These tables show all vessels carried on the books of the Royal Navy in the period 1840-1880.
Name: Follow links in this column for more information, and 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.
Fate: year of sale, breaking up or loss; if lost or sold for reuse see details in 'Note' column.
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.
SB = ships book in the National Archives, 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.
The data are mainly derived from
these sources. For vessels not given here, try Paul Benyon's
Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels. For earlier vessels, go to Mike Phillip's
Ships of the Old Navy.
Name | Launched | Fate | H. | P. | Type | B.M. | Disp. | Guns | S.B. | Note |
Sabine | 1916r | | | | | | | | | See: Sabrina 1876 |
Sabrina | 1876.10.03 | 1922 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 363 | 3 | | 1916 = Sabine, diving tender |
Safeguard | 1849 | 1862 | W | - | Coastguard hulk (brig) | | | | | |
Salamander | 1832.05.16 | 1883 | W | P | 2nd class sloop | 818 | 1014 | 4 | | |
Salamis | 1863.05.19 | 1873 | W | P | Dispatch vessel | 835 | 985 | 2 | 412 | |
Samarang | 1822.01.01 | 1883 | W | W | Sixth rate | 500 | | 28 | | 1847 guardship |
Sampson | 1844.10.01 | 1864 | W | P | 2nd class frigate | 1299 | 2100 | 4 | | |
Sampson | 1877.01.31 | 1923 | I | P | Tug | 375 | 530 | 0 | | 1918=Orient |
San Josef | 1797.02a | 1849 | W | W | First rate | 2457 | | 114 | | 1797.02.14 captured at St Vincent (Spanish). 1839 gunnery training ship |
Sandfly | 1855.09.01 | 1867 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 413 | |
Sandfly | 1872.12.05 | 1883 | W | W | Survey schooner | 120 | | 1 | | |
Sans Pareil | 1794a | 1842 | W | W | Third rate | 2245 | | 80 | | 1796.06.01 captured from the French. 1810 sheer hulk |
Sans Pareil | 1851.03.18 | 1867 | W | S | Third rate | 2339 | 3800 | 70 | 414 | Converted to screw on stocks |
Sapphire | 1827.01.31 | 1864 | W | W | Sixth rate | 604 | | 28 | | |
Sapphire | 1874.09.24 | 1892 | W | S | Corvette | 1405 | 1970 | 14 | | |
Sappho | 1837.02.03 | 1858 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 428 | | 16 | | Foundered on Australian station |
Sappho | 1873.11.20 | 1887 | C | S | Sloop | 727 | 940 | 4 | | Launched 1873.10.20 |
Saracen | 1831.01.30 | 1862 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 228 | | 10 | | 1854 survey vessel |
Saracen | 1862r | | | | | | | | | See: Young Queen 1862 |
Satellite | 1826.10.02 | 1849 | W | W | Sloop | 456 | | 18 | | |
Satellite | 1855.09.26 | 1879 | W | S | Corvette | 1462 | 2189 | 21 | 415 | |
Saturn | 1786.11.26 | 1868 | W | W | Third rate | 1646 | | 74 | | 1813.12 58 gun 4th rate. 1825.09 h.s. |
Savage | 1830.12.29 | 1866 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 227 | | 10 | | 1853 dockyard chain lighter |
Savage | 1856.05.05 | 1888 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 416 | 1864 =YC.3, mooring vessel |
Scorpion | 1832.07.28 | 1874 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 228 | | 10 | | 1848 survey vessel. 1858 lent Thames police |
