1.
INTRODUCTION
The accession of Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837 was the
last occasion on which a new British monarch inherited a fleet
made up almost entirely of ships built of wood and propelled by
sails.
The most striking feature of the fleet was not so much its size
but how few ships were actually in commission and actively
employed. Only 17 of the 78 ships of the line were in full
commission, and only 15 of the 86 frigates were active. Amongst
the smaller vessels - corvettes, sloops and brigs there was a
majority of ships employed actively - 77 out of 91. The 24
steam-powered vessels were a small proportion of the total and
were best described as minor war vessels at this stage.
The disproportion would have been greater if these figures
included the many ships and frigates relegated to harbour
service - these ships are NOT included in the following lists.
They were employed as hulks on such duties as depots, barracks,
hospitals etc., and had no further wartime role.
Equally striking is the absence of a battle fleet in home
waters. Normally the most obvious and significant
indicator of naval power, there was no 'Channel Fleet or Channel
Squadron'. Nor was there any grouping of partially-manned ships
at the home ports which could provide the means for a speedy
mobilisation of the fleet. Instead, ships were laid up 'In
Ordinary' for many years with no masts and rigging, no guns, and
no maintenance crews. A considerable number of these
ships had been launched and placed straight into Ordinary with
ever being commissioned. The naval bases in the Medway, at
Portsmouth, and at Plymouth were full of such vessels.
Only a few large ships were kept in harbour service commissions
in each port to provide dignified flagships for the port
admirals.
Those ships which were in active service were employed in a
variety of overseas stations where their main purpose was to
protect British foreign policy and commercial interests.
The principal station was the Mediterranean where the threat of
political instability in the area combined with suspicions of
French and Russian intentions to provide the need for a
substantial fleet at Malta.
A temporary concern was the political turbulence in Spain
generated by the Carlist wars which resulted in the stationing
of a force at Lisbon, and the distribution of smaller warships
around the coast of Spain.
The other stations were the North America and West Indies -
described in the 1837 Navy List as 'West Indies, Halifax and
Newfoundland'; East Indies [which included China]; South America
which included the Pacific; and The Cape of Good Hope and Coast
of Africa'. A small force was based in Australian
waters.
The Admiralty operated a large number of brigs on government
mail services - the Packets - these vessels are not included in
the following lists as they were not ships of war.
The confidence that the Admiralty and nation placed in the Royal
Navy by this distribution can be assessed by reference to
the only two navies which could challenge Britain - France and
Russia.
Summary
of International Naval Strength 1837
Country |
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Steam
Vessels |
Great
Britain
France
Russia
Baltic
Black Sea
|
78
22
25
12 |
86
36
16
19 |
22
24
?
? |
Summary
of Royal Navy Strength 1837
Type
of ship
|
Active
|
Harbour
service |
In
Ordinary |
Totals |
First
Rate
Second Rate
Third Rate
Fourth Rate
Fifth Rate
Sixth Rate
Ship-Sloops
Brig-Sloops
Steam Vessels
|
1
4
12
6
9
18
19
40
15
|
5
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
3
|
12
10
34
19
51
6
1
8
6
|
18
14
46
25
61
24
20
50
22 |
Two tables follow:
