The ''Vigilant''-class gunvessel of the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
was an enlarged version of the
''Arrow''-class gunvessel of 1854. Both classes were designed for shallow-water operations in the Baltic and Black Seas during the
Crimean War
The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...
. Fourteen of the class were completed, but were ready too late to take part in that conflict. ''Cormorant'' was sunk in action at the
Taku Forts
The Taku Forts or Dagukou Forts (大沽口炮台), also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River (Peiho River) estuary in the Binhai New Area, Tianjin, in northeastern China. They are located southeast of the Tianjin urban ...
, ''Osprey'' was wrecked on the coast of Africa in 1867 and the rest were all sold during the 1860s, with ''Sparrowhawk'' lasting until 1872.
Design
The class were designed as second-class despatch and gunvessels. They were intended to operate close inshore during the
Crimean War
The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...
and were essentially enlarged versions of the
''Arrow''-class gunvessel, which has been designed by the Surveyor’s Department in 1854.
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Propulsion
A two-cylinder horizontal single expansion steam engine produced (varying between vessels) between and through a single screw,[ and gave a top speed of about 11 knots.][
]
Sail plan
All ''Vigilant''-class gunvessels were barque-rigged.[
]
Armament
Although designed with a pair of 68-pounder Lancaster muzzle-loading rifles, the ''Vigilant'' class were finished with one / Armstrong breech-loading gun, one Lancaster muzzle-loading rifled gun and two 20-pounder breech loaders.[
]
Ships
Citations
References
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{{Vigilant class gunvessel
Gunboat classes
Vigilant