HMS Recruit (1846) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Recruit |
| Ordered | 6 May 1844 |
| Builder | Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company |
| Launched | 10 June 1846 |
| Fate | Sold 28 August 1849 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Brig |
| Tons burthen | 462 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 30 ft 8.5 in (9.360 m) |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Armament | 12 guns, comprising 2 x 18-pounder guns and 10 x 32-pounder guns. |
HMS Recruit was a special ship in the Royal Navy, which is the navy of the United Kingdom. She was a 12-gun brig, a type of sailing ship with two masts. What made Recruit unique was that she was the very first ship built for the Royal Navy with a hull made of iron.
This ship was built by the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company and was launched in 1846. Being made of iron was a big deal back then. Most ships were still made of wood. Recruit was also the only iron-hulled sailing ship the Royal Navy ever had.
Contents
Early Life of HMS Recruit
HMS Recruit was ordered on May 6, 1844. Her builders, the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, were known for their work with metal. The ship was officially launched on June 10, 1846. This meant she was ready to float in the water for the first time.
Why Iron Was Special
At the time, using iron for a ship's hull was a new idea. People wondered if iron ships would float or if they would be strong enough. Recruit helped the Royal Navy learn about this new technology. Her design included 12 guns, showing she was meant for defense or battle.
HMS Recruit did not stay in the Royal Navy for very long. On August 28, 1849, she was sold back to her original builders, Ditchburn and Mare. This was only about three years after she was launched.
Becoming SS Harbinger
A few years later, in 1852, the ship was sold again. This time, the General Screw Steam Shipping Company bought her. They had a different plan for the ship. They changed her from a sailing brig into a screw steamer. This meant they added a steam engine and a propeller (a "screw") to move the ship.
After this big change, the ship was renamed SS Harbinger. She was then used for carrying mail and goods. Her new job was to travel on routes to East India and the Cape of Good Hope. This shows how ships could be changed and reused for different purposes as technology improved.
