Gleaner-class gunboat
The Gleaner (or Pelter)-class gunboat was a class of six gunboats built for the Royal Navy in 1854 for use in the Crimean War.[1]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gleaner class |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Succeeded by | Dapper class |
| Built | 1854 |
| In commission | 1854 – 1864 |
| Completed | 6 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | 'Crimean' gunboat |
| Tons burthen | 215 53⁄94 tons bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m) |
| Draught | 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h) |
| Crew | 36 |
| Armament |
|
Design
The Gleaner class was designed by W.H. Walker (who also designed the subsequent Dapper and Albacore classes). The ships were wooden-hulled, with steam power as well as sails, but of shallow draught for coastal bombardment in the shallow waters of the Baltic and Black Sea during the Crimean War.[1]
Propulsion
Two-cylinder horizontal single-expansion steam engines built by John Penn and Sons, with two boilers, provided 60 nominal horsepower through a single screw, sufficient for 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph).[1]
Armament
Ships of the class were armed with one 68-pounder smooth bore muzzle loading cannon (SBML), one 32-pounder SBML (originally two 68-pounder SBMLs were planned but the forward gun was substituted by a 32-pounder) and two 24-pounder howitzers.[1]
Ships
| Name | Ship builder[1] | Launched[1] | Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelter | W & H Pitcher, Northfleet | 28 August 1854 | Sold for breaking January 1864, breaking up completed by Tolpult on 1 February 1864 |
| Pincher | W & H Pitcher, Northfleet | 5 September 1854 | Breaking completed on 17 February 1864 |
| Badger | W & H Pitcher, Northfleet | 23 September 1854 | Broken up at Portsmouth in June 1864 |
| Snapper | W & H Pitcher, Northfleet | 4 October 1854 | Became a coal hulk in 1865, sold in 1906 |
| Gleaner | Deptford Dockyard | 7 October 1854 | Sold at Montevideo in April 1868 |
| Ruby | Deptford Dockyard | 7 October 1854 | Broken up October 1868 |
References
- Winfield, p.223
Bibliography
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555.