | 2065 | 10 | | Laid down as Pegasus. Sold for commercial use |
Greyhound | 1859.06.15 | 1906 | W | S | Sloop (1862: Corvette) | 880 | 1260 | 17 | 209 | 1869 h.s. |
Griffin | 1858r | | | | | | | | | See: Griffon 1832 |
Griffon | 1832.09.11 | 1869 | W | W | Brig-sloop | | | 10 | | 1854 h.s. 1857 c.h. 1858 = Griffin |
Griffon | 1860.02.25 | 1866 | W | S | Gunvessel | 425 | 570 | 5 | 210 | 1866.10 stranded after collision with Pandora off Little Popo, west Africa |
Griffon | 1876.12.16 | 1891 | C | S | Gunvessel | | 780 | 3 | | 1891 Sold to Board of Trade as hulk, renamed Richmond |
Grinder | 1855.03.07 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 211 | |
Grinder | 1868.03.21 | 1919 | W | P | Tug | 332 | 505 | 0 | | |
Griper | 1813.07.14 | 1868 | W | W | Gun-brig | 182 | | 12 | | 1824 Artic discovery sloop, 2 guns. 1836 Coastguard. 1856 target |
Griper | 1855.12.11 | 1869 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 212 | |
Griper | 1879.09.15 | 1937 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 254 | 1 | | 1905 YC373. 1923.06.19 base ship Flora. 1933 Afrikander |
Growler | 1841.07.20 | 1854 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1054 | 1379 | 6 | | |
Growler | 1855.03.31 | 1863 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 117 | | 1 | | 1855.10 = MV.4 |
Growler | 1856.05.08 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 213 | |
Growler | 1868.12.01 | 1887 | C | S | Gunvessel | | 584 | 4 | 214 | |
Gulnare | 1855a | 1863 | | | Survey cutter | 31 | | | | |
Hamadryad | 1823.07.25 | 1905 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1082 | | 46 | | 1866 lend as seamans hospital |
Handy | 1856.05.31 | 1868 | W | S | Gunboat | 233 | | 2 | 215 | |
Handy | 1871r | | | | | | | | | See: Nymphe 1812 |
Hannibal | 1854.01.31 | 1904 | W | S | Second rate | 3136 | 4735 | 91 | 216 | 1874 hulk |
Happy Ladd | 1855a | 1856 | | | Gunboat | | | | | Sold to Turkish navy |
Hardy | 1855.03.14 | 1858 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 117 | | 1 | | 1855.10 = MV.12 |
Hardy | 1856.03.01 | 1869 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 217 | |
Harlequin | 1836.03.18 | 1889 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 433 | | 16 | | 1860 coal hulk |
Harpy | 1825.07.16 | 1841 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 232 | | 10 | | |
Harpy | 1845.03.04 | 1909 | I | P | Gunboat | 344 | 505 | 3 | 218 | 1892 target |
Harrier | 1831.11.08 | 1840 | W | W | Sloop | 486 | | 18 | | |
Harrier | 1854.05.13 | 1866 | W | S | Sloop | 747 | 1047 | 17 | 219 | |
Hart | 1821.06.12 | 1875 | W | W | Schooner tender | 81 | | | | 1822 = Navy Board. 1833 = Hart. 1860s = Sheerness YC1. 1870 = Drake, Superintendent's yacht at Sheerness |
Hart | 1868.08.20 | 1888 | C | S | Gunvessel | 464 | 584 | 4 | 220 | |
Hastings | 1819.06a | 1886 | W | W | Third rate | 1763 | | 74 | | Purchased, ex-Indiaman. 1855 screw blockship 60 guns. 1870 coal hulk |
Hasty | 1812.08.26 | 1870 | W | W | Gun-brig | 182 | | 12 | | 1819 survey vessel. 1827 mud-engine |