Scorpion | 1863.10a | 1903 | I | S | Masted turret ship | 1857 | 2751 | 4 | 417 | 1863.07.04 launched as El Tousson (Turkish) but intended for US Confederate navy. Siezed and purchased. 1869 guard ship. Foundered on passage after sale |
Scotia | 1863.11a | 1898 | W | P | Tug | 268 | | 0 | 418 | ex-mercantile, launched 1863.06.20 |
Scourge | 1844.11.09 | 1865 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1124 | | 6 | 419 | |
Scourge | 1871.03.25 | 1930 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 254 | 1 | 420 | 1904 = C.79, tank vessel |
Scout | 1832.06.15 | 1852 | W | W | Sloop | 488 | | 18 | | |
Scout | 1856.12.30 | 1877 | W | S | Corvette | | 2187 | 21 | | |
Scylla | 1809.06.29 | 1846 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 385 | | 18 | | |
Scylla | 1856.06.19 | 1882 | W | S | Corvette | 1467 | 2189 | 21 | | |
Seaflower | 1830.05.20 | 1866 | W | W | Cutter | 116 | | 4 | | |
Seaflower | 1873.02.25 | 1908 | W | S | Training brig | 425 | 454 | 8 | | 1836 Symonds design |
Seagull | 1831.11.21 | 1852 | W | W | Schooner | 279 | | 6 | | |
Seagull | 1855.06.04 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 421 | |
Seagull | 1868.03.06 | 1887 | W | S | Gunvessel | 663 | 805 | 3 | 422 | |
Seahorse | 1830.07.21 | 1902 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1215 | | 46 | | 1847 screw frigate. 1856 screw mortar frigate. 1870 = Lavinia, c.h. |
Seahorse | 1880.07.07 | 1920 | S | S | Tug | 319 | 521 | 3 | | "Steel twin screw special service steamer" |
Sealark | 1843.07.27 | 1898 | W | W | Brig | 319 | | 10 | | 1853 training brig |
Security | 1785.03.10 | 1852 | W | W | Storeship | 142 | | | | 18?? dockyard service |
Semiramis | 1808.07.25 | 1844 | W | W | Fifth rate | 944 | | 36 | | |
Sepoy | 1856.02.13 | 1868 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 423 | |
Serapis | 1866.09.02 | 1894 | I | S | Troopship | 4173 | 6211 | 3 | | |
Seringapatam | 1819.09.05 | 1873 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1152 | | 46 | | 1847 r.s. 1852 c.h. |
Serpent | 1832.07.14 | 1861 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 434 | | 16 | | 1857 target |
Serpent | 1860.06.23 | 1875 | W | S | Gunvessel | 695 | 877 | 4 | 424 | |
Severn | 1856.01.24 | 1876 | W | W | Fourth rate | 1944 | | 50 | 425 | 1860 screw frigate |
Shah | 1873.09.10 | 1919 | I | S | Unarmoured frigate | 4210 | 6250 | 26 | 51 | Laid down as Blonde. 1904 = C.470 c.h. Sold 1919 and wrecked at Bermuda in 1926 |
Shamrock | 1812.08.08 | 1867 | W | W | Gun-brig | 180 | | 12 | | 1831 h.s. 1863 = WV.18, Coastguard watch vessel |
Shamrock | 1856.03.13 | 1867 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 426 | |
Shannon | 1806.05.05 | 1859 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1066 | | 38 | | 1844 = St Laurence |
Shannon | 1855.11.24 | 1871 | W | S | Frigate | 2667 | 3636 | 51 | | |
Shannon | 1875.11.11 | 1899 | I | S | Frigate | | 5390 | 15 | | 1883 Coastguard. 1893 reserve |
Sharpshooter | 1846.07.25 | 1869 | I | S | Gunvessel | 503 | 625 | 9 | 427 | |
Shearwater | 1837a | 1857 | W | P | Packet | 343 | | | | Transferred from Post Office, ex-Dolphin |
Shearwater | 1861.10.17 | 1877 | W | S | Sloop | 669 | 811 | 11 | | |
Sheerness | 1863.06a | 1906 | W | P | Tug | 233 | | 0 | 429 | ex-Scotia, launched 1859.08.13 |
