Conqueror was one of a two ship class, her sister being Donegal.[1] She was built to an 1852 design from the Surveyor’s Department and ordered from Devonport Dockyard on 16 November 1852. She was laid down on 25 July 1853, launched on 2 May 1855 and commissioned on 9 April 1856.[1] She cost a total of £171,116, with £91,244 spent on her hull and a further £50,919 spent on her machinery, from John Penn & Son.[1]
Career
"The loss of H.M.S. Conqueror 100 guns on Rum Cay, Bahamas, West Indies" [sic], attributed to George Pechell Mends
Conqueror was initially commanded by Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds and formed part of the Channel Squadron.[2] She was later assigned to operate in the Mediterranean during the Crimean War, and later was based out of Malta, when Hastings Yelverton took command on 22 July 1859. Yelverton was succeeded by William John Cavendish Clifford, and he by James Willcox in 1860, by which time Conqueror had returned to Plymouth.[2]Edward Southwell Sotheby took over command and was despatched to carry troops supporting the French intervention in Mexico in late 1861. While sailing through the Bahamas, Conqueror was wrecked on Rum Cay on 29 December 1861 due to a navigation error.[1] All 1,400 aboard were saved.
Wreck
The wreck lies in 30 ft (9.1 m) of water off Rum Cay and is preserved as an Underwater Museum of the Bahamas. It is a popular dive site.
Notes
^ abcdLyon & Winfield. "5". The Sail and Steam Navy List. pp. 10–11.
conqueror, 1855, other, ships, with, same, name, conqueror, conqueror, conqueror, class, screw, propelled, first, rate, ship, line, royal, navy, launched, 1855, spent, only, years, service, before, being, wrecked, what, then, colony, bahamas, 1861, historyunit. For other ships with the same name see HMS Conqueror HMS Conqueror was a 101 gun Conqueror class screw propelled first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy She was launched in 1855 but spent only six years in service before being wrecked on Rum Cay in what was then the colony of the Bahamas in 1861 HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS ConquerorOrdered16 November 1852BuilderDevonport Dockyard Machinery by John Penn amp SonLaid down25 July 1853Launched2 May 1855Commissioned9 April 1856FateWrecked on 29 December 1861General characteristicsClass and typeConqueror class ship of the lineTons burthen3224Length240 ft 73 2 m o a Beam55 ft 4 in 16 9 m Depth of hold24 ft 5 in 7 44 m PropulsionSails 2 cylinder 82 in diam 4 ft stroke horizontal single expansion trunk engine Single screw 800 nhp 2 812 ihpSail planFull riggedSpeed10 806 kt machinery Complement930Armament36 8 in 200 mm guns lower deck 36 32 pdr 15 kg main deck 28 32 pdr 15 kg and 1 68 pdr quarter deck forecastle Contents 1 Construction and commissioning 2 Career 3 Wreck 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksConstruction and commissioning EditConqueror was one of a two ship class her sister being Donegal 1 She was built to an 1852 design from the Surveyor s Department and ordered from Devonport Dockyard on 16 November 1852 She was laid down on 25 July 1853 launched on 2 May 1855 and commissioned on 9 April 1856 1 She cost a total of 171 116 with 91 244 spent on her hull and a further 50 919 spent on her machinery from John Penn amp Son 1 Career Edit The loss of H M S Conqueror 100 guns on Rum Cay Bahamas West Indies sic attributed to George Pechell Mends Conqueror was initially commanded by Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds and formed part of the Channel Squadron 2 She was later assigned to operate in the Mediterranean during the Crimean War and later was based out of Malta when Hastings Yelverton took command on 22 July 1859 Yelverton was succeeded by William John Cavendish Clifford and he by James Willcox in 1860 by which time Conqueror had returned to Plymouth 2 Edward Southwell Sotheby took over command and was despatched to carry troops supporting the French intervention in Mexico in late 1861 While sailing through the Bahamas Conqueror was wrecked on Rum Cay on 29 December 1861 due to a navigation error 1 All 1 400 aboard were saved Wreck EditThe wreck lies in 30 ft 9 1 m of water off Rum Cay and is preserved as an Underwater Museum of the Bahamas It is a popular dive site Notes Edit a b c d Lyon amp Winfield 5 The Sail and Steam Navy List pp 10 11 a b Loney mid Victorian RN vessels Conqueror References EditColledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Lyon David and Winfield Rif The Sail and Steam Navy List All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815 1889 pub Chatham 2004 ISBN 1 86176 032 9External links EditConqueror s career Coordinates 23 38 30 N 74 48 0 W 23 64167 N 74 80000 W 23 64167 74 80000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Conqueror 1855 amp oldid 1124172989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