Hasty | 1856.01.10 | 1865 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | | 221 | |
Hasty | 1867.08.14 | 1885 | I | P | Tug | 120 | 136 | 0 | 222 | |
Haughty | 1856.02.09 | 1867 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 223 | |
Havannah | 1811.03.26 | 1905 | W | W | Fifth rate | 949 | | 36 | | 1860 lent as t.s. |
Havock | 1805.07.25 | 1859 | W | W | Gun-brig | 184 | | 12 | | 1821 light vessel. 1843 watch vessel |
Havock | 1855.03.14 | 1874 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 120 | | 1 | | 1855.10 = MV.5. 18?? = WV.27 Customs |
Havock | 1856.03.20 | 1871 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 224 | |
Hawk | 1869.04.14 | 1922 | | S | Coastguard vessel | 372 | 416 | | | 1888 = Amelia. 1905 = Colleen. 1916 = Colleen (old). 1918 = Emerald. 1918 = Cuckoo |
Hawke | 1820.03.16 | 1865 | W | W | Third rate | 1754 | | 74 | | 1855 screw blockship 60 guns |
Hazard | 1837.04.21 | 1866 | W | W | Sloop | 431 | | 18 | | |
Hearty | 1855a | 1876 | W | P | Tug | 221 | 346 | 0 | 225 | ex-Merry Monarch. 1854 launched |
Hebe | 1826.12.14 | 1873 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1078 | | 46 | | 1839 r.s. 1861 hulk |
Hecate | 1839.03.30 | 1865 | W | P | 2nd class sloop | 817 | 1096 | 4 | | |
Hecate | 1871.09.30 | 1903 | I | S | Coast defence monitor | | 3480 | 4 | | |
Hecla | 1839.01.14 | 1863 | W | P | 2nd class sloop | 817 | 1096 | 4 | | |
Hecla | 1855.05a | 1866 | I | S | Storeship | 700 | | | | Transferred from Treasury Dept. 1855.06 = Wye |
Hecla | 1878.03.07 | 1926 | I | S | Torpedo depot ship | | 6400 | 6 | | Laid down as mercantile British Crown |
Hector | 1862.09.26 | 1905 | I | S | Broadside ironclad frigate | | 6710 | 18 | 226 | 1900 part of Vernon torpedo school |
Helena | 1843.07.11 | 1921 | W | W | Brig | 549 | | 16 | | 1861 c.h. 1863 police hulk. 1868 church ship. 1883 police hulk |
Helicon | 1865.01.31 | 1905 | W | P | Dispatch vessel | 837 | 1000 | 2 | 227 | 1888 = Enchantress |
Herald | 1824r | | | | | | | | | See: Termagant 1822 |
Hercules | 1815.09.05 | 1865 | W | W | Third rate | 1750 | | 74 | | 1853 h.s. |
Hercules | 1868.02.10 | 1932 | I | S | Central battery ironclad | | 8700 | 14 | | 1881 to Coastguard. 1905 accommodation ship. 1909 = Calcutta. 1915 = Fisgard II |
Hermes | 1830r | | | | | | | | | See: Courier 1829 |
Hermes | 1835.06.26 | 1864 | W | P | Sloop | 716 | 789 | 2 | 228 | 1842 rebuilt as 830 bm |
Hermes | 1866r | | | | | | | | | See: Minotaur 1816 |
Hero | 1816.09.21 | 1908 | W | W | Third rate | 1756 | | 74 | | 1816.12 = Wellington. 1862 = Akbar, t.s. |
Hero | 1858.04.15 | 1871 | W | S | Second rate | 3148 | 4765 | 91 | 229 | |
Heroine | 1841.08.16 | 1878 | W | W | Packet brig | 359 | | 8 | | 1865 h.s. |
Heron | 1847.09.27 | 1859 | W | W | 2nd class brig | 482 | | 16 | | 1859.05.09 foundered between Ascension & Sierra Leone |
Heron | 1860.07.05 | 1881 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | 330 | 2 | 230 | |
