Osprey class sloop

HMS Gannet in her dock in Chatham 2005 HMS Gannet in her dock in Chatham, 2005
Class overview
Name:	Osprey-class sloop
Operators:	Royal Navy
Subclasses:	Osprey and Doterel
Built:	1874–1879
In commission:	1874–1949
Completed:	14
Lost:	2
Preserved:	1 (HMS Gannet)
General characteristics
Type:	Screw composite sloop
Displacement:	1,130 tons (Osprey) 1,140 tons (Doterel)
Length:	170 ft (52 m)
Beam:	36 ft (11 m)
Draught:	15 ft (4.6 m)
Propulsion:	Sails and steam
Sail plan:	Barque Rigged
Complement:	140
Armament:	Two 7" muzzle-loading rifled guns Four 64-pound guns

File:Rifled muzzle loader HMS Gannet.JPG

A rifled muzzle loader in the forecastle of HMS Gannet

For the U.S. Navy class of minehunters, see Osprey class coastal minehunter.

The Osprey class was a Royal Navy class of screw-driven sloops. They were of composite construction, with wooden hulls over an iron frame. Five ships of the class were built, designed in 1874 by the Royal Navy's Chief Constructor, William Henry White. The design was revised in 1877 and nine ships were ordered to a modified version, the Doterel class. Originally 1,130 tons displacement with 950 hp, the design was changed to 1,140 tons displacement and 1,010 hp. They were capable of approximately 11 knots and were armed with two 7" muzzle loading rifled guns on pivoting mounts, and four 64-pound guns (two on pivoting mounts, and two broadside). They had a crew complement of approximately 140 men.

Ships

Osprey class

Name	Ship Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
HMS Wild Swan	Robert Napier and Sons, Govan	14 September 1874	28 January 1876	23 August 1877	Renamed HMS Clyde in 1904 as the Royal Naval Reserve drill ship at Aberdeen. Renamed HMS Columbine in 1912. Sold for breaking up 4 May 1920
HMS Penguin	Robert Napier and Sons, Govan	14 July 1874	25 March 1876	23 August 1877	Sold as a crane hulk 1924, burnt out 13 December 1960
HMS Osprey	Sheerness Royal Dockyard	1875	5 August 1876	19 April 1877	Sold for breaking 29 April 1890
HMS Pelican	Devonport Royal Dockyard	8 March 1875	26 April 1877	29 November 1877	Sold as a supply ship 22 January 1901
HMS Cormorant	Chatham Royal Dockyard	1875	12 September 1877	2 July 1878	Harbour hulk November 1889, renamed HMS Rooke July 1946. Scrapped at Malaga in 1949

Doterel class

Name	Ship Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
HMS Dragon	Devonport Royal Dockyard	26 April 1877	30 May 1878	19 February 1879	Sold for breaking 24 September 1892
HMS Pegasus	Devonport Royal Dockyard	9 May 1877	13 June 1878	5 March 1879	Sold for breaking 11 August 1892
HMS Gannet	Sheerness Royal Dockyard	1877	31 August 1878	17 April 1879	Training ship 16 May 1903, renamed HMS President, then in 1913 became training ship Mercury. In 1971 was turned over to the Maritime Trust, on display in Chatham Historic Dockyard
HMS Phoenix	Devonport Royal Dockyard	8 July 1878	16 September 1879	20 April 1880	Wrecked off Prince Edward Island, Canada on 12 September 1882
HMS Miranda	Devonport Royal Dockyard	8 July 1878	30 September 1879	22 July 1880	Sold for breaking 24 September 1892
HMS Kingfisher	Sheerness Royal Dockyard	23 September 1878	16 December 1879	17 August 1880	Training ship 10 November 1892, renamed HMS Lark, then on 18 May 1893 training ship Cruiser. Sold in 1919
HMS Doterel	Chatham Royal Dockyard	13 May 1878	2 March 1880	7 December 1880	Exploded by accident and sank off Punta Arenas, Chile on 26 April 1881, with loss of 143 men
HMS Mutine	Devonport Royal Dockyard	7 June 1879	20 July 1880	10 May 1881	Became boom defence vessel 1899, renamed HMS Azov in March 1904. Sold for breaking 25 August 1921
HMS Espiegle	Devonport Royal Dockyard	23 September 1879	3 August 1880	11 October 1881	Became boom defence vessel 1899, renamed HMS Argo in March 1904. Sold for breaking 25 August 1921

See also

• Media related to Osprey class sloop at Wikimedia Commons

References

• The Sail and Steam Navy List (David Lyon and Rif Winfield), Chatham Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.