HMS Isis (1819) facts for kids
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Isis
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Ordered | 10 September 1811 (as a two-decker) |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard. |
| Laid down | February 1816 |
| Launched | 5 October 1819 |
| Completed | 3 September 1823 at Chatham Dockyard |
| Fate | Coal depot at Sierra Leone in March 1861, then sold to purportedly be broken up there on 12 March 1867 at liquidation. |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen | 1,29288⁄94 (as redesigned) |
| Length | 164 ft 0 in (49.99 m) |
| Beam | 41 ft 11 in (12.78 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Complement | 350 |
| Armament |
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HMS Isis was a sailing warship built for the Royal Navy in the early 1800s. She was originally planned as a large, powerful ship with two gun decks, but her design changed quite a bit before she was finished. This made her a unique ship for her time.
Building and Design Changes
HMS Isis was ordered in 1811. She was meant to be a "two-decker" ship, which means she would have had two main decks for cannons. This type of ship was called a fourth rate in the Royal Navy.
However, while she was being built at Woolwich Dockyard, her plans were changed.
- She was made longer by about 11 feet (3.3 meters).
- One of her gun decks was removed.
- This made her a "spar-deck frigate". A spar deck was an extra deck that connected the front (forecastle) and back (quarterdeck) of the ship. This allowed her to carry more guns on this upper deck.
She was launched in 1819, but it took a few more years to complete her. She was finally finished in 1823 at Chatham Dockyard.
Life as a Frigate
When HMS Isis was first completed, she was intended to carry 58 guns. However, this plan was changed again. She ended up being completed as a 50-gun frigate. Her spar deck, which was meant for extra guns, was left unarmed.
Over time, her armament changed even more:
- In 1830, she was reduced to a 44-gun frigate.
- She carried twenty-six 32-pounder guns on her upper deck.
- She also had twelve 32-pounder guns on her quarterdeck.
- Two more 32-pounder guns were on her forecastle.
- She also carried two 8-inch shell guns, which fired explosive shells instead of solid cannonballs.
Later Years and Fate
HMS Isis served the Royal Navy for many years. By March 1861, she was no longer used as a fighting ship. Instead, she became a Coal depot in Sierra Leone. This meant she was used to store coal for other ships.
Finally, in March 1867, HMS Isis was sold. She was likely broken up for her materials, ending her long career.
