Summary
HMS Hyacinth was an 18-gun Royal Navy ship sloop. She was launched in 1829 and surveyed the north-eastern coast of Australia under Francis Price Blackwood during the mid-1830s. She took part in the First Opium War, destroying, with HMS Volage, 29 Chinese junks. She became a coal hulk at Portland in 1860 and was broken up in 1871.
 Hyacinth and Volage engage Chinese war junks, 3 November 1839
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Hyacinth |
| Ordered | 10 June 1823 |
| Builder | Plymouth Dockyard |
| Cost | £17,361 including fitting[Note 1][1] |
| Laid down | March 1826 |
| Launched | 6 May 1829 |
| Commissioned | 12 January 1830 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Favorite-class ship sloop |
| Tons burthen | 429 40/94 bm |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 30 ft 9 in (9.4 m) oa |
| Depth of hold | 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 125 |
| Armament |
|
| External image | |
|---|---|
 A contemporary 1:60 full hull model of Hyacinth at the National Maritime Museum |
Design and construction edit
Hyacinth was the second of four Favorite-class ship sloops, which were a ship-rigged and lengthened version of the 1796 Cruizer-class brig-sloop. All four ships of the class were ordered on 10 June 1823 and Hyacinth was laid down at Plymouth Dockyard in March 1826. She was launched on 6 May 1829 and commissioned for the West Indies Station on 12 January 1830.[1]
Dimensions edit
Hyacinth measured 109 ft 6 in (33.4 m) along the gun deck by 30 ft 9 in (9.4 m) in the beam, and had a tonnage of 429 40/94 bm.[1] She was flush-decked with a small forecastle and quarterdeck.
Armament edit
She was armed with sixteen 32-pounder carronades and two 9-pounder bow chaser guns.[1]
Service edit
During her 42-year career, she was stationed in the West and East Indies from 1829–41, took part in the First Opium War from 1841–42, and from 1843-46 was stationed off the west coast of Africa in the suppression of the slave trade. After being reduced to 14 guns in 1848,[1] she later became a coal hulk at Portsmouth.[1] On 2 October 1871, Hyacinth drove ashore and sank in the Clarence Creek.[2] She was subsequently broken up.[1]
Notes edit
- ^ A total cost accounting for inflation of approximately £1,625,300 in today's money.
Citations edit
References edit
External links edit
Media related to HMS Hyacinth (1829) at Wikimedia Commons- Career of HMS Hyacinth at William Loney website
- "HMS Hyacinth at the naval Database website".
