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Royal Navy News and Developments
Topic Started: Jan 4 2010, 10:16 PM (1,482 Views)
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Further construction preparations have been made for the laying down of a new series of steam sloops and frigates from 1846/47.

Materials and building slips are being prepared for other construction purposes.

A steam corvette design has been initiated.

Future dispatch vessels are to be steam propelled.

Stocks of coal are to be preplaced at certain Royal Navy bases.

Anti-slaving operations and patrols off East Africa are to be increased in intensity over the course of the next year.
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A total new construction requirement of twenty four frigates and thirty six sloops has been confirmed.

Development of the Portland Royal Naval Dockyard will be completed over the coming years.

A report on the joint naval exercises held in the North Sea has found that the efficacy of smaller ships in the line of battle is minimal due to the natural limitations to the amount of heavy guns they can carry, range considerations, and capacity to include other elements in their design. The decision to focus future ship of the line construction on the heaviest and most powerful combatants in lieu of second and third rate ships (obsolete concepts at best) appears to be in line with the progress of technology.
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The initial design process for the development of a steam corvette will be completed in the latter half of 1847.

The Board of Inquiry into the Great Armament has found that the process of ordering a large amount of similar machinery components from main contracters was decidedly more efficient than past practice. The scale of production enabled sharing of information as to specific production methodologies.

The Experimental Squadron of the Channel Fleet will examine the utility for naval applications of a number of new and recent inventions and developments.

Construction of the Royal Naval Factory, to be funded in spending in 1846 and 1847, continues at a steady initial pace.

Trials will commence in August onboard the former HEIC ship HMS Nemesis.

The following ships will be launched in September:

HMS St. Andrew (125)
HMS Duke of York (125)
HMS Theseus (125)
HMS Coronation (96)
HMS Hannibal (96)
HMS Irresistible (96)

This will see the completion of the conventional aspect of the late 1830s modernization programme.

Dunfermline, Belfast and Cork will be surveyed for possible dockyard locations to be potentially decided upon at a later date.
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In light of recent developments regarding Oregon, preparations are to be made for the activation of up to thirty ships of the line from reserve, among other vessels.
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Ships from the Atlantic Fleet at Gibraltar have sailed for Lisbon in a gesture of support for the Portuguese government.

Operations against the slave trade in West Africa will be extended into the Bight of Biafra, with the establishment of eight small forts along the coast to serve as shore bases, supply centres and coaling stations for the ships patrolling in the area.
Edited by Great Britain, May 30 2010, 05:50 AM.
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An initial batch of eight steam frigates will be laid down in the second half of 1846 and are projected for completion in 1848/49.

Options for the construction of further frigates will be explored depending on the result of a survey of active RN frigates.
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Consideration is being given to the interim order of several first or second rate ships based on operational necessity.
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A number of large first rates will be laid down in 1847 to replace several older ships in service (HMS Foudroyant, HMS Canopus among others). They are to have the following names:

Agincourt (125)
Black Prince (125)
Elizabeth (125)
Ajax (125)
Blake (84)
Hastings (84)

A number of ships of the line will be upgunned as part of moves to standardize fleet armament.

Several ships of the line will be redeployed from the Far East to the Mediterranean and Channel Fleet in the coming months, with others to return to reserve status.
Edited by Great Britain, Jun 10 2010, 03:55 PM.
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The aforementioned six ships of the line have been laid down, with completion expected in 1850.

Royal Navy operations against the slave trade off the coast of East Africa and Zanzibar are to be accompanied by the establishment of shore bases for supply and interdiction of slavers inland, following on from the successful practice pioneered in West Africa. Sailors and marines will be construct a number of such facilities, which will be well protected and dominate large areas of the coastline. Discussions will commence with the Sultan of Zanzibar regarding other arrangements to curtail the evil trade.

