This is a list of gunboat[note 1] and gunvessel[note 2] classes of the Royal Navy.
For gun-brigs see List of gun-brigs of the Royal Navy.
Steam gunboats
Wooden paddle gunboats (Indian service)
Wooden paddle gunboats (Great Lakes)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Toronto | United States | 1834 | Ex-merchantman Sir Charles Adam, built in 1834 in the United States and purchased by the Royal Navy on 7 July 1838. Sold in 1843 |
| HMS Experiment | Niagara Dock Company | 1838 | An ex-sailing ship, purchased on 21 July 1838 and converted to a paddle vessel. Sold in 1847 or 1848 |
| HMS Traveller | Niagara Dock Company | 1838 | Ex-merchant ship, purchased at Niagara on 30 April 1839 and sold in 1844 |
| HMS Montreal | Canada | 1836 | A two-masted schooner (may not have had an engine) purchased for use on Lake Erie on 18 October 1839. Sold 1848 |
| HMS Minos | Chippawa, Ontario | June 1840 | Sold to Mr Weston in March 1852 |
| HMS Sydenham | Montreal | 1841 | Purchased while building at Montreal in 1841. Served in the Mediterranean as a packet. Refitted and reboilered at Woolwich in 1843–44. Sold at Malta on 11 July 1846 |
| HMS Cherokee | Kingston Navy Yard, Ontario | 22 September 1842 | Sold to Messrs. Campbell, Forsyth, Yarwood & Gaskin on 30 October 1851 |
| Magnet | Hamilton, Canada | 1846 | The British Government made a part payment while during build, retaining the right to assume possession of the vessel on payment of the remaining portion. The right was relinquished in 1864 |
| HMS Canada | Purchased | Unknown | Purchased in 1847 |
Iron paddle gunboat (Great Lakes)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Mowhawk | William Fairbairn & Company, Millwall | 21 February 1843 | Delivered in pieces to the Kingston Yard, Lake Ontario. Served on Lake Ontario and later on Lake Huron. Lengthened by 25 ft (7.6 m) in 1846. Sold to J F Parke on 21 June 1852 |
Iron paddle despatch vessels/gunboats
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Bann | J Scott Russell, Millwall | 5 July 1856 | Sold for breaking on 18 February 1873 |
| HMS Brune | J Scott Russell, Millwall | 30 August 1856 | Sold at Lagos on 19 May 1863 |
Wooden screw gunboats
- Gleaner (or Pelter) class
- Pelter (1854)
- Pincher (1854)
- Badger (1854)
- Snapper (1854)
- Gleaner (1854)
- Ruby (1854)
- Dapper class
- Lark (1855)
- Magpie (1855)
- Dapper (1855)
- Fancy (1855)
- Grinder (1855)
- Jasper (1855)
- Hind (1855)
- Jackdaw (1855)
- Thistle (1855)
- Starling (1855)
- Snap (1855)
- Redwing (1855)
- Weazel (1855)
- Clinker (1855)
- Cracker (1855)
- Boxer (1855)
- Stork (1855)
- Skylark (1855)
- Biter (1855)
- Swinger (1855)
- Albacore class (1855)
- Beaver (1855)
- Whiting (1856)
- Nightingale (1855)
- Violet (1856)
- Seagull (1855)
- Skipjack (1855)
- Sandfly (1855)
- Sheldrake (1855)
- Plover (1855)
- Tickler (1855)
- Banterer (1855)
- Bullfrog (1855)
- Bustard (1855)
- Carnation (1855)
- Charger (1855)
- Cockchafer (1855)
- Dove (1855)
- Forward (1855)
- Grasshopper (1856)
- Hasty (1856)
- Herring (1856)
- Insolent (1856)
- Mayflower (1856)
- Staunch (1856)
- Goldfinch (1856)
- Goshawk (1856)
- Julia (1855)
- Louisa (1855)
- Bouncer (1856)
- Hyena (1856)
- Savage (1856)
- Wolf (1856)
- Griper (1855)
- Fervent (1856)
- Forester (1856)
- Spanker (1856)
- Traveller (1856)
- Thrasher (1856)
- Opossum (1856)
- Partridge (1856)
- Charon (1856)
- Haughty (1856)
- Leveret (1856)
- Mackerel (1856)
- Procris (1856)
- Shamrock (1856)
- Spey (1856)
- Tilbury (1856)
- Peacock (1856)
- Pheasant (1856)
- Primrose (1856)
- Pickle (1856)
- Prompt (1856)
- Porpoise (1856)
- Firm (1856)
- Flamer (1856)
- Fly (1856)
- Sepoy (1856)
- Erne (1856)
- Spider (1856)
- Lively (1856)
- Surly (1856)
- Swan (1856)
- Delight (1856)
- Grappler (1856)
- Growler (1856)
- Parthian (1856)
- Quail (1856)
- Ripple (1856)
- Cochin (1856)
- Cherokee (1856)
- Camel (1856)
- Caroline (1856)
- Confounder (1856)
- Crocus (1856)
