History
United Kingdom
NameMedusa
NamesakeMedusa
Ordered10 March 1838
BuilderPembroke Dockyard
Laid downMay 1838
Launched31 October 1838
Completed12 August 1839
Commissioned8 August 1839
ReclassifiedAs tugboat, 1861–1862
FateSold for scrap, 17 February 1872
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeMerlin-class packet boat
Tons burthen889 14/94 bm
Length
  • 175 ft (53.3 m) (Gun deck)
  • 153 ft 6 in (46.8 m) (Keel)
Beam33 ft 2 in (10.1 m)
Depth16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
Installed power312 nhp
Propulsion2 × Steam engines
Armament2 × 6-pdr carronades

HMS Medusa was one of three 2-gun Merlin-class paddle packet boat built for the Royal Navy during the 1830s. She was converted into a tugboat in 1861–1862 and sold for scrap in 1872.

Description

Merlin had a length at the gun deck of 175 feet (53.3 m) and 153 feet 6 inches (46.8 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 33 feet 2 inches (10.1 m), and a depth of hold of 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 m). The ship's tonnage was 889 14⁄94 tons burthen.[1] The Medusa class was fitted with a pair of steam engines, rated at 312 nominal horsepower, that drove their paddlewheels. The ships were armed with a pair of 6-pounder carronades.[2]

Construction and career

Medusa, the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 10 March 1838, laid down two months later at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 31 October of that same year.[2] She was completed on 12 August 1839 and had been commissioned four days earlier. The ship was initially based at Liverpool for packet service in the Irish Sea. Medusa was modified in 1848 for service in the Mediterranean Sea.[1]

On 28 November 1849, Medusa ran aground at Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, whilst conveying mails from London to India. She was refloated and put back to Marseille with a broken rudder. The mails were forwarded in the French Government steamship Leonidas.[4] On 14 March 1851, Medusa collided with the British brig Caroline in Grand Harbour, Malta, as she was leaving port. A court found Medusa was to blame and awarded compensation to the owners of Caroline.[5]

Medusa was converted into a tugboat in 1861–1862 at Woolwich. She was paid off on 15 December 1871 and sold for scrap on 17 February 1872.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Winfield, p. 1432
  2. 1 2 Lyon & Winfield, p. 167
  3. ↑ Colledge, p. 221
  4. ↑ "Shipping Intelligence". Caledonian Mercury. No. 19943. London. 6 December 1849.
  5. ↑ "Admiralty Court, Friday, June 5". The Times. No. 21134. London. 6 June 1852. col E, p. 7.

References

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