HMS Pandora (1833) facts for kids
Pandora in 1861, painted by Thomas Lyde Hornbrook
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Pandora |
| Ordered | 11 December 1831 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Cost | £7,821 |
| Laid down | August 1832 |
| Launched | 5 July 1833 |
| Commissioned | 1 June 1836 |
| Reclassified | Converted to survey ship 1845. |
| Fate | Sold January 1862 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Pandora-class brig |
| Tons burthen | 318 68⁄94 tons bm |
| Length |
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| Beam | 29 ft 3 in (8.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Complement | 50 (later 60) |
| Armament |
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HMS Pandora was a special ship of the Royal Navy, the navy of the United Kingdom. She was a type of sailing ship called a brig, which means she had two masts. Pandora was in service from 1833 until 1862.
The Ship's Early Life
Pandora was built in a place called Woolwich Dockyard. She was launched, meaning put into the water for the first time, on July 5, 1833. The ship cost about £7,821 to build. She officially joined the Royal Navy on June 1, 1836.
Exploring the World
In 1845, Pandora was changed into a survey ship. This meant her main job was to explore and map coastlines and oceans. From 1845 to 1848, she worked with another ship, HMS Herald. During this time, Pandora helped map the western coast of the Americas. This included areas from Colombia all the way up to Vancouver Island.
Surveying New Zealand
From 1850 to 1856, Commander Byron Drury was the captain of Pandora. Under his command, the ship spent over four years mapping the coast of New Zealand.
Important Discoveries
- In 1851, Pandora took "soundings" (measurements of water depth) off the Cape of Good Hope. This helped sailors know how deep the water was in that area.
- Between 1851 and 1855, Pandora played a big part in mapping New Zealand. This work, along with surveys by HMS Acheron, helped create the first detailed sailing guide for New Zealand, called the New Zealand Pilot.
- On February 8, 1853, Pandora accidentally ran aground (got stuck on the bottom) at Manukau while leaving for Onehunga.
- In December 1854, the ship surveyed Sumner Bay. This included mapping the sandbar and the mouth of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary. Captain Drury wrote a report and made a detailed chart of the area.
Pandora was eventually sold in January 1862.