- Beacon (1856)
- Brave (1856)
- Bullfinch (1856)
- Redbreast (1856)
- Rose (1856)
- Blazer (1856)
- Rainbow (1856)
- Brazen (1856)
- Raven (1856)
- Rocket (1856)
- Hardy (1856)
- Havock (1856)
- Highlander (1856)
- Albacore (1856)
- Amelia (1856)
- Foam (1856)
- Wave (1856)
- Magnet (1856)
- Manly (1856)
- Mastiff (1856)
- Mistletoe (1856)
- Earnest (1856)
- Escort (1856)
- Cheerful class
- Cheerful (1856)
- Chub (1856)
- Daisy (1856)
- Dwarf (1856)
- Blossom (1856)
- Gadfly (1856)
- Gnat (1856)
- Garland (1856)
- Fidget (1856)
- Flirt (1856)
- Onyx (1856)
- Pert (1856)
- Midge (1856)
- Tiny (1856)
- Angler (1856)
- Ant (1856)
- Nettle (1856)
- Pet (1856)
- Decoy (1856)
- Rambler (1856)
- Clown class
- Fenella (1856)
- Garnet (1856)
- Handy (1856)
- Hunter (1856)
- Drake (1856)
- Janus (1856)
- Clown (1856)
- Kestrel (1856)
- Ready (1856)
- Thrush (1856)
- Watchful (1856)
- Woodcock (1856)
- Algerine class
- Jaseur (1857)
- Jasper (1857)
- Algerine (1857)
- Lee (1857)
- Leven (1857)
- Slaney (1857)
- Britomart class
- Britomart (1860)
- Cockatrice (1860)
- Wizard (1860)
- Speedy (1860)
- Doterel (1860)
- Heron (1860)
- Pigeon (1860)
- Linnet (1860)
- Tyrian (1861)
- Trinculo (1860)
- Cherub (1865)
- Netley (1866)
- Minstrel (1865)
- Orwell (1866)
- Cromer (1867)
- Bruiser (1867) (or Bruizer)
- Bramble (cancelled)
- Crown (cancelled)
- Protector (cancelled)
- Danube (cancelled)
Composite screw gunboats
The gunboats designed from 1870 onwards were of composite construction, i.e. they had an iron keel, stem and stern posts, and iron framing, with wooden planking retained over the iron frames.
- Ariel class
- Coquette (1871)
- Foam (1871)
- Decoy (1871)
- Merlin (1871)
- Mosquito (1871)
- Goshawk (1872)
- Swinger (1872)
- Ariel (1873)
- Zephyr (1873)
- Forester class
- Cygnet (1874)
- Express (1874)
- Contest (1874)
- Sheldrake (1875)
- Mallard (1875)
- Moorhen (1875)
- Foxhound (1877)
- Forward (1877)
- Firm (1877)
- Forester (1877)
- Firebrand (1877)
- Firefly (1877)
- Banterer class
- Redwing (1880)
- Grappler (1880)
- Wrangler (1880)
- Wasp (1880)
- Banterer (1880)
- Espoir (1880)
- Bullfrog (1880)
- Cockchafer (1881)
- Starling (1882)
- Stork (1882)
- Raven (1882)
- Albacore class
- HMS Albacore
- HMS Mistletoe
- HMS Watchful
- Bramble class
- Rattler (1886)
- Wasp (1886)
- Lizard (1886)
- Bramble (1886)
- Pygmy class
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Pheasant | Devonport Dockyard | 10 April 1888 | Sold to Cox for breaking at Falmouth on 15 May 1906 |
| HMS Partridge | Devonport Dockyard | 10 May 1888 | Sold in 1909 at Simonstown to Ward of Preston; arrived Preston for breaking on 6 May 1913 |
| HMS Peacock | Pembroke Dockyard | 22 June 1888 | Sold to Ellis, Chepstow for breaking on 15 May 1906 |
| HMS Pigmy | Sheerness Dockyard | 27 July 1888 | Sold to Cox for breaking at Falmouth on 4 April 1905 |
| HMS Pigeon | Pembroke Dockyard | 5 September 1888 | Sold to V Grech for commercial use on 15 May 1906 |
| HMS Plover | Pembroke Dockyard | 18 October 1888 | Boom defence vessel in 1904. Sold at Gibraltar on 27 April 1927 |
- Redbreast class
- Magpie (1889)
- Redbreast (1889)
- Redpole (1889)
- Ringdove (1889)
- Lapwing (1889)
- Goldfinch (1889)
- Thrush (1889)
- Widgeon (1889)
- Sparrow (1889)
Armoured gunboats
The only ironclads of gunboat size were three largely experimental (and unsuccessful) vessels ordered in 1864. The first two were towed to the Royal Naval Dockyard at the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda (being considered unsatisfactory to sail under their own power) where they served as harbour vessels and for coastal defence (Vixen ultimately being sunk to block a channel that torpedo boats might have used to attack ships of the North America and West Indies Station at their anchorage on Grassy Bay).[1][2][3][4] Vixen was the first twin-screw vessel built for the Royal Navy, and Waterwitch employed a form of water pump propulsion.
