Name: Follow links in this column for details of the career of unarmoured wooden screw vessels (or for snippets for other vessels in service in the period 1840-1880).
Launched: "1800a" means acquired in 1800; "1800r" means renamed in 1800 to name shown in "Name" column; see "Note" column for original name, under which entry other details are given.
H(ull): C = composite, I = iron, S = steel, W = wood.
P(ropulsion): H = hydraulic, P = paddle, S = screw, W = sail.
B.M. = burthen, builders measure (tons).
Disp. = displacement (tons); during this period displacement was replacing burthen as a measure of the "size" of vessels.
Guns = initial number of guns (may have been different later in career). TT = torpedo tubes.
Fate: year of sale, breaking up or loss; if lost or sold for reuse see details in "Note" column.
SB = ships book in PRO London: ADM 135/xxx (giving the history of the maintenance of the ship - hull, machinery and armament - from construction to disposal).
Note: "1800 = Nnnnnn" means renamed to Nnnnnn in 1800; "1850 screw 1000 bm" means converted to a screw ship of 1000 tons burthen in 1850. c.h. = coal hulk; d.s. = depot ship.; h.s. = harbour service; r.s = receiving ship; t.s. = training ship; MV = mortar vessel; WV = watch vessel; YC = yard craft. Merchant ship names in italics. Data in red are alternate data when sources disagree.
Ship | Launch | H. | P. | Type | B.M. | Disp. | Guns | Fate | S.B. | Note |
Macedonian | 1810.06.02 | W | W | 5th rate | 1082 | | 38 | 18?? | | 1812.10.25 captured by Americans in the Altantic |
Mackerel | 1856.03.08 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1862 | | |
Madagascar | 1822.11.15 | W | W | 5th rate | 1167 | | 46 | 1863 | | 1853 harbour storeship |
Maeander | 1840.05.05 | W | W | 5th rate | 1221 | | 44 | 1870 | | 1870.07 wrecked at Ascension |
Magdala | 1870 | I | S | Breastwork monitor | | 3340 | 4 | 1904 | | Coastal defence ship for the harbour of Bombay (now Mumbai) |
Magicienne | 1812.08.08 | W | W | 5th rate | 949 | | 36 | 1845 | | 1831 24 gun 6th rate |
Magicienne | 1849.03.02 | W | P | 2nd class frigate | 1255 | 2300 | 16 | 1865 | 293 | |
Magnet | 1823.03.30 | W | W | Packet brig | 237 | | 3 | 1847 | | |
Magnet | 1855.10.19 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 155 | | 1 | 1867 | | 1855.10 = MV.15. 1857 dockyard craft |
Magnet | 1856.01.29 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1874 | 294 | |
Magnificent | 1806.08.30 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1732 | | 74 | 1843 | | 1823 r.s. 1825 hospital ship |
Magpie | 1830.09.30 | W | W | Cutter | 108 | | 4 | 1908 | | 1845 = YC.6, dockyard tank vessel |
Magpie | 1855.03.15 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 1864 | | 1864.04.03 wrecked Galway Bay |
Magpie | 1868.02.12 | W | S | Gunvessel | 665 | 774 | 4 | 1885 | 295 | 1878 survey vessel |
