HMS Merlin (1838)
The survey vessel Merlin narrowly escaping destruction by two Russian mines off Sveaborg early in August 1855 by John Wilson Carmichael | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Merlin |
| Ordered | 10 March 1838 |
| Builder | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Laid down | April 1838 |
| Launched | 18 September 1838 |
| Completed | April 1839 |
| Commissioned | 20 April 1839 |
| Reclassified | As gunvessel, 1856 |
| Fate | Sold, 18 May 1863 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Merlin-class packet boat |
| Tons burthen | 889 14/94 bm |
| Length | |
| Beam | 33 ft 2 in (10.1 m) |
| Depth | 16 ft 5 in (5.0 m) |
| Installed power | 312 nhp |
| Propulsion | 2 × Steam engines |
| Armament | 2 × 6-pdr carronades |
HMS Merlin was the name ship of her class of three 2-gun paddle packet boats built for the Royal Navy during the 1830s. She was converted into a survey ship in 1854 and then into a gunvessel two years later. The ship was decommissioned in 1858 and was sold into commercial service in 1863.