Merlin-class packet boat
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=The survey vessel H.M.S. Merlin narrowly escaping destruction by two Russian mines off Sveaborg early in August 1855 by John Wilson Carmichael.jpg |Ship caption=The survey vessel Merlin narrowly escaping destruction by two Russian mines off Sveaborg early in August 1855 by John Wilson Carmichael }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Merlin class |Builders=Pembroke Dockyard |Operators={{navy|United Kingdom}} |Class before= |Class after= |Cost=£44,450 (average per vessel) |Built range=1838–1840 |In service range=1839–1872 |In commission range= |Total ships completed=3 |Total ships scrapped=3 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Packet boat |Ship tons burthen={{Frac|889|14|94}} bm |Ship length=*{{convert|175|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} Gun deck
|Ship beam=*{{convert|33|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on|1}} maximum
|Ship draught= |Ship depth={{convert|16|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship power=312 nhp |Ship propulsion=2 × Fawcett, Preston & Co steam engines |Ship sail plan= |Ship endurance= |Ship complement= |Ship armament=2 × 6 pdr carronades |Ship notes= }} |
The Merlin-class packet boat of 1838 was a Sir William Symonds (the Surveyor of the Navy) design that was approved on 2 April 1838.Lyon Winfield, page 167 The vessels were to be built for steam mail packet service on the Liverpool to Dublin route. The initial two ships ({{HMS|Merlin|1838|2}} and {{HMS|Medusa|1838|2}}) were ordered in autumn 1838 from Pembroke Dockyard.Winfield The third vessel ({{HMS|Medina|1840|2}}) was ordered in 1839, also from Pembroke. When completed all vessels were used on the Liverpool station. In 1848 all three were in the Mediterranean on mail packet service. Merlin went to the Baltic during the Russian Was as a survey ship. Medusa went to the Black Sea. Medina remained in the Mediterranean being converted to a survey ship for Mediterranean service. Merlin served on the West Coast of Africa and was sold for commercial use in 1863. Medina was sold at Malta in April 1864. Medusa was converted to a tugboat in 1861 and remained in that service until sold in 1872.Winfield
Merlin was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a 10-gun pinnace, built in 1579 and listed until 1601.Colledge, Merlin
Medusa was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a 50-gun fourth rate, launched at Plymouth Dockyard on 23 July 1785 and wrecked on the coast of Portugal on 26 November 1798.Colledge, Medusa
Medina was the third named vessel since it was used for a six gun yacht (named Portsmouth) launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 9 January 1702, rebuilt and named Medina in August 1772 and broken in August 1832.Colledge, Medina, Portsmouth
Design and specifications
The first two vessels were laid down in April and May 1838 with the third vessel laid down in June 1839. The first two were launched in autumn 1838 with the last vessel launched in 1840. The ships had a length at the gun deck of {{convert|175|ft|0|in|m|abbr=off|2}} with a keel length of {{convert|153|ft|6|in|m|abbr=off|1}} reported for tonnage. They had a maximum beam of {{convert|33|ft|2|in|m|abbr=off|2}} and {{convert|33|ft|0|in|m|abbr=off|2}} reported for the tonnage calculation. Their depth of hold was {{convert|16|ft|5|in|m|abbr=off|2}}. The ships' tonnage calculation was {{frac|889|14|94}} tons burthen.Lyon Winfield, page 167
Their machinery was supplied by Fawcett, Preston & Company of Liverpool.[https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Fawcett,_Preston_and_Co Fawcett, Preston and Co] They had a pair rectangular fire tube boilers install. They had a pair of vertical single expansion (VSE) steam engines, rated at 312 nominal horsepower, that drove their paddlewheels.Lyon Winfield, page 167 The vessels had a very light armament of two 6-pounder carronades mounted.Lyon Winfield, page 167
All vessels were completed at an average cost of £35,276.An average cost accounting for inflation of approximately £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|35276|1838|r=-2}}}} in today's money.Average cost compiled by author. Actual break down of actual costs will be given on individual ship articles
| class="wikitable"
|+ Pembroke-built vessels | ||
| Name | Launch date | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| {{HMS|Merlin|1838|2}} | 18 September 1838 | Sold 18 May 1863 |
| {{HMS|Medusa|1838|2}} | 31 October 1838 | Sold 17 February 1872 |
| {{HMS|Medina|1840|2}} | 18 March 1840 | Broken up March 1864 |
Notes
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Citations
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References
- Lyon Winfield, The Sail & Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815 to 1889, by David Lyon & Rif Winfield, published by Chatham Publishing, London © 2004, {{ISBN|1-86176-032-9}}
- The Navy List, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London
- Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1817 – 1863), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2014, e{{ISBN|9781473837430}}, Chapter 11 Paddle Vessels (Wooden), Vessels Acquired after November 1830, Merlin class
- Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e {{ISBN|978-1-5267-9328-7}} (EPUB), Section M (Merlin, Medina, Medusa)
- {{cite book|last1=Phillips|first1=Lawrie; Lieutenant Commander|title=Pembroke Dockyard and the Old Navy: A Bicentennial History|date=2014|publisher=The History Press|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK|isbn=978-0-7509-5214-9}}
{{Merlin-class packet boat}}
{{Royal Navy paddle sloops}}