Maidstone | 1811.10.18 | W | W | 5th rate | 947 | | 36 | 1865 | | 1832 r.s. 1839 c.h. |
Majestic | 1853.12.01 | W | S | 2nd rate | 2589 | 3482 | 80 | 1868 | 296 | Converted to screw on stocks |
Malabar | 1804.05a | W | W | 4th rate | 935 | | 56 | 1853 | | ex-Cuvera, purchased. 1805 storeship. 1815 = Coromandel. 1827 convict ship |
Malabar | 1818.12.28 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1715 | | 74 | 1905 | | 1848 c.h. 1883 = Myrtle |
Malabar | 1866.12.08 | I | S | Troopship | 4189 | | 3 | 1918 | 297 | 1897 base ship. 1901 = Terror |
Malacca | 1853.04.09 | W | S | Sloop (1862: Corvette) | 1034 | 1758 | 17 | 1869 | 298 | Converted to screw on stocks. Resold to Japanese navy as Tsukuba |
Mallard | 1875.08.04 | C | S | Gunboat | | 455 | 4 | 1889 | | |
Malta | 1854a | | P | Tender | | | | 1856 | | ex-Britannia |
Malta | 1875.01.21 | I | P | Tug | 375 | 530 | 0 | 1921 | | Sold as mercantine Benshie |
Manilla | 1809.09.11 | W | W | 5th rate | 947 | | 36 | 1812 | | 1812.01.28 wrecked off Texel |
Manilla | 1861r | | | | | | | | | See: Atalante 1860 |
Manilla | 1870a | | | Storeship | 373 | | | 1872 | | Purchased, ex-Ingeburg |
Manly | 1812.07.13 | W | W | Gun-brig | 180 | | 12 | 1833 | | |
Manly | 1855.05.16 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 117 | | 1 | 1866 | | 1855.10 = MV.6. 1866 hulked |
Manly | 1856.01.29 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1863 | | |
Manly | 1868.04.23 | I | P | Tug | 135 | 188 | 0 | 1912 | 299 | |
Marianne | 1858a | W | W | Receiving ship | 490 | | | 1867 | | ex-slaver purchased |
Mariner | 1846.10.19 | W | W | Brig | 481 | | 16 | 1865 | | |
Mariner | 1878r | | | | | | | | | See: Juno 1844 |
Marlborough | 1855.07.31 | W | S | 1st rate | 3853 | 6065 | 131 | 1924 | | 1878 t.s. 1904 = Vernon II. Capsized in tow to breakers |
Mars | 1848.07.01 | W | W | 2nd rate | 2576 | 3482 | 80 | 1929 | 300 | 1855 screw. 1869 lent as t.s. |
Martin | 1817.12.08 | W | W | Sloop | 399 | | 18 | 1817 | | 1817.12.08 wrecked on west coast of Ireland |
Martin | 1850.09.19 | W | W | Brig | 481 | | 16 | 1907 | | 1890 = Kingfisher, t.s. |
Mastiff | 1813.09.25 | W | W | Gun-brig | 184 | | 12 | 1851 | | 1825 survey vessel |
Mastiff | 1855.05.05 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 117 | | 1 | 1875 | | 1855.10 = MV.7. 1864 = WV.37, Coastguard |
Mastiff | 1856.02.22 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1863 | | Laid down as Hound |
Mastiff | 1871.04.04 | I | S | Gunboat | | 254 | 1 | 1931 | 301 | 1914 = Snapper |
Mayflower | 1856.01.31 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1867 | 302 | |
Medea | 1833.09.02 | W | P | 2nd class sloop | 835 | 1142 | 4 | 1867 | 304 | |
Medina | 1813.08.13 | W | W | 6th rate | 460 | | 20 | 1832 | | |
Medina | 1840.03.18 | W | P | Packet | 889 | | | 1864 | | |
Medina | 1876.08.03 | I | S | gunboat | | 363 | 3 | 1904 | | |
Medusa | 1838.10.31 | W | P | Packet | 889 | | | 1872 | 305 | |
