HMS Penelope (1829)

Steam frigate Penelope
History
United Kingdom
Name	Penelope
Namesake	Penelope
Builder	Admiralty, Chatham
Launched	13 October 1829
General characteristics (as sailing frigate)
Class and type	Leda-class frigate
Displacement	1,469 tons[1]
Tons burthen	1,09055⁄94 bm[2]
Length	151 ft 10 in (46.3 m) (pp)[2]
Beam	40 ft 2 in (12.2 m) (extreme)[2]
Depth of hold	26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)[2]
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	46 guns: Upper gundeck: 28 × 18 pdr cannon Quarterdeck: 14 × 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 × 9 pdr cannon and 2 × 32 pdr carronades
General characteristics (as paddle frigate)
Displacement	2,766 long tons[1]
Tons burthen	1,630 (bm)[3]
Length	215 ft 2 in (65.6 m) (pp)[2] 215 ft (65.5 m) (main deck)[3]
Beam	40 ft 9 in (12.4 m) [2]
Draft	20 ft 4 in (6.2 m) (max.) [4]
Depth of hold	26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)[2]
Propulsion	Two direct-acting engines 650 nhp
Speed	10.5–11 knots (19.4–20.4 km/h; 12.1–12.7 mph)
Complement	300
Armament	Main gundeck: 8 × 68 pdr 65 cwt 2 × 68 pdr 36 cwt Quarterdeck and forecastle: 2 × 42 pdr 84 cwt guns on pivots 10 × 42 pdr 23 cwt carronade[5] 2 × 24 pdr howitzer 2 × 18 pdr howitzer [6]

HMS Penelope was first laid down as one of the many sail frigates that England built to a French model. She was then changed to a unique steam paddle frigate. For some time she was a very famous ship, having a claim to being the first steam frigate. In the end the promise that she would be the first of a line of true steam paddle frigates proved false.