List of ships of each type in
alphabetical order
Distribution of active ships by station/command
2. LIST OF ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS 1837.
Arranged by
Type in Alphabetical Order within each Type
FIRST
RATES
HMS Britannia
painted by George Hyde Chambers (Wikipedia)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
First
Rates/120 guns
Britannia
Caledonia
Howe
Nelson
Neptune
Prince Regent
Princess Charlotte
Royal George
St Vincent
First Rates/110
Camperdown
Excellent
Hibernia
Impregnable
San Josef
First Rates/100-104
Ocean
Queen Charlotte
Royal Adelaide
Temeraire
Victory
Windsor Castle |
1823
1808
1815
1814
1833
1823
1825
1827
1815
1820
1811
1805
1812
Prize 1801
1805
1810
1828
1799
1765
1790 |
Portsmouth Flagship
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness Flagship
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean Flagship
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-gunnery training
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth Flagship
Sheerness
Portsmouth
Plymouth-depot |
SECOND
RATES/90
HMS Ganges at Falmouth
in 1886 (Navy Photos)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Asia
Bellerophon
Calcutta
Cambridge
Clarence
Formidable
Ganges
Malta
Monarch
Powerful
Rodney
Thunderer
Vanguard
Vengeance |
1827
1818
1831
1823
1827
1825
1823
Prize 1800
1823
1826
1835
1834
1836
1824 |
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-depot
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Plymouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Plymouth-Ordinary |
THIRD
RATES/74-80
WI - West Indies
HMS Blenheim in 1825 (Wikipedia)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Agincourt
Ajax
Armada
Belleisle
Bellona
Benbow
Black Prince
Blenheim
Bombay
Canopus
Carnatic
Cornwallis
Defence
Devonshire
Donegal
Edinburgh
Egmont
Foudroyant
Hastings
Hawke
Hercules
Hogue
Illustrious
Imaum
Implacable
Invincible
Kent
Malabar
Malta
Medway
Melville
Minden
Minotaur
Pembroke
Pitt
Poictiers
Redoubtable
Revenge
Russell
Spartiate
Stirling Castle
Sultan
Talavera
Tremendous
Warspite
Wellesley
Wellington |
1817
1809
1810
1819
1812
1813
1822
1813
1808
Prize 1798
1823
1814
1815
1812
Prize 1798
1811
1811
1798
1819
1820
1815
1811
1803
1836
Prize 1805
1808
1798
1819
Prize 1800
1813
1817
1811
1816
1812
1816
1810
1815
1805
1822
Prize 1798
1812
1807
1829
1820
1807
1815
1816 |
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
North America& WI Flagship
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Lisbon
Lisbon
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness
Sheerness-Ordinary
Particular Service
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth
Plymouth-depot
Plymouth-Ordinary
Cape of Good Hope
Particular Service
Chatham-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Particular Service
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
East Indies Flagship
Sheerness-Ordinary |
FOURTH
RATE/50-58
conv - converted
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Alfred
America
Barham
Conquestador
Cornwall
Dublin
Eagle
Endymion
Gloucester
Isis
Java
Jupiter
Lancaster
Portland
President
Southampton
Vernon
Vindictive
Winchester |
ex-74
conv 1831
ex-74 conv 1835
ex-74 conv 1826
ex-74 conv 1831
ex-74 conv 1830
ex-74-conv 1831
ex-74 conv 1831
1797
ex-74 conv 1832
1823
1820
1915
1827
1834
1834
1829
1832
ex-74 conv 1833
1829 |
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Sheerness -Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
South America-Flagship
Chatham-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Troopship
Plymouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
South America
Chatham-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
East Indies Flagship to UK |
FIFTH
RATES/FRIGATES
Listed as Amazon, but uncertain -
a reminder of heavy weather sailing (Photo Ships)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Fifth
Rates/46
Aeolus
Africaine
Amazon
Andromeda
Apollo
Blonde
Boadicea
Briton
Brune
Cerberus
Circe
Clyde
Crescent
Daedalus
Diana
Druid
Eurotas
Forth
Fox
Hamadryad
Hebe
Horatio
Hotspur
Latona
Laurel
Leda
Leonidas
Madagascar
Melampus
Mercury
Mermaid
Minerva
Naiad
Nemesis
Nereus
Penelope
Proserpine
Resistance
Seahorse
Seringapatam
Sirius
Stag
Tenedos
Thalia
Thames
Thisbe
Undaunted
Unicorn
Venus
Fifth Rates/42
Amphitrite
Astraea
Belvidera
Blanche
Brilliant
Fisgard
Forte
Havannah
Owen Glendower
Semiramus
Trincomalee
Fifth Rates/36
Castor
Inconstant
Pique |
1825
1828
1821
1829
1805
1824
1797
1812
Prize?
