Albacore-class gunboat (1855)

See also: Albacore-class gunboat (1883)

HMS Raven, one of the Albacore class, in Kingstown Harbour, Dublin
Class overview
NameAlbacore class (1855)
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byDapper class
Succeeded byCheerful class
Built1855–56
In commission1855 – 1881
Completed98
General characteristics [1]
Type'Crimean' gunboat
Tons burthen232 68⁄94 tons bm
Length
  • 106 ft (32 m) (gundeck)
  • 93 ft 2.5 in (28.410 m) (keel)
Beam22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
Draught6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2-cylinder horizontal single expansion steam engine
  • Single screw
Speed7.5 kn (13.9 km/h)
Crew36–40
Armament

The Albacore-class gunboat, also known as "Crimean gunboat", was a class of 98 gunboats built for the Royal Navy in 1855 and 1856 for use in the 1853-1856 Crimean War.[1] The design of the class, by W. H. Walker, was approved on 18 April 1855. The first vessels were ordered the same day, and 48 were on order by July; a second batch, which included Surly, were ordered in early October.[2]

  1. ^ a b Winfield, p.225–229
  2. ^ Winfield, Rif (2014). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1817-1863: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Seaforth Publishing. p. 367. ISBN 978-1-84832-169-4.