Sheldrake | 1825.05.19 | 1855 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 228 | | 10 | | |
Sheldrake | 1855.09.01 | 1865 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 428 | |
Sheldrake | 1875.07.03 | 1906 | C | S | Gunboat | | 455 | 4 | | 1888 = Drake, drill ship. 1893 = WV.29. 1906 = Drake |
Sheppey | 1856r | | | | | | | | | See: Drake 1834 |
Sidon | 1846.05.26 | 1864 | W | P | 1st class frigate | 1329 | | 8 | | |
Simoom | 1849.05.24 | 1887 | I | S | Frigate | 1980 | 2920 | 20 | 430 | Not commissioned as frigate. 1852 troopship |
Simoom | 1904r | | | | | | | | | See: Monarch 1868 |
Sinbad | 1834.02.27 | 1866 | W | W | Dockyard lighter | 109 | | | | 1854 mortar vessel. 1855 = MV.2 1856 = Sinbad, YC.3 |
Sir Edward Hughes | 1806a | 1863 | W | W | Fifth rate | 962 | | 38 | | ex-East Indiaman, purchased 1804. 1807 = Tortoise, storeship 22. 1824 c.h. 1841 store hulk. Stated to be broken up in 1863, but apparently still present in 1869 (see court-martial of Arthur Wilmshurst). |
Siren | 1841.04.23 | 1868 | W | W | Brig | 549 | | 16 | | |
Sirius | 1813.09.11 | 1862 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1090 | | 38 | | 1860 target |
Sirius | 1868.04.24 | 1885 | W | S | Sloop (1876: Corvette) | | 1760 | 6 | | |
Skipjack | 1827.08 | 1841 | W | W | Schooner | 118 | | 3 | | 1841.06.01 wrecked in Cayman islands |
Skipjack | 1855.08.04 | 1879 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 431 | 1874 hulk |
Skylark | 1826.05.06 | 1845 | W | W | Packet brig | 234 | | 4 | | 1845.04.25 wrecked on Kimmeridge Ledge |
Skylark | 1855.05.03 | 1906 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | | |
Slaney | 1857.03.17 | 1870 | W | S | Gunboat | 301 | | 3 | 432 | 1870.05.09 wrecked in typhoon near Hong Kong |
Slaney | 1877.04.28 | 1923 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 363 | 3 | | 1906 diving bell tender |
Snake | 1832.05.03 | 1847 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 434 | | 16 | | 1847.08.29 wrecked in Mozambique Channel |
Snake | 1854.09.06 | 1864 | W | S | Gunvessel | 477 | | 2 | 433 | |
Snake | 1871.03.25 | 19?? | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 254 | 1 | 434 | 1907 = YC.15, dockyard cable lighter |
Snap | 1847a | 1848 | | | Steam transport | | | | | ex-slaver Cacique, captured and purchased |
Snap | 1855.02.03 | 1868 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 435 | 1868 resold to Japanese navy as Katu Ten Kan |
Snap | 1872.12.11 | 1909 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 251 | 1 | 436 | |
Snapper | 1813.09.27 | 1865 | W | W | Gun-brig | 184 | | 12 | | 1824 Coastguard |
Snapper | 1854.10.04 | 1906 | W | S | Gunboat | 216 | 284 | 4 | 437 | 1865 c.h. |
Snapper | 1914r | | | | | | | | | See: Mastiff 1871 |
Snipe | 1801.05.02 | 1846 | W | W | Gun-brig | 185 | | 12 | | 1816 mooring lighter |
Snipe | 1828.06.28 | 1860 | W | W | Cutter | 122 | | 6 | | |
Snipe | 1860.05.05 | 1868 | W | S | Gunvessel | 428 | 570 | 5 | 438 | |
Snipe | 1874.11.26 | 1914 | | | Coastguard vessel | 20 | | | | 1914.02.03 foundered. Raised and sold |
Sophia | 1850.05a | 1853 | | | Discovery vessel | 150 | | | | Purchased |
Soudan | 1840.06.08 | 1844 | I | P | Exploration vessel | 249 | 253 | 1 | | 1844 wrecked on Nigerian coast |
