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 date	Number and class	Vessel names	Contract or dockyard	Named on
10 April 1854	6 Arrow-class despatch gunvessels	Arrow, Beagle, Lynx, Snake, Viper, Wrangler	Contract	2 May
16 June 1854	2 Gleaner-class gunboats	Gleaner, Ruby	Deptford Dockyard	10 April
24 June 1854	4 Gleaner-class gunboats	Pelter, Pincher, Badger, Snapper	Contract	10 April
4 October 1854	5 floating batteries	Glatton, Trusty, Aetna (original), Meteor, Thunder	Contract	10 October
6 October 1854	10 mortar vessels (65-ft class)	Flamer, Firm, Havock, Hardy, Growler, Surly, Blazer, Mastiff, Manly, Porpoise	Contract	Names were replaced by numbers MV.3 to MV.12 on 10 October 1855
6 October 1854	14 Dapper-class gunboats	Hind, Jackdaw, Starling, Thistle, Snap, Weazel, Redwing, Clinker, Cracker, Boxer, Stork, Skylark, Biter, Swinger	Contract	14 October
9 October 1854	4 Dapper-class gunboats	Dapper, Fancy, Grinder, Jasper	Contract	14 October
20 October 1854	2 Dapper-class gunboats	Lark, Magpie	Deptford Dockyard	14 October
22 December 1854	10 mortar vessels (70-ft class)	Raven, Rocket, Redbreast, Prompt, Pickle, Magnet, Camel, Beacon, Carron, Grappler	Contract	Names were replaced by numbers MV.13 to MV.22 on 10 October 1855
18 April 1855	2 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)	Flying Fish, Pioneer	Pembroke Dockyard	30 May
18 April 1855	4 Albacore-class gunboats	Nightingale, Violet, Beaver, Whiting	Contract	30 May
2 May 1855	2 Cheerful-class gunboats	Cheerful, Chub	Deptford & Sheerness Dockyards	30 May
2 May 1855	6 Albacore-class gunboats	Skipjack, Seagull, Sandfly, Sheldrake, Plover, Tickler	Contract	30 May
15 May 1855	2 Intrepid-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)	Victor, Intrepid	Contract	30 May
15 May 1855	4 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (2nd class)	Alacrity, Vigilant, Coquette, Wanderer	Contract	30 May
30 June 1855	14 Albacore-class gunboats	Banterer, Bullfrog, Bustard, Carnation, Charger, Cockchafer, Dove, Forward, Grasshopper, Hasty, Herring, Insolent, Matflower, Staunch	Contract	16 July
25 July 1855	2 Intrepid-class despatch gunvessels (1st class)	Nimrod, Roebuck	Contract	21 August
26 July 1855	10 Vigilant-class despatch gunvessels (2nd class)	Reward, Foxhound, Mohawk, Sparrowhawk, Cormorant, Osprey, Lapwing, Ringdove, Assurance, Surprise	Contract	21 August
26 July 1855	24 Albacore-class gunboats	Charon, Haughty, Leveret, Mackerel, Procris, Shamrock, Spey, Tilbury, Fervent, Forester, Griper, Spanker, Thrasher, Traveller, Bouncer, Hyaena, Savage, Wolf, Goldfinch, Goshawk, Opossum, Partridge, Julia, Louisa	Contract	21 August
2 October 1855	16 mortar vessels (75-ft class)	MV.23 to MV.37, and MV.44	Contract	Numbered only
3 October 1855	6 mortar vessels (75-ft class)	MV.38 to MV.43	Contract	Numbered only
3 October 1855	6 Albacore-class gunboats	Peacock, Pheasant, Primrose, Pickle, Prompt, Porpoise	Contract
4 October 1855	15 Albacore-class gunboats	Firm, Flamer, Fly, Sepoy, Erne, Spider, Lively, Surly, Swan, Delight, Grappler, Growler, Parthian, Quail, Ripple	Contract
7 October 1855	6 Albacore-class gunboats	Cochin, Cherokee, Camel, Caroline, Confounder, Crocus	Contract
8 October 1855	13 Albacore-class gunboats	Beacon, Brave, Blazer, Bullfinch, Brazen, Hardy, Havock, Highlander, Rainbow, Raven, Redbreast, Rocket, Rose	Contract
9 October 1855	4 Albacore-class gunboats	Albacore, Amelia, Foam, Wave	Contract
9 October 1855	4 mortar vessels (75-ft class)	MV.45 to MV.48	Contract	Numbered only
10 October 1855	4 Albacore-class gunboats	Magnet, Manly, Mastiff, Mistletoe	Contract
11 October 1855	2 Albacore-class gunboats	Ernest, Escort	Contract
11 November 1855	4 mortar vessels (75-ft class)	MV.49 to MV.52	Contract	Numbered only
12 November 1855	2 Cheerful-class gunboats	Daisy, Dwarf	Contract	6 December
16 November 1855	1 floating battery	Aetna (replacement)	Chatham Dockyard
21 November 1855	4 Cheerful-class gunboats	Blossom, Gadfly, Garland, Gnat	Contract	6 December
23 November 1855	6 Cheerful-class gunboats	Fidget, Flirt, Onyx, Pert, Midge, Tivy	Contract	6 December
1 December 1855	2 Cheerful-class gunboats	Angler, Ant	Contract	6 December
2 December 1855	4 Cheerful-class gunboats	Nettle, Pet, Rambler, Decoy	Contract	6 December
14 December 1855	4 mortar vessels (75-ft class)	MV.53 to MV.56	Contract	Numbered only
22 December 1855	3 floating batteries (iron-hulled)	Thunderbolt, Terror, Erebus	Contract	18 January
31 December 1855	6 Clown-class gunboats	Fenella, Garnet, Handy, Hunter, Watchful, Woodcock	Contract	19 January
3 January 1856	2 Clown-class gunboats	Drake, Janus	Pembroke Dockyard	19 January
3 January 1856	4 Clown-class gunboats	Ready, Thrush, Clown, Kestrel	Contract	19 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.