HMS Urgent (1855) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Urgent |
| Builder | C. J. Mare, Blackwall |
| Launched | 2 April 1855 |
| Completed | 29 September 1855 |
| Acquired | 13 June 1854 |
| Reclassified | Depot ship from March 1876 |
| Fate | Sold in June 1903 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Iron screw troopship |
| Tonnage | 1,964 38/94 bm |
| Displacement | 2,801 tons |
| Length |
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| Beam | 38 ft 5 in (11.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 26 ft 8.5 in (8.141 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 11.72 kn (21.71 km/h) (under engines) |
HMS Urgent was a special ship in the Royal Navy. It was an iron screw troopship, which means it was a large ship made of iron that used a propeller (screw) to move. Its main job was to carry soldiers and supplies. Later in its life, it became a depot ship and a storeship, helping other ships in Jamaica.
Contents
HMS Urgent was first built by a company called C. J. Mare in Blackwall. It was originally going to be named Assaye. At the same time, another similar ship, Sobraon, was also being built.
The Admiralty, which runs the Royal Navy, bought both ships in 1854. They needed more ships to help during the Crimean War. Assaye was bought on June 13, 1854. It was launched, meaning put into the water for the first time, on April 2, 1855.
The ship was finished and ready for sea on September 29, 1855. It was then officially named HMS Urgent. Its sister ship, Sobraon, became HMS Perseverance.
Life at Sea: Adventures and Challenges
HMS Urgent had an exciting but sometimes difficult life at sea.
Early Voyages and Incidents
- Running Aground in Malta: On October 21, 1855, while sailing from Plymouth, Urgent accidentally hit the bottom near Fort Ricasoli, Malta. Luckily, all 1,100 people on board were safely rescued.
- Leaking in the Bay of Biscay: On March 3, 1857, after leaving Spithead, the ship started to leak badly in the Bay of Biscay. It had to quickly go to A Coruña, Spain, because it was in danger of sinking.
- Another Grounding: On November 1, 1858, Urgent ran aground again. This time it was on the East Pole Sands, near the Nab Lightship. A government tug named Echo helped pull it free.
Service in Distant Lands
From March 1859, HMS Urgent sailed to the East Indies and China. It was commanded by Henry William Hire. In August 1864, while under the command of Samuel Hood Henderson, it ran aground in St. Anns, Nova Scotia, which was then part of British North America. The ship was refloated and taken to Quebec City, where it arrived on September 5. By 1870, Urgent was back in Portsmouth.
New Role in Jamaica
After its time as a troopship, HMS Urgent was sent to Jamaica. Here, it started a new job as a depot ship. This meant it acted like a floating base, providing supplies and support to other naval ships in the area. It began this new role on July 21, 1877.
In 1880, a smaller gunboat named HMS Tyrian served as its "tender." A tender is a smaller boat that helps a larger ship, often by carrying messages or supplies. From 1880 to 1885, a schooner called HMS Sparrowhawk also acted as its tender, helping to map the local waters.
HMS Urgent was finally sold in June 1903 to a company called Butler & Co. It was taken apart for scrap metal, ending its long service to the Royal Navy.
