Driver-class sloop

HMS Driver
Class overview
Name	Driver-class paddle sloop
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Alecto class
Succeeded by	Bulldog class
Cost	Driver: £39,707[Note 1]
Built	1840-1846
In commission	1841–1870s
Completed	10
Retired	12
General characteristics [1]
Type	Wooden paddle sloop
Displacement	1,590 tons
Tons burthen	1,055+62⁄94 bm
Length	180 ft (54.9 m) (gundeck)
Beam	36 ft (11.0 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft (6.4 m)
Installed power	280–300 nhp (except Devastation and Sphinx)
Propulsion	2-cylinder direct-acting steam engine (except Spiteful, Devastation and Sphinx) Paddles
Sail plan	Brig-rigged
Complement	149 (later 160)
Armament	As built: 2 × 10-inch/42-pounder (84 cwt) pivot guns 2 × 68-pounder (64 cwt) guns 2 × 42-pounder (22 cwt) carronades After 1856: 1 × 10-inch/42-pounder (84 cwt) pivot guns 1 × 68-pounder (95 cwt) gun 4 × 32-pounder (42 cwt) guns Later: 1 × 10-inch/42-pounder (84 cwt) pivot guns 1 × 110 pdr Armstrong gun 4 × 32-pounder (42 cwt) guns

The Driver class were a class of paddlewheel steam sloops of the British Royal Navy. Six Driver-class ships were ordered in 1840 and a further ten in March 1841, although only six were built. Five were ordered in 1847, but all were either built as paddle frigates or cancelled. Two wrecked in service, while the rest served until being retired and were either broken up or sold.

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