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Arrow-class gunvessel

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HMS Beagle and Wrangler by Sir Oswald Brierly, 1855
Class overview
NameArrow class
Builders
Operators
Cost
  • £21,234 (Arrow)
  • £24,860 (Wrangler)[1]
Built1854
In commission1854–1866, 1875-1902
Completed7
Lost0
General characteristics [1]
Displacement586 tons
Tons burthen476 6894 bm
Length160 ft (48.8 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Draught11 ft 8 in (3.6 m) (aft)
Depth of hold13 ft 3 in (4.0 m)
Installed power
  • 160 nhp
  • 460–673 ihp (343–502 kW)
Propulsion
  • Single 2-cylinder horizontal single-expansion steam engine
  • Single screw[1]
Sail planBarque-rigged
Complement65
Armament

The Arrow class comprised six second-class screw-driven vessels built as dispatch vessels for the Royal Navy in 1854, mounting six guns. In 1856 they were re-designated as second-class gunvessels. A seventh vessel was built for the Argentine Navy in 1875.

Construction

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Design

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The Crimean War sparked a sudden need for shallow-draught, manoeuvrable vessels for inshore work in the Baltic and the Black Sea. The Arrow class of six wooden-hulled screw steamers were built during 1854 to a design by the Surveyor's Department. Construction was undertaken at two commercial yards on the Thames, R & H Green at Blackwall Yard and C J Mare & Company, at Leamouth. Two further designs of Crimean War gunvessel were ordered during 1855, the Intrepid class and the Vigilant class, and in 1856 the six Arrow-class dispatch vessels were re-classed as second-class gunvessels.

Propulsion

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A two-cylinder horizontal single expansion steam engine provided 160 horsepower (119 kW) through a single screw.[1]

Sail plan

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All Arrow-class gunvessels were barque-rigged.[1]

Armament

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The Arrow class were provided with two 68-pounder Lancaster muzzle-loading rifles weighing 95 long cwt (4,800 kg) on pivot mounts, and four 32-pounder 25 long cwt (1,300 kg) guns.

Ships

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Name Ship builder Launched Fate
Arrow C J Mare & Company, Leamouth 26 June 1854 Hull sold to Marshall on 19 May 1862
Beagle C J Mare & Company, Leamouth 20 July 1854 Sold at Hong Kong on 16 July 1863, became the Japanese Kanko. Broken up 1889
Lynx C J Mare & Company, Leamouth 22 July 1854 Sold to Marshall on 19 May 1862 for breaking at Plymouth
Snake C J Mare & Company, Leamouth 6 September 1854 Sold to Marshall, Plymouth in 1864
Viper R & H Green, Blackwall Yard 23 July 1854 Sold to Marshall on 19 May 1862 for breaking at Plymouth
Wrangler R & H Green, Blackwall Yard 19 June 1854 Broken up by Castle at Charlton in May 1866
Bermejo Messrs. Rennie 19 June 1875 For Argentine Navy.[2]

Operational lives

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Wrangler was sent to the Baltic on completion, and the others of the class to the Black Sea where they took part in the Crimean War. The Lancaster guns were not entirely successful, and the class had their armament reduced, being employed in their original designation as dispatch vessels.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Winfield (2004), p.219
  2. ^ "A Formidable Gunboat". The Times. No. 28347. London. 21 June 1875. col F, p. 8.

References

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