The ''Merlin''-class packet boat of 1838 was a Sir William Symonds (the Surveyor of the Navy) design that was approved on 2 April 1838. The vessels were to be built for steam mail packet service on the Liverpool to Dublin route. The initial two ships ( and ) were ordered in autumn 1838 from

Pembroke Dockyard Pembroke Dockyard, originally called Pater Yard, is a former Royal Navy Dockyard in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales. History It was founded in 1814, although not formally authorized until the George IV of the United Kingdom, Prince Regent s ...

. The third vessel () was ordered in 1839, also from Pembroke. When completed all vessels were used on the Liverpool station. In 1848 all three were in the Mediterranean on mail packet service. ''Merlin'' went to the Baltic during the Russian Was as a

survey ship A survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for underwater surveys, usually to collect data for mapping or planning underwater construction or mineral extraction. It is a type of research vessel, and may be designed for the pu ...

. ''Medusa'' went to the Black Sea. Medina remained in the Mediterranean being converted to a survey ship for Mediterranean service. ''Merlin'' served on the West Coast of Africa and was sold for commercial use in 1863. ''Medina'' was sold at Malta in April 1864. ''Medusa'' was converted to a

tugboat A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

in 1861 and remained in that service until sold in 1872. ''Merlin'' was the twelfth named vessel since it was used for a 10-gun pinnace, built in 1579 and listed until 1601. ''Medusa'' was the fourth named vessel since it was used for a 50-gun fourth rate, launched at Plymouth Dockyard on 23 July 1785 and wrecked on the coast of Portugal on 26 November 1798. ''Medina'' was the third named vessel since it was used for a six gun yacht (named ''Portsmouth'') launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 9 January 1702, rebuilt and named ''Medina'' in August 1772 and broken in August 1832.

Design and specifications

The first two vessels were laid down in April and May 1838 with the third vessel laid down in June 1839. The first two were launched in autumn 1838 with the last vessel launched in 1840. The ships had a length at the

gun deck The term gun deck used to refer to a deck aboard a ship that was primarily used for the mounting of cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical prope ...

of with a

keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element of a watercraft, important for stability. On some sailboats, it may have a fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose as well. The keel laying, laying of the keel is often ...

length of reported for tonnage. They had a maximum

beam Beam may refer to: Streams of particles or energy *Light beam, or beam of light, a directional projection of light energy **Laser beam *Radio beam *Particle beam, a stream of charged or neutral particles **Charged particle beam, a spatially lo ...

of and reported for the tonnage calculation. Their depth of

hold Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (compartment), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also called ...

was . The ships'

tonnage Tonnage is a measure of the capacity of a ship, and is commonly used to assess fees on commercial shipping. The term derives from the taxation paid on '' tuns'' or casks of wine. In modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a cal ...

calculation was tons burthen. Their machinery was supplied by Fawcett, Preston & Company of Liverpool. They had a pair rectangular fire tube boilers install. They had a pair of vertical single expansion (VSE)

steam engines A steam engine is a heat engine that performs Work (physics), mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a Cylinder (locomotive), cyl ...

, rated at 312

nominal horsepower Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are th ...

, that drove their paddlewheels. The vessels had a very light armament of two 6-pounder

carronade A carronade is a short, smoothbore, cast-iron cannon which was used by the Royal Navy. It was first produced by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, and was used from the last quarter of the 18th century to the mid-19th cen ...

s mounted.Lyon Winfield, page 167 All vessels were completed at an average cost of £35,276.An average cost accounting for inflation of approximately £ in today's money.Average cost compiled by author. Actual break down of actual costs will be given on individual ship articles

Notes

Citations

References

* Lyon Winfield, The Sail & Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815 to 1889, by David Lyon & Rif Winfield, published by Chatham Publishing, London © 2004, * The Navy List, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London * Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail (1817 – 1863), by Rif Winfield, published by Seaforth Publishing, England © 2014, e, Chapter 11 Paddle Vessels (Wooden), Vessels Acquired after November 1830, Merlin class * Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, by J.J. Colledge, revised and updated by Lt Cdr Ben Warlow and Steve Bush, published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, Great Britain, © 2020, e (EPUB), Section M (Merlin, Medina, Medusa) * {{Royal Navy paddle sloops Ships built in Pembroke Dock