Southampton | 1820.11.07 | 1912 | W | W | Fourth rate | 1476 | | 60 | | 1867 lent as t.s. |
Spanker | 1856.03.22 | 1874 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 439 | |
Sparrow | 1828.06.28 | 1860 | W | W | Cutter | 160 | | | | 1844 survey ketch |
Sparrow | 1860.07.07 | 1868 | W | S | Gunvessel | 428 | 570 | 5 | 440 | |
Sparrowhawk | 1807.08.20 | 1841 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 385 | | 18 | | |
Sparrowhawk | 1856.02.09 | 1872 | W | S | Gunvessel | 676 | | 4 | 441 | |
Spartan | 1841.08.16 | 1862 | W | W | Sixth rate | 911 | | 26 | | |
Spartan | 1868.11.14 | 1882 | W | S | Sloop (1876: Corvette) | 1269 | 1755 | 6 | 442 | |
Spartiate | 1798.08a | 1857 | W | W | Third rate | 1949 | | 74 | | 1798.08.01 captured at the Nile (French). 1842 sheer hulk |
Speedwell | 1841.07a | 1855 | W | W | Survey cutter | 73 | | | | Purchased |
Speedwell | 1861.02.12 | 1876 | W | S | Gunvessel | | 570 | 5 | 443 | |
Speedy | 1828.06.28 | 1866 | W | W | Cutter | 123 | | 4 | | 1853 = YC.11, mooring lighter |
Speedy | 1860.07.18 | 1889 | W | S | Gunboat | 268 | 330 | 2 | 444 | |
Spey | 1827.10.06 | 1840 | W | W | Packet brig | 231 | | 4 | | 1833 packet. 1840.11.28 wrecked on Racoon Key, Bahamas |
Spey | 1856.03.29 | 1863 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | | |
Spey | 1876.10.05 | 1923 | I | S | Flatiron gunboat | | 363 | 3 | | |
Sphinx | 1846.02.17 | 1881 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1056 | 1611 | 6 | | |
Spider | 1835.09.23 | 1861 | W | W | Schooner | 183 | | 6 | | 1847 packet |
Spider | 1856.02.23 | 1870 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | | |
Spiteful | 1842.03.24 | 1883 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1054 | 1379 | 6 | | |
Spitfire | 1834.03.26 | 1842 | W | P | Vessel | 553 | | 2 | | 1842.09.10 wrecked Jamaica |
Spitfire | 1845.03.26 | 1888 | W | P | Gunvessel | 432 | 500 | 5 | | 1851 survey vessel. 1862 tug |
Sprightly | 1837a | 1889 | W | P | Packet | 234 | | | 445 | Launched 1823. Transferred from Post Office, ex-Harlequin |
Spy | 1841.04.24 | 1862 | W | W | Brigantine | 320 | | 3 | | |
Squirrel | 1853.08.08 | 1879 | W | W | Brig-sloop | 428 | | 12 | | |
Squirrel | 1866 | 1905 | | | Coastguard cutter | 40 | | | | |
St Columba | 1847.07a | 1850 | W | P | Packet | 720 | | | | Purchased on stocks |
St George | 1840.08.27 | 1883 | W | W | First rate | 2693 | | 120 | 454 | 1859 screw |
St Jean d'Acre | 1853.03.23 | 1875 | W | S | Second rate | 3199 | 5499 | 101 | | |
St Laurence | 1844r | | | | | | | | | See: Shannon 1806 |
St Vincent | 1815.03.11 | 1906 | W | W | First rate | | 4672 | 120 | | 1841 h.s. 1862 t.s. |
Stag | 1830.10.02 | 1866 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1218 | | 46 | | |
Stag | 1861 | 1891 | W | W | Coastguard yawl | 120 | | | | |
Star | 1835.04.29 | 1899 | W | W | Packet brig | 358 | | 8 | | 1857 Coastguard watch vessel. 1863 = WV.11 |
Star | 1860.12.15 | 1877 | W | S | Gunvessel | 695 | | 4 | 446 | |
Starling | 1829.10.31 | 1844 | W | W | Cutter | 108 | | 4 | | 1834 schooner, survey vessel |
Starling | 1855.02.01 | 1871 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 447 | |
