Clown-class gunboat

The Clown-class gunboat was a class of twelve gunboats ordered by the Royal Navy in January 1856 for use in the Crimean War, although by the time they were completed, later that year, the Crimean War was over and some of these gunboats were sent to the Far East and took part in the Second Opium War.

A typical 'Crimea gunboat'
Class overview
Name: Clown class
Operators:  Royal Navy
Preceded by: Cheerful class
Succeeded by: Algerine class
Built: 1856
In commission: 1856 – 1871
Completed: 12
Lost: 2
General characteristics [1]
Type: 'Crimean' gunboat
Tons burthen: 232 ​80⁄94 tons bm
Length:
  • 110 ft (34 m) (gundeck)
  • 95 ft 5.25 in (29.0894 m) (keel)
Beam: 21 ft 10 in (6.65 m)
Draught: 4 ft 0 in (1.22 m)
Depth of hold: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
  • 1-cylinder horizontal direct-acting single-expansion steam engine
  • Single screw
Speed: 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h)
Crew: 30
Armament: 1 × 68-pounder, 1 × 32-pounder SBML guns

Design

The Clown class was an improved version of the preceding Cheerful class designed by W.H. Walker. The ships were wooden-hulled, with steam power as well as sails, and of particularly shallow draught (design draught 4 ft (1.2 m)) for coastal bombardment in shallow waters.[1]

Sail plan

Ships of the class were provided with a typical "gunboat rig" of three gaff rigged masts with a total sail area of 4,889 sq ft (454.2 m2).[1]

Propulsion

One-cylinder horizontal direct-acting single-expansion steam engine built by John Penn and Sons, with two boilers, provided 40 nominal horsepower through a single screw, sufficient for 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph).[1]

Armament

Ships of the class were armed with one 68-pounder and one 32-pounder smooth bore muzzle loading cannons.[1]

Ships
NameShip builder[1]Launched[1]Fate[1]
FenellaW & H Pitcher, Northfleet19 May 1856Became a dredger at Woolwich in March 1867, renamed YC3 in 1868. Broken up on 14 November 1878
GarnetW & H Pitcher, Northfleet31 May 1856Breaking completed 25 May 1864
HandyW & H Pitcher, Northfleet31 May 1856Sold at Lagos in May 1868
HunterW & H Pitcher, Northfleet7 June 1856Only partially fitted, never completed for sea. On the sale list in June 1869 but not sold till 1884
DrakePembroke Dockyard8 March 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 9 February 1869
JanusPembroke Dockyard8 March 1856Coal lighter December 1869, renamed YC.6. Sold in 1871
ClownWilliam Cowley Miller, Toxteth Dock, Liverpool20 May 1856Became coal lighter YC.1 at Hong Kong in 1867. Renamed YC.6 in December 1869. Wrecked in a typhoon at Hong Kong on 2 September 1871
KestrelWilliam Cowley Miller, Toxteth Dock, Liverpool26 May 1856Sunk at the Battle of Taku Forts in June 1859, but salved. Sold on 16 March 1866 to Glover & Co., Yokohama, then resold to Japanese owners
ReadyBriggs & Company, Sunderland12 May 1856Fitted for reserve. Breaking completed on 25 January 1864
ThrushBriggs & Company, Sunderland12 May 1856Breaking completed on 14 March 1864
WatchfulT & W Smith, North Shields4 June 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 1 February 1871
WoodcockT & W Smith, North Shields6 June 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 1 February 1871
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References
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6.
  1. Winfield, p.229–230
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