- Vixen (1865)
- Viper (1865)
- Waterwitch (1866)
Iron coastal gunboats
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Staunch | Charles Mitchell & Co, Walker | 17 June 1867 | Sold for use as a fuel barge in 1904 |
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Plucky | Portsmouth Dockyard | 13 July 1870 | Renamed Banterer in June 1915, sold for commercial use in 1928 and finally broken up at Inverkeithing in 1969 |
- Ant class – Gadfly, Pincher, Griper and Tickler are sometimes referred to as the Gadfly class.
- Blazer (1870)
- Comet (1870)
- Bustard (1871)
- Kite (1871)
- Scourge (1871)
- Snake (1871)
- Mastiff (1871)
- Bloodhound (1871)
- Arrow (1871)
- Bonetta (1871)
- Badger (1872)
- Fidget (1872)
- Bulldog (1872)
- Pike (1872)
- Pickle (1872)
- Snap (1872)
- Ant (1873)
- Cuckoo (1873)
- Hyaena (1873)
- Weazel (1873)
- Gadfly (1879)
- Pincher (1879)
- Griper (1879)
- Tickler (1879)
- Medina class (or River class) (1876)
- Medina (1876)
- Medway (1876)
- Sabrina (1876)
- Spey (1876)
- Tay (1876)
- Tees (1876)
- Dee (1877)
- Don (1877)
- Esk (1877)
- Slaney (1877)
- Trent (1877)
- Tweed (1877)
Steel coastal gunboats
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Bouncer | Pembroke Dockyard | 15 March 1881 | Ordered to be converted to a tank vessel in October 1904, but instead sold at Sheerness on 4 April 1905 |
| HMS Insolent | Pembroke Dockyard | 15 March 1881 | Gate vessel in January 1918. Foundered in Portsmouth Harbour on 1 July 1922; the wreck was sold to J H Pounds, Portsmouth, on 18 June 1925 |
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Handy | Charles Mitchell and Company, Walker | 30 December 1882 | Renamed Excellent in May 1891 as a training ship, then Calcutta on 1 November 1916, and finally Snapper in August 1917. Sold on 27 April 1924. She was sold again to Pounds shipbreakers in the 1970s but not broken up. She was finally scrapped in 2008.[5] |
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Drudge | Armstrong Whitworth | 15 June 1887 | Built for the Ordnance Department and transferred to the Royal Navy in 1901. Renamed Excellent on 21 November 1916 and Dryad on 26 January 1919. Renamed back to Drudge later in 1919 and sold on 27 March 1920 |
Torpedo ram
- Polyphemus class
- Polyphemus (1881)
- Hull 2 (cancelled 10 November 1882 before being named)
- Adventure (cancelled 12 August 1885)
Torpedo gunboats
- Rattlesnake (1886)
- Grasshopper class (1887)
- Sandfly (1887)
- Grasshopper (1887)
- Spider (1887)
- Sharpshooter class
- Sharpshooter (1888)
- Spanker (1889)
- Speedwell (1889)
- Seagull (1889)
- Salamander (1889)
- Sheldrake (1889)
- Skipjack (1889)
- Boomerang (1889)
- Karakatta (1889)
- Plassey (1890)
- Assaye (1890)
- Gossamer (1890)
- Gleaner (1890)
- Alarm class
- Jason (1892)
- Circe (1892)
- Hebe (1892)
- Onyx (1892)
- Leda (1892)
- Alarm (1892)
- Jaseur (1892)
- Renard (1892)
- Niger (1892)
- Speedy (1893)
- Antelope (1893)
- Dryad class
- Hazard (1894)
- Halcyon (1894)
- Harrier (1894)
- Hussar (1894)
- Dryad (1893)
Steel gunboats
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Dwarf | London & Glasgow, Govan | 15 November 1898 | Sold to Ward, Pembroke on 13 July 1926 |
| HMS Bramble | Potter, Liverpool | 26 November 1898 | Sold at Bombay on 26 January 1920 |
| HMS Britomart | Potter, Liverpool | 28 March 1899 | Sold at Bombay on 10 June 1920 and renamed Sakuntala |
| HMS Thistle | London & Glasgow, Govan | 22 June 1899 | Sold to Ward, Pembroke on 13 July 1926 |
River gunboats
Insect class (1915) The Insect-class gunboats were a class of small, but well-armed Royal Navy ships designed for use in shallow rivers or inshore. Several of them took also part in World War II.
