HMS Polyphemus (1840)

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

History
RN EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Polyphemus
Ordered25 February 1839
BuilderRoyal Dockyard, Sheerness
Cost£27,596
Laid downFebruary 1840
Launched28 September 1840
Completed24 April 1841
Commissioned25 February 1841
FateWrecked 29 January 1856
General characteristics
Type
  • Steam Vessels (SV3)
  • Third Class Sloop
Displacement1,283 tons
Tons burthen800+80⁄94 bm
Length
  • 164 ft 0 in (50.0 m) gundeck
  • 142 ft 6.5 in (43.4 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 5 in (2.0 m)forward
  • 7 ft 6 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 Polyphemus 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 in the Mediterranean, west coast of Africa and the Baltic. She was wrecked on the Baltic side Jutland on 29 January 1856.[2]

Polyphemus was the second named vessel since it was used for a 64-gun third rate, launched at Sheerness Dockyard on 27 April 1782, converted to a powder hulk in September 1813 and her breaking was completed at Chatham on 15 September 1827.[3]

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