Royal Navy vessels will take whatever means necessary to combat the trade and shipment of opium in the waters off China and the rivers of said country, and will board suspect vessels as necessary.
Edited by Great Britain, Jun 8 2010, 01:06 PM.
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HMS Queen Charlotte will be renamed HMS Africa.

The programme for the training and establishment of Naval Brigades is proceeding according to schedule.

The system of commission in ordinary is to be maintained.

The 1st and 2nd Royal Marine Divisions have passed the final stage of their operational readiness training; their utility is limited by the commitment of forces to garrisons, operations in Portugal and fleet duties, but each has at least one full brigade available, along with Royal Marine Artillery.

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The second batch of eight steam frigates have been laid down, along with twelve steam sloops.

Design studies for a small steam corvette have been completed, with ships due to be laid down in the latter part of 1847, depending on space and budgetary constraints.

A pair of small experimental frigates, based on the lessons drawn from the operational experience of HEIC Nemesis in China, will be laid down in 1848/49.

A new series of large ships of the line with steam propulsion will be laid down in early 1848 in the light of foreign developments.

The 12" shell gun is entering active service on a number of larger vessels.


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The first batch of the aforementioned steam ships of the line have been laid down in accordance with previous announcements.

The two experimental frigates have been laid down at Chatham.

The third batch of steam frigates will be laid down upon the launching of the first batch in May 1848.

The Royal Naval Factory is set to be completed in the latter half of the year.

A general standard of 32 guns for corvettes and 24 guns for sloops has been established, with ships to be equipped with 9.2" shell guns; this number of guns may be reduced in the future with the introduction of more modern and powerful weapons.

A number of steam gunboats have been activated for testing of new weapons.

A number of floating batteries have been commissioned for weapons testing exercises.

The first of a total of thirty six steam corvettes will be provisionally laid down in the latter half of the year.

A survey has been made of Royal Navy frigates of recent construction in service with the Channel and Mediterranean Fleet as to their possible suitability for conversion to screw propulsion at the appropriate juncture in the fullness of time.
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In response to recent foreign developments, production of machinery will be accelerated with further funding for the steam ships of the line under construction, and the four first rates laid down in January 1847 will be altered on the stocks to be fitted with screw machinery.

The 3rd Royal Marine Division will acheive a similar operational status to the proceeding pair of divisions in the latter half of 1848, with the full activation of the 4th Royal Marine Division to follow in 1849.

Elements of the Channel Fleet are to take part in exercises off Heligoland and Jutland.
Edited by Great Britain, Jun 24 2010, 02:47 PM.
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A number of reserve steam gunboats were activated and deployed to the Eastern Fleet for operations and anti piracy patrols over the first half of 1848, and all vessels are anticipated as being on station by September.

The third batch of steam frigates and steam sloops have been laid down, along with the first batch of steam corvettes.
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As part of moves to replace older frigates currently on active service, a number of further screw frigates have been ordered from private manufacturers, to be delivered in the latter half of 1850 and in service in the latter half of 1851.

The Royal Naval College at Portsmouth is to be refurbished.

A Royal Naval Engineering College has been established.

Ships will be assigned to a re activated Royal Naval Surveying Squadron from 1849.

Rotation of ships to foreign stations is to be stepped up.

Crews on home service are to undergo extensive new training at HMS Excellent.
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A survey of RN frigates has recommended that thirty four currently active vessels be disposed of over the course of the coming two years; the thirty newest frigates be converted to screw steam propulsion; the full program of screw frigate construction be completed; and that the eighteen ships under construction in private yards be subject to high priority. This would provide an eventual force of ninety six modern steam frigates, in addition to other converted vessels from the remaining seventy six frigates.

HMS Brilliant is to be attached to a new training establishment at Chatham.

A large portion of the force could then be shifted to reserve, as distinct from commission in ordinary.

The study goes on to observe that the Royal Navy has a marked superiority over any other fleet in the world, with 77 ships of the line and 28 in reserve - an active force larger than the three next largest navies combined.

