HMS Prometheus (1839)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Prometheus.

History
RN EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Prometheus
Ordered25 February 1839
BuilderRoyal Dockyard, Sheerness
Cost£29,433
Laid downJuly 1839
Launched21 September 1839
Completed20 February 1840
Commissioned21 November 1839
Honours and
awards		Crimea/Black Sea 1855
FateSold for breaking 5 March 1863
General characteristics
Type
  • Steam Vessels (SV3)
  • Third Class Sloop
Displacement1,283 tons
Tons burthen795+87⁄94 bm
Length
  • 164 ft 0 in (50.0 m) gundeck
  • 141 ft 8 in (43.2 m) keel for tonnage
Beam
  • 32 ft 8 in (10.0 m) maximum
  • 32 ft 6 in (9.9 m) for tonnage
Draught
  • 6 ft 0 in (1.8 m)forward
  • 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m) forward
Depth of hold18 ft 7 in (5.7 m)
Installed power200 nominal horsepower
Propulsion
  • 2-cylinder VSE direct acting steam engine
  • Paddles
Armament
  • 2 × 32-pdr (42 cwt) MLSB guns on pivot mounts
  • 2 × 32-pdr (25 cwt) MLSB guns on broadside trucks

HMS Prometheus was an Alecto-class sloop designed by Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Originally classed as a steam vessel (SV3), her classification would be changed to a Third Class Sloop.[1] She initially served mainly on the west coast of Africa on the anti-slavery patrol except for a brief period on particular service in the Black Sea in late 1855. She was sold on 5 March 1863 for breaking.[2]

Prometheus was the second named vessel since it was used for an 18-gun fireship, Launched by Thompson of Southampton on 27 March 1807, assigned to harbour service in May 1819, then renamed Veteran on 2 May 1839 and broken in August 1852.[3]

  1. ^ Winfield
  2. ^ Winfield
  3. ^ Colledge, Prometheus