Hermes-class sloop

Acheron in New Zealand
Class overview
NameHermes-class paddle sloop
Builders
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byHMS Medea
Succeeded byHMS Gorgon
Built1834–1839
In commission1835–1864
Completed4
Lost1
Retired3
General characteristics
TypePaddle sloop
Displacement1,006 tons
Tons burthen715+43⁄94 bm
Length
  • 150 ft 0 in (45.7 m) gundeck
  • 128 ft 0 in (39.0 m) keel for tonnage
Beam
  • 32 ft 9 in (10.0 m) maximum
  • 32 ft 5 in (9.9 m) for tonnage
Draught
  • 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) (forward)
  • 12 ft 0 in (3.7 m) (aft)
Depth of hold17 ft 0 in (5.2 m)
Installed power140 nominal horsepower (160 in Acheron)
Propulsion
  • 2-cylinder side lever steam engine
  • Paddles
Sail plan3-masted barque rigged
Complement135
Armament
  • As built:
  • 2 × 9-pounder (13 1⁄2 cwt) brass guns
  • From 1842:
  • 1 × 8-inch (52 cwt) pivot gun
  • 2 × 32-pounder (17 cwt) carronades

The Hermes class were a group of four vessels designed by John Edye of the Surveyor's Department to specifications outlined by Captain William Symonds, the Surveyor of the Navy. The design was approved in 1834. The vessels would be powered by a 140 nominal horsepower engine and carry an armament of two brass 9-pounder guns. The ships would be built in three Royal Dockyards (Portsmouth, Chatham and Sheerness), however, the Chatham vessel was transferred to Sheerness in 1837 prior to being laid down. Hermes was re-engined and lengthen in 1842, Megaera was wrecked in Jamaica in 1843. the remaining vessels served on many different stations of the Empire. Acheron was sold in 1855, Hermes went to the Breakers in 1864 and Volcano lasted until 1894.

Acheron was the second named vessel since it was used for an 8-gun Bomb, purchased in October 1803 then captured by the French in the Mediterranean and burnt on 3 February 1805.[1]

Hermes was the sixth named vessel since it was used for a 12-gun brig sloop, captured from the Dutch (Mercurius) by Sylph at Texel on 12 May 1596 and foundered in January 1797.[2]

Megaera was the second named vessel since it was used for a 14-gun Fireship, launched by Teague of Ipswich in May 1783 and sold to J. Darkin on 3 April 1817.[3]

Volcano was the sixth named vessel since it was used for an 8-gun Fireship, purchased 1778, commissioned 31 July 1778 and sold 7 May 1781.[4]

  1. ^ Colledge, Acheron
  2. ^ Colledge, Hermes
  3. ^ Colledge, Megaera
  4. ^ Colledge, Volcano