HMS Orontes (1862) facts for kids
HMS Orontes off Hong Kong (Chinese School, 19th century)
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | HMS Orontes |
| Namesake | "Ol' Ste" |
| Builder | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead |
| Launched | 22 November 1862, Birkenhead |
| Commissioned | March 1863 |
| Fate | Sold 1893 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Troopship |
| Displacement | 4,857 (later 5,600) tons |
| Length | 300 ft (as built) |
| Beam | 44½ ft |
| Armament | Three 4-pounder guns |
HMS Orontes was a special kind of ship called a troopship used by the Royal Navy in the 1800s. Her main job was to carry soldiers and their equipment to places like southern Africa and the West Indies. She was built to help the British military move its forces around the world.
Contents
What Was HMS Orontes Like?
Orontes was a large ship for her time. When she was first built, she weighed about 4,857 tons. Later, after some changes in 1876, she became even bigger, weighing 5,600 tons. She was 300 feet long, which is about the length of a football field! Her width, or beam, was 44 and a half feet. Even though she was a military ship, she didn't carry many big weapons. She only had three small 4-pounder guns, because her main purpose was carrying troops, not fighting battles.
The Story of HMS Orontes
Orontes was designed by the Controller of the Navy, who was in charge of designing ships for the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird shipbuilders in Birkenhead, England. She was launched into the water on November 22, 1862. By March 1863, she was ready for service.
Key Events in Her Service
- On December 14, 1866, Orontes was pushed ashore by strong winds near Cork, Ireland.
- In November 1871, she sailed from Quebec, Canada. She carried the last British soldiers stationed there back to Britain.
- In 1878, while sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Bermuda, a person fell overboard. During the rescue attempt, a small boat carrying fourteen men overturned, and they were lost.
- In 1879, Orontes had an important job. She carried the body of Louis Napoléon, Prince Imperial back to Britain. He was a French prince who had died earlier that year during the Zulu War in southern Africa.
- Finally, in 1893, Orontes was sold. She was then taken apart for scrap metal on the River Thames.
Orontes in Stories
Orontes is also famous because she appears in a well-known book! She is mentioned in A Study in Scarlet, a Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle. In the book, Orontes is the troopship that brings Dr. John Watson back to Britain. This happens after he was injured in the 1880 Battle of Maiwand.