Staunch | 1856.01.31 | 1866 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 448 | Sold for mercantile service |
Staunch | 1867.12.04 | 1904 | I | S | Gunboat | | 200 | 1 | 449 | Prototype flatiron |
Steady | 1860.02.08 | 1870 | W | S | Gunvessel | | 570 | 5 | 450 | |
Stirling Castle | 1811.12.31 | 1861 | W | W | Third rate | 1774 | | 74 | | 1839 convict ship |
Stork | 1855.04.07 | 1884 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | 451 | 1874 c.h. |
Stromboli | 1839.08.27 | 1866 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 970 | 1283 | 6 | 452 | |
Styx | 1841.01.26 | 1866 | W | P | 1st class sloop | 1054 | 1379 | 6 | 453 | |
Success | 1825.08.31 | 1849 | W | W | Sixth rate | 504 | | 28 | | 1832 h.s. |
Sulina | 1854.08a | 1856 | I | P | Vessel | | | | | Purchased |
Sulphur | 1826.01.26 | 1857 | W | W | Bomb vessel | 375 | | 10 | | 1835 survey vessel. 1843 h.s. |
Sultan | 1807.09.19 | 1864 | W | W | Third rate | 1751 | | 74 | | 1860 r.s. then target |
Sultan | 1870.05.31 | 1946 | I | S | Central battery ironclad | 5234 | 9290 | 12 | 455 | Ships book ADM 136/50. 1906 = Fisgard IV. 1932 = Sultan, training hulk |
Sultan | 1932r | | | | | | | | | See: Sultan 1870 |
Superb | 1842.09.06 | 1869 | W | W | Second rate | 2583 | | 80 | | |
Superb | 1875.11.16 | 1906 | I | S | Central battery ironclad | | 9170 | 16 | | order by Turkey as Memduhie, later Hamidieh; purchased while building during Russian war scare |
Supply | 1854.06.03 | 1879 | I | S | Storeship | 638 | 1100 | | 456 | Purchased on stocks |
Surly | 1855.03.31 | 1863 | W | W | Mortar vessel | 117 | | 1 | | 1855 = MV.9 |
Surly | 1856.03.18 | 1869 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 457 | |
Surprise | 1856.03.06 | 1866 | W | S | Gunvessel | 680 | | 4 | 458 | |
Sutlej | 1855.04.17 | 1869 | W | W | Fourth rate | 2066 | | 50 | 459 | 1860 screw |
Swallow | 1837.04a | 1848 | W | P | Packet | 133 | | | | Transferred from Post Office, ex-Ferret |
Swallow | 1854.06.12 | 1866 | W | S | Sloop | 486 | 626 | 9 | 460 | |
Swallow | 1868.11.16 | 1882 | W | S | Gunvessel | 664 | 805 | 3 | 461 | |
Swan | 1811.11.01 | 1874 | W | W | Cutter | 144 | | 10 | | 1844 lent Church Mission Society |
Swan | 1856.04.12 | 1906 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 4 | 462 | 1869 hulk |
Swift | 1835.11.21 | 1866 | W | W | Packet brig | 361 | | 8 | | 1861 = YC.3 mooring vessel |
Swift | 1879.11.29 | 1902 | C | S | Gunvessel | | 788 | 5 | | Sold at Hong Kong as Swift, later Hoi Ching |
Swiftsure | 1804.07.23 | 1845 | W | W | Third rate | 1724 | | 74 | | 1819.05 r.s. |
Swiftsure | 1870.06.15 | 1908 | I | S | Central battery ironclad | 3893 | 6910 | 14 | 463 | 1901 hulk. 1904 = Orontes |
Swinger | 1855.05.10 | 1864 | W | S | Gunboat | 232 | | 3 | | |
Swinger | 1872.02.07 | 1924 | C | S | Gunboat | 295 | 430 | 4 | 464 | 1895 hulk |
Sybille | 1847.04.15 | 1866 | W | W | Fifth rate | 1633 | | 36 | | |
Sydenham | 1841.11a | 1846 | | P | Gunvessel | 596 | | | | Purchased |
Sylph | 1821.06.15 | 1888 | W | W | Tender | 114 | | | | 1862 lent Customs as watch vessel |
Sylvia | 1827.03.24 | 1859 | W | W | Cutter | 70 | | 5 | | 1842 survey vessel |
Sylvia | 1866.03.20 | 1889 | W | S | Gunvessel | 695 | 865 | 4 | | 1866.10 survey vessel |