It is anticipated that Blake and Hastings will be assigned to China Station on completion; Agincourt and Black Prince will join the Blue Squadron of the Channel Fleet replacing HMS Princess Charlotte, which will transfer to the Atlantic Fleet; and Ajax and Elizabeth will join the Red Squadron of the Channel Fleet, replacing HMS Windsor Castle and HMS Madras, which will transfer to the Atlantic Fleet.

A further first rate ship of 125 guns has been laid down at Portland, named HMS Illustrious.
Edited by Great Britain, Jul 4 2010, 02:21 PM.
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The following vessels from the Channel Fleet, Atlantic Fleet and North America and West Indies Fleet have been dispatched for blockade and anti-slaving operations off the coast of Brazil:

Line of Battle
HMS Aboukir 125
HMS Waterloo 125
HMS Neptune 125
HMS Queen 125

HMS Hibernia 100
HMS Royal George 100
HMS Cressy 100
HMS Sirius 100

HMS Hindostan 84
HMS Goliath 84
HMS Thunderer 84
HMS Vanguard 84

Frigates
HMS Indefatigable 64
HMS Phoebe 64
HMS Sampson 64
HMS Centaur 64

HMS Endymion 50
HMS Conquestador 50
HMS America 50
HMS Astarte 50

HMS Gloucester 50
HMS Seringapatam 46
HMS Melampus 46
HMS Minerva 46

HMS Arcadia 46
HMS Venus 46
HMS Latona 46
HMS Circe 46

HMS President 52
HMS Trincomalee 46
HMS Mermaid 46
HMS Nemesis 46

HMS Africaine 46
HMS Cerberus 46
HMS Eurotas 46
HMS Amphitrite 44

HMS Blonde 40
HMS Forte 38
HMS Ceylon 38
HMS Curacoa 36

Sloops
HMS Blossom 18
HMS Hyacinth 18
HMS Larne 18
HMS Nimrod 20
HMS Orestes 18
HMS Satellite 18
HMS Wolf 18

Brigs and Brig-Sloops
HMS Childers 16
HMS Harlequin 16
HMS Wanderer 16
HMS Wolverene 16
HMS Variable 10
HMS Weazle 10
HMS Wizard 10

Gun-Brigs
HMS Shamrock 12

Cutters
HMS Swan 10

Steam Gunboats
HMS Firm
HMS Flamer
HMS Fly
HMS Sepoy
HMS Erne
HMS Spider
HMS Lively
HMS Surly
HMS Swan
HMS Delight
HMS Grappler
HMS Growler
HMS Parthian
HMS Quail
HMS Ripple
HMS Cochin

HMS Sandfly
HMS Sheldrake
HMS Plover
HMS Tickler
HMS Banterer
HMS Bullfrog
HMS Bustard
HMS Carnation
HMS Charger
HMS Cockchafer
HMS Dove
HMS Forward
HMS Grasshopper
HMS Hasty
HMS Herring
HMS Insolent
Edited by Great Britain, Jul 6 2010, 07:03 AM.
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The 4th Royal Marine Division has been formally activated, having reached its appointed strength.

The second batch of steam frigates is due to be launched in the second half of 1849 and completed in early 1850. A fourth batch of eight ships will be laid down upon their launch.

A second and third batch of steam sloops have been laid down, following the entry into service of the first twelve ships.

A general replacement of older vessels of the fleet, particularly light ships such as brigs and steam paddle vessels, has been ordered as part of general economy measures.
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With Brazilian agreement to terms, the blockade of Brazil is to be lifted forthwith.

The Experimental Squadron is to take part in a testing voyage to Halifax.

An increase in Admiralty staff requirements has lead to a requirement for further administrative building space, and has been approved.

Orders have been issued to a number of private yards for the purposes of aforementioned surveying, construction and scrapping.

The survey of frigates has been completed.

A second batch of large steam powered ships of the line has been laid down.
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