| 词条 | HMS Gorgon (1837) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 释义 |
HMS Gorgon was a wooden steam paddle sloop of 6 guns, launched in 1837. In 1840 she took part in the bombardment of Acre, and in 1843 was part of the Royal Navy squadron stationed in the River Plate during the Uruguayan Civil War. She was converted to a troopship and in 1858 assisted {{HMS|Agamemnon|1852|2}} in the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable. She was sold for breaking in 1864. Design and constructionGorgon was designed by Sir William Symonds and was the first vessel to be fitted with direct-acting engines (in which the engine's cylinders are placed under the crankshaft), the engines being built by Seaward and Company. In addition to saving space over previous side-lever engines, they weighed 60 tons less. She was teak built with oak main beams, had a displacement of {{convert|1610|LT|t}}, and her paddle wheels were {{convert|27|ft|m}} in diameter. She was laid down at Pembroke Royal Dockyard in July 1836 and launched on 31 August 1837.[1]ServiceIn 1840 Gorgon saw action with three other paddle sloops, {{HMS|Vesuvius|1839|2}}, {{HMS|Stromboli|1839|2}} and {{HMS|Phoenix|1832|2}}, in the bombardment of the city of Acre under the command of Admiral Robert Stopford. At the height of the battle either Gorgon or her sister ship {{HMS|Benbow|1813|6}} fired the shell that destroyed Acre's powder magazine, causing an explosion that greatly weakened the city's defences.[4] In 1843, during the Uruguayan Civil War, Gorgon arrived in the River Plate to join the Royal Navy squadron commanded by Commodore John Purvis. She anchored in the bay as a deterrent to potential attackers. She ran aground on 10 May 1844 but was subsequently refloated. From 23 February 1854 to 8 May 1854 Gorgon was commanded by Commander (and Captain) Arthur Cumming.[5] From August 1856-June 1857 HMS Gorgon was at Boudroum (modern Bodrum) under Captain George William Towsey, commissioned to transport the finds from Sir Charles Thomas Newton's excavation at the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos to the British Museum.[6] In 1858 Gorgon assisted in the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable by taking soundings for the former warship HMS Agamemnon, which had been converted into a cable ship. When the cable link was completed to New York, the crew of the Gorgon and the other ships were feted by civic receptions and processions through the city.[7] Gorgon was despatched to Madagascar in 1863 to keep the peace on the death of King Radama II.[8] She returned via the Cape of Good Hope, arriving at Spithead on 29 January 1864. She discharged her ammunition and guns at the Royal Arsenal, was paid out of commission on 11 February.[9]Despite being decommissioned, Gorgon had one last mission. The vessel was towed to Greenhithe on 6 May 1864 to act as a receiving hulk for the crew of HMS Osborne, seven of whom had acquired smallpox.[10] The ship was ultimately dismantled at Woolwich.[11] She was sold to Charlton for breaking on 17 October 1864.[1] References1. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Winfield, p.159 2. ^The Times (London), Tuesday, 19 September 1837, p.1 3. ^The Times (London), Monday, 23 May 1859, p.11 4. ^Kahanov 2014, p.152. 5. ^{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Peter|title=Captain Authur Cumming RN|url=http://www.pdavis.nl/Cumming.php|accessdate=8 September 2010}} 6. ^Journals and letters of Sir Charles Thomas Newton, British Museum library 7. ^The Times of London, Monday, 20 September 1858, p.7 8. ^The Times (London), Wednesday, 3 February 1864, p.9 9. ^The Times (London), Thursday, 11 February 1864, p.12 10. ^The Times (London), Saturday, 7 May 1864, p.9 11. ^The Times (London), Saturday, 30 January 1864, p.12 Bibliography
External links
6 : Paddle sloops of the Royal Navy|Ships built in Pembroke Dock|1837 ships|Victorian-era sloops of the United Kingdom|Crimean War naval ships of the United Kingdom|Maritime incidents in May 1844 |
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