Medway | 1812.11.19 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1768 | | 74 | 1865 | | 1847 convict ship |
Meeanee | 1848.11.11 | W | W | 2nd rate | 2591 | | 80 | 1906 | 303 | Laid down as Madras. 1857 screw 60 guns. 1867 lent War Dept as hospital ship |
Megaera | 1837.08.17 | W | P | Sloop | 720 | 1006 | 2 | 1843 | | 1843.03.04 wrecked Bare Bush Key, Jamaica |
Megaera | 1849.05.22 | I | S | Frigate | 1391 | 2025 | | 1871 | 306 | Not commissioned as frigate. 1852 troopship. 1871.06.19 beached St Pauls Island, Indian Ocean as unseaworthy |
Melampus | 1820.08.10 | W | W | 5th rate | 1089 | | 46 | 1906 | | 1854 h.s. 1886-1891 lent War Dept |
Melpomene | 1794a | W | W | 5th rate | 1014 | | 38 | 1815 | | 1794.08.10 captured from French at Calvi |
Melpomene | 1857.08.08 | W | S | Frigate | 2861 | 3829 | 51 | 1875 | | Converted to screw on stocks |
Melville | 1817.02.17 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1768 | | 74 | 1873 | | 1857 hospital ship at Hong Kong |
Menai | 1814.04.05 | W | W | 6th rate | 449 | | 26 | 1853 | | 1831 h.s. 1851 target |
Menelaus | 1810.04.17 | W | W | 5th rate | 1077 | | 38 | 1897 | | 1832 quarantaine hulk. 1854 lent Customs |
Mercury | 1826.11.16 | W | W | 5th rate | 1084 | | 46 | 1906 | | 1861 c.h. |
Mercury | 1837.02.07 | W | W | Cutter tender | 70 | | | 1904 | | 1866 = YC.6. 1876 = Plymouth |
Mercury | 1878.04.17 | S | S | Despatch vessel | | 3730 | 10 | 1919 | | 1906 d.s. |
Merlin | 1838.09.18 | W | P | Packet | 889 | | 4 | 1863 | | 1854 survey vessel. 1856 gunvessel |
Merlin | 1871.11.24 | C | S | Gunboat | 295 | 430 | 4 | 1891 | 307 | |
Mermaid | 1825.07.30 | W | W | 5th rate | 1085 | | 46 | 1875 | | 1850 powder hulk. 1863 lent War Dept |
Mermaid | 1853a | | | Coastguard vessel | | | | 1890 | | Purchased |
Mersey | 1814.03 | W | W | 6th rate | 451 | | 26 | 1852 | | 1832 h.s. |
Mersey | 1858.08.13 | W | S | Frigate | 3733 | 5643 | 40 | 1875 | | |
Messenger | 1830.08 | W | P | Packet | 733 | 912 | | 1861 | | Launched 1824. Purchased, ex-Duke of York |
Meteor | 1823.06.25 | W | W | Bomb | 378 | | 14 | 1846 | | 1832 = Beacon, survey ship |
Meteor | 1824.02.27 | W | P | Auxiliary vessel | 296 | 349 | 2 | 1849 | | |
Meteor | 1855.04.17 | W | S | Floating battery | 1469 | | 14 | 1861 | | |
Midge | 1856.05.08 | W | S | Gunboat | 212 | | 2 | 1864 | | |
Midge | 1868.05.21 | C | S | Gunvessel | | 603 | 4 | 1907 | 308 | |
Milford | 1809.04.01 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1919 | | 78 | 1846 | | 1825 h.s. |
Milford | 1816 | | | Tank vessel | | | | 1852 | | |
Minden | 1810.06.19 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1721 | | 74 | 1861 | | 1842 hospital hulk at Hong Kong |
Minerva | 1820.06.13 | W | W | 5th rate | 1082 | | 46 | 1895 | | 1861 h.s. |
Minos | 1840.06 | W | P | Vessel | 406 | | | 1852 | | |
Minotaur | 1816.04.15 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1726 | | 74 | 1869 | | 1842 h.s. 1866 = Hermes |
