Great Armament

The Great Armament was the popular name given to the rapid build-up in the strength of the British Royal Navy as a consequence of the need for inshore warfare vessels that emerged during the 1854-56 Crimean War against Russia. These forces were for deployment not only in the Black Sea and Sea of Azof, but equally in the campaigns in the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia. Following the end of that war, many of the numerous steam-driven gunboats produced as part of the Great Armament were deployed in many other locations around the world, as far apart as Africa and China.

Orders

Between 27 March 1854, when Britain declared war on Russia (France followed suit the next day) and 30 March 1856, when the Treaty of Peace was signed in Paris, the following small naval vessels were ordered by the British Admiralty; all except the mortar vessels (which were sail propelled only) and the (iron-hulled) mortar floats (which were not self-propelled) had steam screw propulsion:

Order dateNumber and classVessel namesContract or dockyardNamed on
10 April 18546 Arrow-class despatch gunvesselsArrow, Beagle, Lynx, Snake, Viper, WranglerContract2 May
16 June 18542 Gleaner-class gunboatsGleaner, RubyDeptford Dockyard10 April
24 June 18544 Gleaner-class gunboatsPelter, Pincher, Badger, SnapperContract10 April
4 October 18545 floating batteriesGlatton, Trusty, Aetna (original), Meteor, ThunderContract10 October
6 October 185410 mortar vessels (65-ft class)Flamer, Firm, Havock, Hardy, Growler, Surly, Blazer, Mastiff, Manly, PorpoiseContractNames were replaced by numbers MV.3 to MV.12 on 10 October 1855
6 October 185414 Dapper-class gunboatsHind, Jackdaw, Starling, Thistle, Snap, Weazel, Redwing, Clinker, Cracker, Boxer, Stork, Skylark, Biter, SwingerContract14 October
9 October 18544 Dapper-class gunboatsDapper, Fancy, Grinder, JasperContract14 October
20 October 18542 Dapper-class gunboatsLark, MagpieDeptford Dockyard14 October
22 December 185410 mortar vessels (70-ft class)Raven, Rocket, Redbreast, Prompt, Pickle, Magnet, Camel, Beacon, Carron, GrapplerContractNames were replaced by numbers MV.13 to MV.22 on 10 October 1855
18 April 18552 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)Flying Fish, PioneerPembroke Dockyard30 May
18 April 18554 Albacore-class gunboatsNightingale, Violet, Beaver, WhitingContract30 May
2 May 18552 Cheerful-class gunboatsCheerful, ChubDeptford & Sheerness Dockyards30 May
2 May 18556 Albacore-class gunboatsSkipjack, Seagull, Sandfly, Sheldrake, Plover, TicklerContract30 May
15 May 18552 Intrepid-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)Victor, IntrepidContract30 May
15 May 18554 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (2nd class)Alacrity, Vigilant, Coquette, WandererContract30 May
30 June 185514 Albacore-class gunboatsBanterer, Bullfrog, Bustard, Carnation, Charger, Cockchafer, Dove, Forward, Grasshopper, Hasty, Herring, Insolent, Matflower, StaunchContract16 July
25 July 18552 Intrepid-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)Nimrod, RoebuckContract21 August
26 July 185510 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (2nd class)Reward, Foxhound, Mohawk, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant, Osprey, Lapwing, Ringdove, Assurance, SurpriseContract21 August
26 July 185524 Albacore-class gunboatsCharon, Haughty, Leveret, Mackerel, Procris, Shamrock, Spey, Tilbury, Fervent, Forester, Griper, Spanker, Thrasher, Traveller, Bouncer, Hyaena, Savage, Wolf, Goldfinch, Goshawk, Opossum, Partridge, Julia, LouisaContract21 August
2 October 185516 mortar vessels (75-ft class)MV.23 to MV.37, and MV.44ContractNumbered only
3 October 18556 mortar vessels (75-ft class)MV.38 to MV.43ContractNumbered only
3 October 18556 Albacore-class gunboatsPeacock, Pheasant, Primrose, Pickle, Prompt, PorpoiseContract
4 October 185515 Albacore-class gunboatsFirm, Flamer, Fly, Sepoy, Erne, Spider, Lively, Surly, Swan, Delight, Grappler, Growler, Parthian, Quail, RippleContract
7 October 18556 Albacore-class gunboatsCochin, Cherokee, Camel, Caroline, Confounder, CrocusContract
8 October 185513 Albacore-class gunboatsBeacon, Brave, Blazer, Bullfinch, Brazen, Hardy, Havock, Highlander, Rainbow, Raven, Redbreast, Rocket, RoseContract
9 October 18554 Albacore-class gunboatsAlbacore, Amelia, Foam, WaveContract
9 October 18554 mortar vessels (75-ft class)MV.45 to MV.48ContractNumbered only
10 October 18554 Albacore-class gunboatsMagnet, Manly, Mastiff, MistletoeContract
11 October 18552 Albacore-class gunboatsErnest, EscortContract
11 November 18554 mortar vessels (75-ft class)MV.49 to MV.52ContractNumbered only
12 November 18552 Cheerful-class gunboatsDaisy, DwarfContract6 December
16 November 18551 floating batteryAetna (replacement)Chatham Dockyard
21 November 18554 Cheerful-class gunboatsBlossom, Gadfly, Garland, GnatContract6 December
23 November 18556 Cheerful-class gunboatsFidget, Flirt, Onyx, Pert, Midge, TivyContract6 December
1 December 18552 Cheerful-class gunboatsAngler, AntContract6 December
2 December 18554 Cheerful-class gunboatsNettle, Pet, Rambler, DecoyContract6 December
14 December 18554 mortar vessels (75-ft class)MV.53 to MV.56ContractNumbered only
22 December 18553 floating batteries (iron-hulled)Thunderbolt, Terror, ErebusContract18 January
31 December 18556 Clown-class gunboatsFenella, Garnet, Handy, Hunter, Watchful, WoodcockContract19 January
3 January 18562 Clown-class gunboatsDrake, JanusPembroke Dockyard19 January
3 January 18564 Clown-class gunboatsReady, Thrush, Clown, KestrelContract19 January

The above list excludes major warships (ships of the line and frigates) ordered during this two-year period.

References
  • Winfield, Rif; Lyon, David (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6.
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