- Aphis: built by Ailsa shipbuilding, scrapped Singapore, 1947
- Bee: built by Ailsa shipbuilding, flagship of Rear Admiral, Yangtze (RAY), sold in March 1939.
- Cicala: built by Barclay Curle, sunk by Japanese bombs on 21 December 1941.
- Cockchafer: built by Barclay Curle, sold for scrap in 1949, the last surviving member of the class.
- Cricket: built by Barclay Curle, heavily damaged by bombs on 29 June 1941; used as target by Royal Navy and sunk off Cyprus 1944.
- Glowworm: built by Barclay Curle, scrapped September 1928.
- Gnat: built by Lobnitz, damaged by U-boat 21 October 1941, declared total loss, and then used as anti-aircraft platform. Scrapped 1946
- Ladybird: built by Lobnitz, sunk on 12 May 1941 off Tobruk during World War II, then used as an anti-aircraft position
- Mantis: built by William Doxford & Sons, sold in January 1940 and subsequently scrapped.
- Moth: built by William Doxford & Sons, scuttled in Hong Kong 1941, captured and repaired by the Japanese and renamed Suma, sunk by mines in Yangtze River on 19 March 1945.
- Scarab: built by Wood, Skinner & Co, scrapped in 1948.
- Tarantula built by Wood, Skinner & Co, briefly flagship of the British Pacific Fleet, expended as a target 1946
Steam gunvessels
Wooden paddle gunvessels
- Pluto class (1831) – steam vessel rated from 1837 as a first-class steam gunvessel
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Pluto | Woolwich Dockyard | 28 April 1831 | Breaking completed at Sheerness on 26 March 1861 |
- Firebrand class (1831) – steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Firebrand | Curling, Young & Company, Limehouse | 11 July 1831 | Re-engined in 1833 and renamed Black Eagle on 5 February 1842, lengthened in 1843 and re-rated as a paddle yacht, completing service as Admiralty yacht until 1857. Broken up at Portsmouth in March 1876 |
| HMS Flamer | Fletcher & Fearnall, Limehouse | 11 August 1831 | Refitted for the Holyhead Station in 1848–49. Lost on the coast of West Africa off Monrovia on 22 November 1850 |
- Firefly class (1832) – steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Firefly | Woolwich Dockyard | 29 September 1832 | Re-engined in 1844 and became a survey ship. Broken up at Malta in 1866 |
| HMS Spitfire | Woolwich Dockyard | 26 March 1834 | Wrecked whilst working as a troop ship on Half Moon Cay lighthouse reef, Belize in 1842 |
- Tartarus class (1834) – steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Tartarus | Pembroke Dockyard | 23 June 1834 | Re-engined in 1837–38. Breaking completed at Malta on 6 November 1860 |
| HMS Blazer | Chatham Dockyard | 5.1834 | Became a survey ship in January 1843. Breaking up completed at Portsmouth in August 1853 |
- Lizard class (1840) – steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as second class steam gunvessels
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Lizard | Woolwich Dockyard | 7 January 1840 | Initially fitted for surveying. Lost in collision with the French armed steamer Veloce between Gibraltar and Cadiz on 26 July 1843 |
| HMS Locust | Woolwich Dockyard | 18 April 1840 | Became a tug in 1869. Sold at Sheerness in 1895 |
- Porcupine class (1844) – steam vessel reclassified in 1844 as a first-class steam gunvessel
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Porcupine | Deptford Dockyard | 17 June 1844 | Became a survey ship in 1862. Sold in 1883 |
- Spitfire class (1845) – steam vessel reclassified in 1844 as a first-class steam gunvessel