Minotaur | 1863.12.12 | I | S | Broadside ironclad frigate | | 10690 | 36 | 1922 | | Laid down as Elephant. 1904 = Boscawen t.s. 1906 = Ganges. 1908 Ganges II |
Minstrel | 1865.02.16 | W | S | Gunboat | 268 | 330 | 2 | 1907 | 309 | 1874 c.h. |
Minx | 1829.12.23 | W | W | Schooner | 84 | | 3 | 1833 | | |
Minx | 1846.09.05 | I | S | Gunboat | 303 | | 1899 | | 310 | 1859 tank vessel |
Miranda | 1851.03.18 | W | S | Sloop (1862: Corvette) | 1039 | 1523 | 14 | 1869 | 311 | Laid down as Grinder |
Mistletoe | 1856.02.22 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 1864 | | |
Moa | 1861.01a | W | - | Coal depot | | | | 1876 | | Purchased ex-brig |
Modeste | 1837.10.31 | W | W | Sloop | 562 | | 18 | 1866 | | |
Modeste | 1873.05.23 | W | S | Corvette | | 1970 | 14 | 1888 | 312 | |
Mohawk | 1843.02.12 | W | P | Vessel | 174 | | | 1852 | | |
Mohawk | 1856.01.11 | W | S | Gunvessel | 679 | | 4 | 1862 | 313 | 1862 sold to Emperor of China as Pekin |
Monarch | 1832.12.08 | W | W | 2nd rate | 2255 | | 84 | 1866 | | 1862 target |
Monarch | 1868.05.25 | I | S | Turret ship | 5103 | 8320 | 7 | 1905 | 314 | 1897 guardship. 1904 = Simoom |
Monkey | 1826.06 | W | W | Schooner | 70 | | 3 | 1831 | | 1831.05 wrecked on Tampico Bar |
Monkey | 1837.03a | W | P | Packet | 212 | | | 1888 | | Launched 1821. Transferred from Post Office. ex-Royal Sovereign, King George the Fourth (1821), ex-Royal Sovereign (1821), ex-Sovereign (18??). 1839 tug. |
Monmouth | 1868r | | | | | | | | | See: Hotspur 1828 |
Montreal | 1814r | | | | | | | | 0 | See: Wolfe 1813 |
Montreal | 1839a | W | W | Schooner | | | | 1848 | | 1839.10.18 purchased |
Moorhen | 1875.09.13 | C | S | Gunboat | | 455 | 4 | 1888 | | |
Moslem | 1854.08a | I | P | Vessel | | | | 1856 | | Purchased, ex-Torok |
Mosquito | 1871.12.09 | C | S | Gunboat | 295 | 430 | 4 | 1888 | 315 | |
Mount Edgcombe | 1876r | | | | | | | | | See: Winchester 1822 |
Mulgrave | 1812.01.01 | W | W | 3rd rate | 1726 | | 74 | 1854 | | 1836 lazaretto. 1844 powder hulk |
Mullett | 1860.02.13 | W | S | Gunvessel | 428 | 570 | 5 | 1872 | | |
Musquito | 1851.07.29 | W | W | Brig | 549 | | 16 | 1862 | | Sold to Prussian navy |
Mutine | 1825.05.19 | W | W | Packet brig | 231 | | 4 | 18?? | | 1841 sold as Aladdin |
Mutine | 1844.04.20 | W | W | Brig | 428 | | 12 | 1848 | | 1848.12.21 wrecked in a gale near Venice (5 lost) |
Mutine | 1859.07.30 | W | S | Sloop (1862: Corvette) | 882 | 1291 | 17 | 1870 | 316 | |
Myrmidon | 1813.06.18 | W | W | 6th rate | 509 | | 20 | 1823 | | |
Myrmidon | 1845.02 | I | P | Gunvessel | 374 | 505 | 3 | 1858 | | |
Myrmidon | 1867.06.05 | W | S | Gunvessel | 697 | 877 | | 1889 | | 1867.10 survey vessel |
Myrtle | 1837.09a | W | P | Packet | 116 | | | 1868 | 317 | Launched 1831. Transferred from Post office, ex-Firefly. 1866 tug |
Myrtle | 1883r | | | | | | | | | See: Malabar 1818 |