HMS Polyphemus (1840)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Polyphemus.

HMS Polyphemus was an Alecto-class sloop designed by Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. Originally classed as a steam vessel (SV3), her classification would be changed to a Third Class Sloop.^[1] She initially served in the Mediterranean, west coast of Africa and the Baltic. She was wrecked on the Baltic side Jutland on 29 January 1856.^[2]

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Polyphemus
Ordered	25 February 1839
Builder	Royal Dockyard, Sheerness
Cost	£27,596
Laid down	February 1840
Launched	28 September 1840
Completed	24 April 1841
Commissioned	25 February 1841
Fate	Wrecked 29 January 1856
General characteristics
Type	Steam Vessels (SV3) Third Class Sloop
Displacement	1,283 tons
Tons burthen	800+80⁄94 bm
Length	164 ft 0 in (50.0 m) gundeck 142 ft 6.5 in (43.4 m) keel for tonnage
Beam	32 ft 8 in (10.0 m) maximum 32 ft 6 in (9.9 m) for tonnage
Draught	6 ft 5 in (2.0 m)forward 7 ft 6 in (2.3 m) forward
Depth of hold	18 ft 7 in (5.7 m)
Installed power	200 nominal horsepower
Propulsion	2-cylinder VSE direct acting steam engine Paddles
Armament	2 × 32-pdr (42 cwt) MLSB guns on pivot mounts 2 × 32-pdr (25 cwt) MLSB guns on broadside trucks

Polyphemus was the second named vessel since it was used for a 64-gun third rate, launched at Sheerness Dockyard on 27 April 1782, converted to a powder hulk in September 1813 and her breaking was completed at Chatham on 15 September 1827.^[3]

Construction

She was ordered on 25 February 1839 from Chatham Dockyard with her keel laid in February 1840.^[4] She was launched on 28 September. Following her launch she was towed to Limehouse to have her boilers and machinery fitted.^[5] She returned to Chatham and was completed for sea on 24 April 1841 at an initial cost of £27,596 including the hull cost of £13,198 and machinery cost of £10,700.^{[Note 1]}

Commissioned service

First commission

Her first commission started on 25 February 1841 under the command of Lieutenant John Evans, RN for service in the Mediterranean. Lieutenant Evans died on 21 February 1843.^[6] Lieutenant Thomas Spark, RN took command two days later on the 23rd. The 23rd of April 1846 a new commander, Commander James Johnstone M'Cleverty, RN took and command and was assigned to the Channel Squadron.^[7] She was later returned to the Mediterranean where she rescued the brig Three Sisters from Rif Tribesmen on 8 November 1846.^[8] She changed commanders on 28 December 1848 to Commander Richard Borough Crawford, RN. She paid off on 11 April 1849 upon her return to Home Waters. She was repaired at Deptford and Woolwich at a cost of £16,601.^[9]

Second commission

She was commissioned on 16 February 1852 under Commander Charles Gerrans Phillips for service on the west coast of Africa,^[10] She returned and paid off at Portsmouth on 23 September 1854.^[11]

Third commission

She was commissioned under Commander Frederick Pelham Warren, RN for service in the Baltic on 22 October 1855.^[12]

Disposition

She was wrecked on a steep sandy beach seven miles from Hansholme on the Baltic Coast of Jutland on 29 January 1856. She lost 27 members of her crew in the mishap. Her wreck was sold for £467.^[13]

Notes

1. A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £3,030,900 in today's money.