HMS Diana (1823)

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The Harbour of Port Cornwallis, Island of Great Andaman with the Fleet getting under weigh for Rangoon
Diana is the paddlesteamer at the bottom left of this print
Career (UK) HEIC Ensign
Name: Diana
Operator: Honourable East India Company
Builder: Kyds, Kidderpore, Calcutta
Launched: 12 July 1823
Acquired: Purchased in 1824
Fate: Transferred to Burmese Government 1826
Broken up 1836
General characteristics
Tonnage: 133 BM
Length: 100 ft (30 m)
Beam: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
Propulsion: Two 16 HP side lever engines
Paddles

Diana was a steam paddle steamer built in 1823 as a merchant vessel and purchased by the Bengal Government in 1824. During the First Anglo-Burmese War she became the first steam-powered warship of the Royal Navy to see action.[1] She was transferred to the Burmese Government in 1826 and broken up in 1836.

Construction

Drawing of the bow and stern of Diana

She was built by Kyds of Kidderpore, Calcutta[1] as a 133 ton merchant vessel with two 16 horsepower (12 kW) side-lever engines manufactured by Henry Maudslay of Lambeth. She was launched on 12 July 1823 and purchased by the Bengal Government at the suggestion of Commander Frederick Marryat.[1] She was armed with Congreve rockets .

First Anglo–Burmese War

The Royal Navy used her for riverine service in the First Anglo–Burmese War.[2] In May 1824 she accompanied the 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop HMS Sophie, the 20-gun HMS Larne and the 50-gun HMS Liffey, from Port Cornwallis in the Andaman Islands to Rangoon, where she participated in an attack. Thereafter, she participated in operations against Penang on 19 September 1824, and other operations.

Fate

The war ended on 8 March 1826 and in that year she was transferred to the Burmese Government.[1] She was broken up in 1836.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Winfield, Rif; Lyon, David (2003). The Sail and Steam Navy List, 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1861760326.  p172
  2. Sweetman, Jack (1997). The Great Admirals: Command at Sea, 1587-1945. Naval Institute Press. p. 242. ISBN 9780870212291.