Algerine class gunboat
Encyclopedia
The Algerine-class gunboats were a class of five 3-gun wooden gunboats (reclassified as gunvessels from 1859) built for the Royal Navy
in 1857. A further pair were built in India for the Bombay Marine in 1859.
An enlarged version of the very numerous Albacore class, they reflected the change in use from coastal operations towards deep-water cruising, but were delivered too late to see action in the Crimean War
. They were the first class of Royal Navy gunboat to incorporate a hoisting screw, which gave them improved performance under sail. Of note, the last man hung from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine executed on 13 July 1860 in Leven.
as an enlarged version of W. H. Walker's Albacore class, the Algerines were an acknowledgement that gunboats designed for coastal operations would inevitably be called upon to act in a cruising role, both in shallow and in deeper water. Their increased size gave them much improved accommodation, and in general they were effective vessels, leading to the construction of two identical vessels for the Indian Marine.
.
s.The picture of Leven at the head of this article shows a vessel of the class rigged as a barquentine.
in the Caribbean within two years of her launch, having spent the whole of her short career on the North America and West Indies station, mostly in deterring the slave trade. Jasper also served on the West Indies station before being sold to the Chinese in 1863 to form part of Sherard Osborn
's Vampire Fleet. When the venture was called off, she was sold to Egypt to prevent her purchase by the Confederate Navy. Algerine spent her entire career on the China station
, and was present at the capture of Canton in 1857
. Lee was also sent to the China station, but her career was abruptly curtailed on 25 June 1859 when she was sunk at the second battle of the Taku Forts
. Leven, like Lee and Algerine served on the China station, and took part in the successful first battle of the Taku Forts
. The last man hanged from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine executed on 13 July 1860 in Leven. Slaney served with Algerine at the capture of Canton and with Leven at the first battle of the Taku Forts.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1857. A further pair were built in India for the Bombay Marine in 1859.
An enlarged version of the very numerous Albacore class, they reflected the change in use from coastal operations towards deep-water cruising, but were delivered too late to see action in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. They were the first class of Royal Navy gunboat to incorporate a hoisting screw, which gave them improved performance under sail. Of note, the last man hung from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine executed on 13 July 1860 in Leven.
Design and construction
Developed during the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
as an enlarged version of W. H. Walker's Albacore class, the Algerines were an acknowledgement that gunboats designed for coastal operations would inevitably be called upon to act in a cruising role, both in shallow and in deeper water. Their increased size gave them much improved accommodation, and in general they were effective vessels, leading to the construction of two identical vessels for the Indian Marine.
Armament
As built, they were armed with one 8 inches (203.2 mm) 68-pounder (87cwt) muzzle-loading smoothbore gun and two 24-pounder howitzers. By 1863 the three surviving vessels of the class were armed with one 110-pounder Armstrong breech-loading gun and one 40-pounder Armstrong breech-loading gunRBL 40 pounder Armstrong gun
The Armstrong RBL 40 pounder gun was an early attempt to use William Armstrong's new and innovative breechloading mechanism for medium artillery.-Design history:...
.
Propulsion
The class were each fitted with a 2-cylinder horizontal direct-acting single-expansion steam engine manufactured by Maudslay, Sons & Field. This engine drove a single screw, which for the first time in a gunboat was provided with a hoisting mechanism; this ensured a better performance under sail than previous classes. These engines developed 80 nominal horsepower (a designed indicated horsepower of 294 ihp). The design speed under steam was 9 knots (17.6 km/h).Rig
Fitted at first with a simple schooner rig (often known as a "gunboat rig" in the Royal Navy), the use of these vessels as cruisers encouraged commanding officers on far-flung stations to augment their sail area by fitting topmasts and yards, making them barquentineBarquentine
A barquentine is a sailing vessel with three or more masts; with a square rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged main, mizzen and any other masts.-Modern barquentine sailing rig:...
s.The picture of Leven at the head of this article shows a vessel of the class rigged as a barquentine.
