HMS Valorous (1851)

The Magicienne-class ships had a length at the gun deck of {{convert|210|ft|m}} and {{convert|185|ft|6|in|m|1}} at the keel. They had a beam of {{convert|36|ft|m}}, and a depth of hold of {{convert|24|ft|6|in|m|1}}. The ships' tonnage was 1,256{{fraction|69|94}} tons burthen and they had a draught of {{convert|8|ft|8|in|m|1}}. Their crew numbered 175 officers and ratings.Winfield, p. 1432

The ships were fitted with a pair of 2-cylinder oscillating steam engines, rated at 400 nominal horsepower, that drove their paddlewheels. The engines produced {{convert|1300|ihp|lk=on}} in service that gave them speeds of {{convert|9|-|10|kn|lk=in}}. The ships were armed with eight 32-pounder (56 cwt)"Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 56 cwt referring to the weight of the gun. cannon on the gundeck. On the upper deck were one each 68-pounder (95 cwt) and a {{convert|10|in|adj=on|0}} (85 cwt) shell guns as well as four more 32-pounders.Lyon & Winfield, p. 155

File:The Niagara, Valorous, Gordon and Agamemnon laying the cable at mid-ocean RMG PU6212.tiff at mid-ocean in 1858]]

Valorous was built at a cost of £69,064, of which her machinery cost £24,329. She was originally ordered on 25 April 1847 as a first-class sloop to John Edye's design, approved on 12 August 1847. On 5 August they were re-ordered as {{convert|210|ft|m|abbr=on}} vessels. When finished, they constituted the last group of paddle warships built for the Royal Navy.

In 1852 she was in the Mediterranean Sea, then in 1854 she was assigned to the Baltic Sea. On 23 July, Valorous ran aground off Åland, Grand Duchy of Finland. She was severely damaged, losing her forefoot and keel and being holed. A sail was placed over the hole and her crew managed to prevent her from sinking.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Baltic Fleet |date=1 August 1854 |page=10 |issue=21812 |column=E-F }} In 1855 she operated in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. In 1857 she was on the North America and West Indies Station, and from 1863 until she was paid off in September 1867 she operated off the Cape of Good Hope. On 10 January 1871, she was driven from her moorings and ran aground at Plymouth, Devon. Damage was described as slight.{{Cite news |title=Marine Intelligence |newspaper=Newcastle Courant |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=13 January 1871 |issue=10229 }} Carrying extra stores, she accompanied the British Arctic Expedition ships {{HMS|Alert|1856|2}} and {{HMS|Discovery|1874|2}} as far as Qeqertarsuaq, Godhavn in 1875.{{cite book |title=Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia |first=William James |last=Mills |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-57607-422-0}} On 27 July, Valorous ran aground {{convert|10|nmi|km}} off Holstenborg, Greenland. She was refloated and found to be leaky. She was taken in to Holstenborg for repairs, which took ten days. A watertight bulkhead was inserted at the bow as part of the repairs.{{Cite news |title=Collision at Sea |newspaper=Bradford Observer |location=Bradford |date=1 September 1875 |issue=3955 |page=3 |volume=42 }} In 1878 she was commanded by Captain John A Fisher (later Admiral of the Fleet).Mackay, pp. 138–139

File:The accident to the P. and O. Steamer 'Australia' - The Graphic 1879.jpg Steamer Australia, where Valourous came to assist. The Graphic 1879]]

File:Irish Relief Squadron, under the Duke of Edinburgh distributing Stores from HMS 'Valorous' at Killerran - ILN 1880.jpg, Valorous distributing stores at Killerran. Illustrated London News 1880]]

She was sold on 27 February 1891 to E Marshall of Plymouth for breaking up.

{{reflist|group=Note}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book |last1=Lyon |first1=David |last2=Winfield |first2=Rif |name-list-style=amp |title=The Sail and Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889 |publisher=Chatham |year=2004 |isbn=1-86176-032-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Mackay |first=Ruddock F. |title=Fisher of Kilverstone |location=London |year=1973 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}
• {{cite book|last1=Winfield|first1=Rif|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|date=2008|publisher=Seaforth|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84415-700-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ge8kCwAAQBAJ}}

• [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2229 History of HMS Valorous]

{{Magicienne class paddle frigate}}

{{1854 shipwrecks}}

{{1871 shipwrecks}}

{{1875 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valorous}}

Category:1851 ships

Category:Frigates of the Royal Navy

Category:Victorian-era frigates of the United Kingdom

Category:Ships built in Pembroke Dock

Category:Crimean War naval ships of the United Kingdom

Category:Maritime incidents in July 1854

Category:Maritime incidents in January 1871

Category:Maritime incidents in July 1875