1827
1827
1829
1811
1827
1822
1825
1829
1833
1829
1823
1827
1807
1829
1821
1813
1828
1817
1829
1820
1826
1825
1820
1795
1826
1821
1830
1830
1815
1830
1819
1812
1831
1812
1830
1823
1824
1807
1824
1821
1816
1810
1810
1824
1815
1810
1820
1811
1809
1808
1817
1832
1836
1835 |
Sheerness-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Troopship
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Troopship
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordianry
Chatham-depot
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
North America & WI
Plymouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
North America & WI
Portsmouth-Ordinary
South America
Sheerness-Ordinary
Cape of Good Hope Flagship
Sheerness-tender
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Falmouth
Portsmouth- Ordinary
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Chatham-Ordinary
Plymouth-depot
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Plymouth
Portsmouth |
SIXTH
RATES/FRIGATES/28-26
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Actaeon
Aigle
Alligator
Andromache
Atholl
Carysfort
Cleopatra
Conway
Crocodile
Curacoa
Imogene
Magicienne
North Star
Rainbow
Rattlesnake
Samarang
Sapphire
Semiramis
Talbot
Tribune
Tyne
Vestal
Volage |
1831
ex-5 Rate 1831
1822
1832
1821
1836
1835
1832
1828
ex-5 Rate 1831
1831
ex-5 Rate 1831
1826
1824
1822
ex-5 Rate/42
1824
1825
1824
1823
1837
1825
1826
|
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Sheerness-Ordinary
Australia
Sheerness
Troopship
Mediterranean
South America
East Indies
North America & WI
Chatham-Ordinary
South America
Lisbon
Particular Service
North America & WI
East Indies
South America
Mediterranean
Plymouth-depot
Plymouth
Chatham-Ordinary
Mediterranean
North America & WI
East Indies |
SHIP
SLOOPS/26-18
HMS Wolf (Photo Ships)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Champion
Childers
Dido
Electra
Favourite
Fly
Harrier
Hazard
Hyacinth
Nimrod
Orestes
Pearl
Pylades
Racehorse
Rose
Rover
Satellite
Scout
Tweed
Wolf |
1824
1827
1837
1837
1829
1831
1832
1837
1830
1828
1826
1828
1824
1830
1821
1832
1827
1832
1823
1827 |
North
America & WI
Cape of Good Hope
Mediterranean
South America
East Indies
South America
South America
Mediterranean
East Indies
North America & WI
Mediterranean
North America & WI
Cape of Good Hope
North America & WI
Sheerness-Ordinary
South America
North America & WI
Cape of Good Hope
Particular Service
East Indies |
BRIG
SLOOPS
[excluding Packets]
HMS Beagle, the famous ship that carried Darwin around the
world.
1841 watercolour by Capt Owen Stanley of HMS Britomart (Photo
Ships)
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Algerine
Beagle
Bonetta
Briseis
Brisk
Britomart
Buzzard
Cameleon
Charybdis
Clio
Columbine
Cruiser
Curlew
Dolphin
Fairy
Falcon
Forester
Gannet
Griffon
Harlequin
Harpy
Icarus
Jaseur
Lynx
Musquito
Nautilus
Pandora
Pantaloon
Partridge
Pelican
Pelorus
Racer
Raleigh
Rapid
Ringdove
Rolla
Sappho
Saracen
Savage
Scylla
Serpent
Snake
Sparrowhawk
Termagent
Trinculo
Victor
Wanderer
Wasp
Waterwitch
Weazle
Wizard
Wolverine
Zebra |
1828
1818
1836
1828
1819
1824
1834
1816
1831
1807
1826
1828
1830
1836
1826
1823
1832
1815
1832
1836
1825
1815
1813
1833
1827
1830
1833
1832
1836
1812
1808
1833
1807
1828
1833
1829
1837
1834
1831
1809
1832
1832
1807
1824
1809
1814
1835
1812
1834
1824
1837
1830
1816 |
East
Indies
Australia-survey
Cape of Good Hope
Falmouth
Cape of Good Hope
Australia
Cape of Good Hope
Lisbon
Chatham
Mediterranean
Chatham
Chatham
Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good hope
Woolwich-survey
Sheerness-Ordinary
Cape of Good Hope
Sheerness-Ordinary
North America & WI
Mediterranean
North America & WI
Plymouth-Ordinary
Plymouth-Ordinary
Cape of Good Hope
Plymouth-Ordinary
Portsmouth
Falmouth
Tender to Royal Yacht
Portsmouth
Cape of Good Hope
East Indies