Operational lives
Jaseur was lost on the Bajo Nuevo BankBajo Nuevo Bank
Bajo Nuevo Bank, also known as the Petrel Islands , is a small, uninhabited reef with some small islets, covered with grass, located in the western Caribbean Sea at , with a lighthouse on Low Cay at . The closest neighbouring land feature is Serranilla Bank, located to the west.The reef was first...
in the Caribbean within two years of her launch, having spent the whole of her short career on the North America and West Indies station, mostly in deterring the slave trade. Jasper also served on the West Indies station before being sold to the Chinese in 1863 to form part of Sherard Osborn
Sherard Osborn
Sherard Osborn , was a Royal Navy admiral and Arctic explorer.-Early life:Born in Madras, he was the son of an Indian army officer...
's Vampire Fleet. When the venture was called off, she was sold to Egypt to prevent her purchase by the Confederate Navy. Algerine spent her entire career on the China station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
, and was present at the capture of Canton in 1857
Battle of Canton (1857)
The Battle of Canton was fought by British and French forces against China on 28–31 December 1857 during the Second Opium War.Although the British Royal Navy had destroyed the Chinese junks during the summer, an attack on Canton was delayed by the Indian Mutiny. British and French troops...
. Lee was also sent to the China station, but her career was abruptly curtailed on 25 June 1859 when she was sunk at the second battle of the Taku Forts
Battle of Taku Forts (1859)
The Second Battle of Taku Forts, in June 1859, was an Anglo-French attack on a series of Chinese forts protecting Taku, China during the Second Opium War...
. Leven, like Lee and Algerine served on the China station, and took part in the successful first battle of the Taku Forts
Battle of Taku Forts (1858)
The First Battle of Taku Forts on May 20, 1858 was an engagement of the Second Opium War. The British and French sent a squadron of gunboats, under Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, to attack China's Taku Forts. The battle ended as an allied success...
. The last man hanged from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine executed on 13 July 1860 in Leven. Slaney served with Algerine at the capture of Canton and with Leven at the first battle of the Taku Forts.
Ships
| Name | Ship Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| R & H Green | 7 March 1857 | Wrecked on the Bajo Nuevo Bank Bajo Nuevo Bank Bajo Nuevo Bank, also known as the Petrel Islands , is a small, uninhabited reef with some small islets, covered with grass, located in the western Caribbean Sea at , with a lighthouse on Low Cay at . The closest neighbouring land feature is Serranilla Bank, located to the west.The reef was first... on 26 February 1859, whilst on passage from Port Royal Port Royal Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century... to Greytown, Nicaragua |
|
| R & H Green | 18 March 1857 | Sold on 2 August 1862 to the Chinese Imperial Customs, renamed Amoy, and sailed in April 1863 (to join Sherard Osborn Sherard Osborn Sherard Osborn , was a Royal Navy admiral and Arctic explorer.-Early life:Born in Madras, he was the son of an Indian army officer... ’s "Vampire Fleet"). Resold to the Egyptian Government on 30 December 1865 |
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| W. & H. Pitcher | 24 February 1857 | Sold at Hong Kong on 2 April 1872, became the mercantile Algerine. Broken up in 1894. | |
| W. & H. Pitcher | 28 February 1857 | Sunk in action with the Taku forts Taku Forts The Dagu Forts , also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River estuary, in Tanggu District, Tianjin municipality, in northeastern China. They are located 60 km southeast of the Tianjin urban center.-History:The first fort was built during the reign of the Ming Jiajing... , Peiho river, China on 25 June 1859 |
|
| W. & H. Pitcher | 7 March 1857 | Sold at Shanghai on 21 July 1873 | |
| W. & H. Pitcher | 17 March 1857 | Wrecked in a typhoon in the Paracel Islands Paracel Islands The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands... near Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... on 9 May 1870 |
Bombay Marine versions
Having proved their worth in the Royal Navy, two copies were built of teak at Bombay for the Bombay Marine.| Name | Ship Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde | Bombay | 1859 | |
| Sir Hugh Rose | Bombay | 1860 | 1876? |