HMS Challenger (1858)
HMS Challenger (1858)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameChallenger (1858)Explanation
TypeCorvette   
Launched13 February 1858   
HullWooden Length200 feet
PropulsionScrew   
Builders measure1465 tons   
Displacement2137 tons   
Guns21   
Fate1921 Last in commission1876
Class  Class (as screw)Pearl
Ships bookADM 135/84   
Career
DateEvent
13 February 1858Launched at Woolwich Dockyard.
6 May 1861
- 3 February 1865
Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness until paying off at Sheerness) by Captain John James Kennedy, North America and West Indies
12 April 1866
- 22 May 1866
Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain Rochfort Maguire, outbound to Australia
23 May 1866
- 13 April 1867
Commanded by Commodore Rochfort Maguire, Australian squadron (until Maguire invalided)
14 April 1867
- 12 August 1867
Commanded by Acting Captain Charles James Brownrigg, Australia
12 August 1867
- 4 March 1871
Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Commodore Rowley Lambert, Australia
15 November 1872
- 11 December 1874
Commanded (from commissioning at Sheerness) by Captain George Strong Nares, Admiralty-Royal Society round-the-world oceanographic expedition
11 December 1874
- 12 June 1876
Commanded (until paying off at Sheerness) by Captain Frank Tourle Thomson, Admiralty-Royal Society round-the-world oceanographic expedition
26 June 1876
- 26 April 1878
Commanded (from commissioning until paying off at Chatham) by Captain William Samuel Brown, Coast Guard, Harwich (temporarily replacing Penelope)
1880Hulk.
(August 1914)Chatham; used for lashing vessels alongside and for accommodating boat's crew of Captain of the Dockyard.
6 January 1921Sold to J.B. Garnham for breaking up.
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
Tu 28 January 1862From Nassau (Bahamas) we have advices to the 1st. The Nassau Guardian of that date says :-
"By the arrival to-day of the schooner William H. Bell, Henry Bowe, master, we regret to learn the probable loss of Her Majesty's line-of-battle ship Conqueror, 101 guns, which occurred on Sunday last, she having struck on a sunken rock on the east of Rum Cay, and become embedded five feet on the coral reef. Mr. Miller, an officer of the ill-fated steamer, was despatched in the schooner to Nassau for the purpose of obtaining assistance, and we understand the Bulldog will leave at 5 p.m. to-day for the scene of the disaster. The captain was using every exertion to get the vessel off. The Nimble goes to Bermuda with despatches for the Admiral, and the Steady will remain here for some time. The Conqueror was on her way from Jamaica to Bermuda, and had taken 1,100 marines on board, besides her crew. The marines were transferred to the St. George at Jamaica. We are sorry to hear that there were several cases of yellow fever on board the Challenger when, the Nimble left. The Conqueror is a two-decker screw ship of the line, drawing about 34 feet of water. She is of 800 horse-power, and her speed averaged 10 3/4 knots an hour. She is of 3,224 tons burden, carries 101 guns, and was built in 1855. Her former station was the Mediterranean, and she is one of the vessels recently sent to strengthen the British North American fleet.
Sa 12 November 1864The following is the list of the vessels of the Royal navy which will be armed, and are now being armed, with the new description of 300-pounder and other guns in course of issue. The figures after each vessel specify the number of guns of the description mentioned she will carry. To mount the 12-ton 300-pounders:- Bellerophon, 10; Royal Sovereign, 5; Minotaur, 4; Scorpion, 4; Wiveren, 4; Prince Albert, 4; Agincourt, 4; and Northumberland, 4. To be armed with the 6½-ton guns:- The Achilles, 20; Black Prince, 20; Warrior, 20; Lord Warden, 20; Lord Clyde, 20; Royal Oak, 20; Prince Consort, 20; Royal Alfred, 20; Caledonia, 20; Ocean, 20; Minotaur, 18 ; Agincourt, 18; Valiant, 16; Zealous, 16; Hector, 16; Defence, 10; Resistance, 10; Endymion, 6; Mersey, 4; Orlando, 4, Pallas, 4; Favourite, 4; Research, 4; Enterprise, 4; Amazon, 2; Viper, 2; and Vixen, 2. To mount the 64-pounder muzzle-loader:- The Bristol, 12; Melpomene, 12; Liverpool, 12; Severn, 12; Arethusa, 12; Phoebe, 12;. Shannon, 12; Octavia, 12; Constance, 12; Sutlej, 12; Undaunted, 12; Impérieuse, 12; Aurora, 12; Leander, 12; Bacchante, 12; Emerald, 12; Phaeton, 12: Narcissus, 12; Forte, 12; Euryalus, 12; Topaz, 12; Newcastle, 12; Liffey, 12; Immortalité, 12; Glasgow, 12; Clio, 8, North Star, 8 [laid down 1860, cancelled 1865]; Racoon, 8; Challenge[r], 8; and Menai, 8 [laid down 1860, cancelled 1864]. The following will be supplied with the 64-pounder breech-loaders:- The Scout, 8; Rattlesnake, 8; Cadmus, 8; Scylla, 8; Barossa, 8; Jason, 8; Charybdis, 8; Wolverine, 8; Pylades, 8; Orestes, 8; Pearl, 8; Pelorus, 8; Satellite, 8; Acheron, 4 [laid down 1861, cancelled 1863]; Shearwater, 4; Valorous, 4; Furious, 4; Bittern, 4 [laid down 1861, cancelled 1863]; Magicienne, 4; and Columbine, 4. A supply of the 6½-ton smooth-bore 100-pounder wrought iron guns has already been received at Chatham, and it is understood that the first supply of the 300-pounder rifled 12-ton Armstrong gun may shortly be expected at the Ordnance wharf.


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