Herring | 1856.01.10 | 1865 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 231 | |
Hesper | 1855a | 1868 | I | S | Storeship | 808 | | 4 | | 1854 built as mercantile Hesperus. 1855.05.24 acquired from the Treasury. 1868.10 sold under original name |
Hibernia | 1804.11.17 | 1902 | W | W | First rate | 2530 | | 110 | | 1855 base ship |
Hibernia | 1902r | | | | | | | | | See: Achilles 1863 |
Highflyer | 1851.08.13 | 1871 | W | S | Corvette (1852: Frigate) | 1153 | 1902 | 21 | 232 | 1852 reclassed corvette |
Highlander | 1856.04.29 | 1884 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | | 233 | 1868 = YC.51, steam-dredger |
Himalaya | 1854a | 1940 | I | S | Troopship | 3438 | 4690 | | 234 | 1853.05.24 launched. Purchased from P&O. 1895 = C60 c.h. 1920 sold. 1940 sunk in air attack. |
Hind | 1855.05.03 | 1872 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 235 | |
Hindostan | 1804.05a | 1855 | W | W | Fourth rate | 1249 | | 54 | | ex-E. Indiaman Admiral Rainer. 1811 = storeship, 20 guns. 1819 = Dolphin. 1830 = Justitia, convict ship |
Hindostan | 1841.08.02 | 1921 | W | W | Second rate | 2029 | 3242 | 80 | | 1868 t.s. 1905 = Fisgard III. 1920 = Hindostan |
Hindostan | 1920r | | | | | | | | | See: Hindostan 1841 |
Hogue | 1811.10.03 | 1865 | W | W | Third rate | 1750 | | 74 | 236 | 1849 screw blockship, 60 guns |
Hood | 1859.05.04 | 1888 | W | S | Second rate | 3308 | | 91 | 237 | 1872 h.s. |
Hope | 1824.12.08 | 1882 | W | W | Packet brig | 231 | | 3 | | 1846 Lazarette |
Horatio | 1807.04.23 | 1865 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1090 | | 38 | 238 | 1849 screw frigate blockship. 1855 mortar frigate 2 mortars |
Hornet | 1831.08.24 | 1845 | W | W | Schooner | 181 | | 6 | | |
Hornet | 1854.04.13 | 1868 | W | S | Sloop | 753 | 1045 | 17 | 239 | |
Hornet | 1868.03.10 | 1889 | C | S | Gunvessel | 465 | 603 | 4 | 240 | |
Hotspur | 1828.10.09 | 1902 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1171 | | 46 | | 1868 = Monmouth |
Hotspur | 1870.03.19 | 1904 | I | S | Ironclad ram | | 4331 | 3 | 241 | |
Hound | 1846.05.23 | 1887 | W | W | Brig | 358 | | 8 | | 1872 breakwater |
Howe | 1805a | 1864 | W | W | Storeship | 1048 | | 20 | | ex-East Indiaman Kaikusroo. 1806 = Dromedary. 1819 convict ship. |
Howe | 1815.03.28 | 1854 | W | W | First rate | 2619 | | 120 | | |
Howe | 1860.03.07 | 1921 | W | S | First rate | 4245 | 6959 | 121 | 248 | 1885 = Bulwark h.s.1886 = Impregnable. 1919 = Bulwark. |
Hunter | 1856.06.07 | 1884 | W | S | Gunboat | 233 | | 2 | 242 | |
Hussar | 1807.04.23 | 1861 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1077 | | 38 | | 1833 h.s. 1861 target |
Hyacinth | 1829.05.06 | 1871 | W | W | Sloop | 435 | | 18 | | 1860 c.h. |
Hyaena | 1856.04.03 | 1870 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 245 | |
Hyaena | 1873.08.30 | 1906 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 254 | 1 | | |
Hydra | 1838.06.13 | 1870 | W | P | 2nd class sloop | 817 | 1096 | 4 | 243 | |
Hydra | 1871.12.28 | 1903 | I | S | Coast defence monitor | | 3480 | 4 | 244 | |