HMS Pigeon (1827)

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

HMS Pigeon was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s. She was sold in 1847.

History
United Kingdom
Name	Pigeon
Ordered	25 March 1823
Builder	Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down	May 1825
Launched	6 October 1827
Completed	23 February 1829
Fate	Sold, 27 July 1847
General characteristics
Class & type	Cherokee-class brig-sloop
Tons burthen	23510⁄94 bm
Length	90 ft (27.4 m) (gundeck)
Beam	24 ft 8 in (7.5 m)
Draught	9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Depth of hold	11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Brig rig
Complement	52
Armament	10 muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns: 2 × 6 pdr guns 8 × 18 pdr carronades

Description

The Cherokee-class brig-sloops were designed by Henry Peake, they were nicknamed 'coffin brigs' for the large number that either wrecked or foundered in service, but modern analysis has not revealed any obvious design faults. They were probably sailed beyond their capabilities by inexperienced captains tasked to perform arduous and risky duties.^[1] Whatever their faults, they were nimble; quick to change tack and, with a smaller crew, more economical to run.^[2] Pigeon displaced 297 long tons (302 t) and measured 90 feet 1 inch (27.5 m) long at the gundeck. She had a beam of 24 feet 8 inches (7.5 m), a depth of hold of 11 feet (3.4 m), a deep draught of 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m) and a tonnage of 23519⁄94 tons burthen. The ships had a complement of 52 men when fully manned, but only 33 as a packet ship. The armament of the Cherokee class consisted of ten muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns: eight 18 lb (8.2 kg) carronades and two 6 lb (2.7 kg) guns postioned in the bow for use as chase guns.^[3]

Construction and career

Pigeon was ordered on 23 March 1823 and laid down in October 1826 at Pembroke Dockyard with the name of Variable. The ship was launched on 6 October 1827, renamed Pigeon on 2 February 1829 and commissioned the following day. She was converted into a packet ship with four guns on 23 February and was assigned to the Falmouth packet service once she was completed. Pigeon was paid off on 31 May 1842 and sold on 27 July 1847.^[4]