HMS Thunderer (1831) facts for kids

Thunderer launched at Woolwich on 22 September 1831 (with inset a view of the New Basin)
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Thunderer
Ordered	23 January 1817
Builder	Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down	April 1823
Launched	22 September 1831
Renamed	HMS Comet, 1869 HMS Nettle, 1870
Fate	Sold to be broken up, 1901
Notes	Hulked, 1863
General characteristics
Class and type	Canopus-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	2255 bm
Length	193 ft 10 in (59.08 m) (gundeck)
Beam	52 ft 4.5 in (15.964 m)
Depth of hold	22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	700 officers and men
Armament	84 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Upper gundeck: 32 × 24 pdrs Quarterdeck: 6 × 24 pdrs, 10 × 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 × 24 pdrs, 4 × 32 pdr carronades

The Thunderer, Man-of-War firing a Royal Salute on her Majesties arrival at Walmer Castle (1842) by Ebenezer Landells

HMS Thunderer was a powerful sailing warship. She was a "ship of the line" with 84 guns. This means she was one of the biggest and strongest ships of her time.

She was built for the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Thunderer was launched on September 22, 1831. This happened at the Woolwich Dockyard, a famous shipbuilding place.

What Was a Ship of the Line?

A ship of the line was a large warship built between the 17th and mid-19th centuries. These ships were designed to fight in a "line of battle." This was a naval tactic where ships formed a line to fire their cannons at enemy ships.

Thunderer's Design

Thunderer was a modified version of the Canopus/Formidable-class ships. These ships were known for their strong build. They had two main decks where cannons were placed.

Ship's Size and Power

Thunderer was quite large for her time. She was about 193 feet long. Her main power came from her 84 guns. These included heavy 32-pounder cannons and smaller 24-pounder cannons. She also carried powerful carronades, which were shorter, lighter cannons.

Life of HMS Thunderer

Thunderer served the Royal Navy for many years. She was a symbol of British naval power. Her job was to protect trade routes and defend the country.

Later Years and Renaming

By 1863, Thunderer was no longer needed as an active warship. She was then "hulked," meaning she became a stationary ship. She was used as a target ship for training at Portsmouth.

In 1869, her name was changed to Comet. Just a year later, in 1870, she was renamed again to Nettle.

End of Service

HMS Nettle was eventually sold in December 1901. She was bought by a company called Messrs. King & Co. They broke her up for parts. This was the end of a long career for this historic ship.