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Paddle Frigate Vulture

Paddle Frigate: Vulture,
CYCLOPS Class,
British Royal Navy. 1843-1863

The Paddle Frigate Vulture was part of an experiment by the Royal Navy to build steam powered fighting ships between 1815-1850. Some ships (such as the Styx) were built for surveying and exploration.

The Royal Navy began to build steam vessels in 1815 as tugs to two sailing vessels out of harbour. Their free mobility independent of wind led to their use in coastal operations (such as in the South China Sea). The Royal Navy began to heavily arm these vessels in the 1840's as they came to appreciate the importance of the steamship which could move freely in a calm or against the wind and strategically, could be relied on to arrive at its destination at a planned time. The biggest problems with these ships was their frequent dependence on supplies of coal. The big paddle wheels and their sponsons considerably reduced the number of guns which could be carried and the machinery cost as much as the ship which made their total cost about double that of a sailing ship of similar size. These ships represented the most advanced technology of their day.

(DK Brown, Paddle Warships: The Earliest Steam Powered Fighting Ships, 1815 - 1850. National Maritime Museum,1993)

Paddle Frigate (2nd Class)

VULTURE 1843-1863 (Pembroke Dyd.) CYCLOPS class

Dimensions: 190'1", 163'7" x 37'6"/37' x 23' + 8'6"/9'10"

Tons: 1191

Guns: 2 x 8' (65 cwt.) + 2 x 8" (112 cwt.)

Machinery: (Fairbairn) 470 NHP

Constructional History:

Operational History (& Captains): The Vulture was begun September 1841 and launched 21.9.1843. It was built for 24,323 pds and completed fitting engines in East India Docks for 22,395 pds. It continued in service after Alfred King left it. It underwent repair at a cost of 17,334 pds at Sheerness and Woolwich in 1848-49 after returning from Hong Kong. Between Nov. 1852-1855 it served in the East Indies under F.H.H. Glasse. In 1853 it took part in the Spithead Review off Portsmouth And in 1855 was in the Baltic under C. Packer. On 7th June 1854, boats of the Vulture and Odin repulsed in an attack on Gamla Karleby now Kokkola, Gulf of Bothnia during the Crimean War. On 9th -10th August 1855, the Vulture took part in the bombardment of Sveaborg in the Baltic during the Crimean war. In December 1859-60 it served in the Mediterranean and in 1865 was stationed at Portsmouth. In October 1863 or 1866 the Vulture was sold to Castle & Son, Charlton to break up

Fate: Oct. 1863 (Burtt) or 1866 (Colledge) sold to Castle & Son, Charlton to break up.

Plans: Design: Lines/profile/hold/upper deck. As built: Profile/hold/& hold sections/lower deck/middle deck/upper deck. (Available from National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Eng)

Pictures: Lithograph - Brierly - Spithead Review 1853 on extreme right. Neg. No. C.771. Lithograph - Lt. Martin - return to Hong Kong 1847 - X.2064. Lithograph - Lt. Martin - Bombarding chinese batteries 1847 (centre foreground) - X.2065 (Available from National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)

Ships Logs:Public Record Office, Kew Gardens, London, England:

References: National Maritime Museum: PB (8) 61. RUSI 1864. Burtt. Colledge. PG. Info from NMM supplied by D.J. Lyon, 1994

Other:

created by Cheryl L. Morgan,
email: Cheryl Morgan,
last modified: 26 December 1999