North America & WI
East Indies
Mediterranean
North America & WI
Plymouth-Ordinary
North America & WI
Cape of Good Hope
Particular Service
Lisbon
North America & West Indies
North America & West Indies
South America
Portsmouth-Ordinary
Lisbon
East Indies
North America & West Indies
Mediterranean
Cape of Good hope
Plymouth-Ordinary
South America
Mediterranean
East Indies |
PADDLE
STEAMERS
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
African
Alban
Carron
Columbia
Comet
Confiance
Echo
Lightning
Meteor |
1826
1827
1827
1830
1822
1827
1827
1823
1824 |
Irish
Coast-survey
West Indies
West Indies
Woolwich-Ordinary
Particular Service
Mediterranean
North America & West Indies
Woolwich
Falmouth |
PADDLE
GUNBOATS
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Blazer
Firebrand
Firefly
Flamer
Pluto
Spitfire
Tartarus |
1835
1831
1833
1832
1831
1831
1834 |
Mediterranean
Woolwich
Mediterranean
North America & WI
Weymouth-Ordinary
Mediterranean
Woolwich |
PADDLE
SLOOPS
Type
& name |
Date of completion
|
Location |
Dee
Hermes
Medea
Messenger
Phoenix
Rhadamanthus
Salamander
Volcano |
1832
1835
1834
1830
1834
1832
1833
1837 |
Woolwich
Woolwich-Ordinary
Woolwich
Woolwich-Transport
Particular Service
Mediterranean
Lisbon
Mediterranean |
3. DISTRIBUTION OF COMMISSIONED WARSHIPS BY
COMMAND/STATION
Note: There are some differences between the Navy List and
Rif Winfield. The former uses the term 'Particular Service' and
the latter identifies that service. I have used Rif Winfield as
my guide when such differences occur. Sometimes the Navy List
identifies ships at home ports, and Winfield indicates that they
are preparing for service on a particular station. Again, I have
been guided by Rif Winfield.
MEDITERRANEAN
[F] - flagship
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs |
Steam
Vessels |
Princess
Charlotte [F]
Asia
Bellerophon
Rodney
Vanguard
Pembroke
Russell |
Barham
Portland
Castor
Carysfort
Sappho
Talbot [in UK]
Tyne |
Dido
Hazard
Orestes
Clio
Harlequin
Rapid
Wasp
Wolverine |
Confiance
Blazer
Firefly
Spitfire
Rhadamanthus
Volcano |
LISBON
STATION & COAST OF SPAIN
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
Donegal
Edinburgh
Hastings [in UK]
Malabar [to UK]
Minden
Talavera |
Inconstant
Magicienne
|
Tweed
Cameleon
Scylla
Trinculo
Savage [Spain] |
Salamander
Comet [Spain]
Phoenix [Spain] |
NORTH AMERICA & WEST INDIES
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
Cornwallis
[F] |
Madagascar
Seringaptam
Pique
Crocodile
Rainbow
Vestal |
Champion
Nimrod
Pearl
Racehorse
Satellite
Cruiser
Griffon
Harpy
Racer
Ringdove
Sappho
Serpent
Snake
Wanderer |
Echo
Flamer
Alban [West Indies]
Carron [West Indies] |
SOUTH
AMERICA
[listed as Pacific in Navy List]
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
- |
Dublin
[F]
President
Stag
Cleopatra
Imogene
North Star
Samarang |
Electra
Fly
Harrier
Rover
Sparrowhawk
Wizard |
- |
CAPE
OF GOOD HOPE AND COAST OF AFRICA
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
Melville |
Thalia
[F] |
Childers
Pylades
Scout
Bonetta
Brisk
Buzzard
Charybdis [in UK
Columbine [West Africa]
Curlew
Dolphin
Forester
Lynx
Partridge [for W Africa]
Pelican
Saracen
Waterwitch |
- |
EAST
INDIES [including China]
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
Wellesley
[F] |
Winchester
[F. to UK]
Andromeda [to UK]
Conway
Rattlesnake
Volage |
Favorite
Hyacinth
Wolf
Algerine
Pelorus
Raleigh
Victor
Zebra |
- |
AUSTRALIA
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
- |
Alligator |
Beagle
Britomart |
- |
TROOPING DUTIES
Ships
of the Line |
Frigates |
Sloops
and Brigs
|
Steam
Vessels |
Hercules |
Jupiter
Apollo
Brune
Atholl |
- |
- |
HARBOUR SERVICE AS FLAGSHIPS AND TRAINING SHIPS
[tg] - training
Nore/Sheerness |
Portsmouth |
Plymouth |
Howe
[F] |
Britannia
[F]
Excellent [gunnery tg] |
Royal
Adelaide [F]
San Josef [gunnery tg] |
|