HMS Surprise (1856) facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | .jpg)
|} The HMS Surprise was a special type of warship called a gunvessel. She was built for the Royal Navy, which is the navy of the United Kingdom. This ship was launched in 1856 in London and was later taken apart, or "broken up," in 1866.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Surprise |
| Ordered | 26 July 1855 |
| Builder | Money Wigram and Son of Blackwall Yard |
| Cost | £33,356 |
| Laid down | 30 August 1855 |
| Launched | 6 March 1856 |
| Commissioned | 12 April 1856 |
| Fate | Broken up in 1866 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Vigilant-class second-class despatch/gunvessel |
| Displacement | 860 tons |
| Tons burthen | 669 79/94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 28 ft 4 in (8.6 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) (designed) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft (4.27 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Sail plan | Barque-rigged |
| Speed | 11 kn (20 km/h) under steam |
| Complement | 80 |
| Armament |
|
What Was HMS Surprise?
The HMS Surprise belonged to the Vigilant-class of ships. These ships were designed to be "second-class despatch and gunvessels." This means they were smaller warships that could carry messages (despatch) and also had powerful guns.
They were made to sail close to the shore during the Crimean War. This was a big war that happened around the time the ships were being designed. The Vigilant-class ships were like bigger versions of an earlier ship design called the Arrow-class gunvessel.
Powering the Ship
The Surprise had a steam engine to help her move. It was a two-cylinder engine that could produce about 778 horsepower. This engine powered a single propeller, which pushed the ship through the water.
With her steam engine, the ship could reach a top speed of about 11 knots. A knot is a way to measure speed at sea, and 11 knots is roughly 20 kilometers per hour.
Her Sails
Even though she had a steam engine, the HMS Surprise also used sails. She was "barque-rigged," which means she had a specific arrangement of sails on her masts. This allowed her to save fuel or travel silently when needed.
Her Weapons
The Surprise was designed to carry two large 68-pounder Lancaster guns. These were powerful guns that loaded from the front (muzzle-loading). She was also supposed to have two smaller 12-pounder howitzers.
However, when she was actually finished, her weapons were a bit different. She ended up with one 7-inch Armstrong gun that loaded from the back (breech-loading). She also had one 68-pounder Lancaster gun and two 20-pounder breech-loading guns.
Building the Ship
The order to build the Surprise was given on July 26, 1855. Nine other ships of her class were ordered at the same time. Her construction started on August 30, 1855, at a famous shipyard called Money Wigram & Son in Blackwall, London.
She was officially launched into the water on March 6, 1856. This is a big event where the ship is named and slides into the water for the first time.
Her Time at Sea
The HMS Surprise began her active service on April 12, 1856. Her first commander was Charles Egerton Harcourt-Vernon.
From 1857, under Commander Samuel Gurney Cresswell, the ship sailed to the East Indies. This area includes many countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia. She even took part in the Second Anglo-Chinese War, which was a conflict between Britain and China.
Later, starting in 1861, the Surprise became part of the Mediterranean Fleet. This fleet protected British interests in the Mediterranean Sea.
From August 1864 until April 1866, the ship was commanded by George Tryon. He later became a famous Admiral, but sadly, he was involved in a big accident in 1893 where his ship, HMS Victoria, sank during a practice exercise.
The End of Her Journey
The HMS Surprise did not serve for a very long time. In November 1866, she was sold to a company in Plymouth named Marshall. They took the ship apart, which is what "broken up" means. Her materials might have been reused for other purposes.
