 The survey vessel Merlin narrowly escaping destruction by two Russian mines off Sveaborg early in August 1855 by John Wilson Carmichael
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Merlin class |
| Builders | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Cost | £44,450 (average per vessel) |
| Built | 1838–1840 |
| In service | 1839–1872 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Scrapped | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Packet boat |
| Tons burthen | 889+14⁄94 bm |
| Length | |
| Beam |
|
| Depth | 16 ft 5 in (5.0 m) |
| Installed power | 312 nhp |
| Propulsion | 2 × Fawcett, Preston & Co steam engines |
| Armament | 2 × 6 pdr carronades |
The Merlin-class packet boat of 1838 was a Sir William Symonds (the Surveyor of the Navy) design that was approved on 2 April 1838.[1] The vessels were to be built for steam mail packet service on the Liverpool to Dublin route. The initial two ships (Merlin and Medusa) were ordered in the fall of 1838 from Pembroke Dockyard.[2] The third vessel (Medina) was ordered in 1839, also from Pembroke. When completed all vessels were used on the Liverpool station. In 1848 all three were in the Mediterranean on mail packet service. Merlin went to the Baltic during the Russian Was as a survey ship. Medusa went to the Black Sea. Medina remained in the Mediterranean being converted to a survey ship for Mediterranean service. Merlin served on the West Coast of Africa and was sold for commercial use in 1863. Medina was sold at Malta in April 1864. Medusa was converted to a tugboat in 1861 and remained in that service until sold in 1872.[3]
Merlin was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a 10-gun pinnace, built in 1579 and listed until 1601.[4]
Medusa was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a 50-gun fourth rate, launched at Plymouth Dockyard on 23 July 1785 and wrecked on the coast of Portugal on 26 November 1798.[5]
Medina was the third named vessel since it was used for a six gun yacht (named Portsmouth) launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 9 January 1702, rebuilt and named Medina in August 1772 and broken in August 1832.[6]