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Spitfire | Deptford Dockyard | 26 March 1845 | Became a survey ship in 1851 and a tug in 1861. Broken up at Bermuda in 1888 |
Iron paddle gunvessels
- Jackal class
- Jackall (1844)
- Lizard (1844)
- Torch class (1845)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| Torch | Ditchburn & Mare, Leamouth | 25 February 1845 | Sold at Sydney on 15 May 1856 |
| Harpy | Ditchburn & Mare, Leamouth | 4 March 1845 | Transferred to the War Office as a target on 26 October 1892 and sold as a wreck in 1909 |
- Bloodhound class
- Myrmidon class (1845)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| Myrmidon | Ditchburn & Mare, Leamouth | February 1845 | Sold at Fernando Po on 1 December 1858 |
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| Grappler | William Fairbairn & Company, Millwall | 30 December 1845 | Sold to W P Beach for breaking on 2 February 1850 |
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| Recruit | J Scott Russell & Robinson, Millwall | 1850 | Ex-Prussian Salamander, commissioned into the Royal Navy on 22 December 1854. Sold to E Bates on 23 September 1869 |
| Weser | J Scott Russell & Robinson, Millwall | 1850 | Ex-Prussian Nix, commissioned into the Royal Navy on 22 December 1854. Harbour service in 1866. Sold at Malta on 29 October 1873 |
NB. A third vessel of the class was retained by Prussia.
Wooden screw gunvessels
This section includes two early iron-hulled screw gunvessels ordered in May 1845, which in other respects were half-sisters to two wooden-hulled gunvessels ordered at the same time. The four vessels comprised the first-class gunvessels Rifleman (wooden hulled) and Sharpshooter (iron hulled), and the second-class gunvessels Teazer (wooden hulled) and Minx (iron hulled). Further vessels ordered later to the same design were either cancelled or built to very different concepts. Rifleman and Sharpshooter were re-classed as sloops in 1854.
- Rifleman class (wooden half-sisters to iron-hulled Sharpshooter)
- Rifleman (1845)
- Sepoy (cancelled 1849)
- Cossack (cancelled 1849)
- Sharpshooter class (iron half-sister to wooden Rifleman)
- Teazer class (wooden-hulled half-sisters to iron-hulled Minx)
- Teazer (1846)
- Boxer (cancelled 1849)
- Biter (cancelled 1849)
- Minx class (iron half-sister to wooden Teazer)
- Swallow class – 4 first-class gunvessels were ordered in 1852–1853; while still building, they were re-rated as third-class sloops in 1854 and will be found under the list of corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy.
- Arrow class – originally rated as "despatch vessels", these six ships were re-classed as second-class gunvessels in 1856.
- Arrow (1854)
- Beagle (1854)
- Lynx (1854)
- Snake (1854)
- Viper (1854)
- Wrangler (1854)
- Vigilant class
- Coquette (1855)
- Wanderer (1855)
- Alacrity (1855)
- Vigilant (1856)
- Lapwing (1856)
- Ringdove (1856)
- Surprise (1856)
- Renard (1856)
- Foxhound (1856)
- Mohawk (1856)
- Sparrowhawk (1856)
- Osprey (1856)
- Cormorant (1856)
- Assurance (1856)
- Intrepid class
- Flying Fish (1855)
- Pioneer (1856)
- Victor (1855)
- Intrepid (1855)
- Roebuck (1856)
- Nimrod (1856)
- Philomel (or Ranger) class
- Ranger (1859)
- Espoir (1860)
- Landrail (1860)
- Nimble (1860)
- Speedwell (1861)
- Pandora (1861)
- Lee (1860)
- Dart (1860)
- Snipe (1860)
- Sparrow (1860)
- Torch (1859)
- Plover (1860)
- Penguin (1860)
- Steady (1860)
- Cygnet (1860)
- Griffon (1860)
- Mullett (1860)
- Philomel (1860)
- Newport (1867)
- Alban (cancelled)
- Jaseur (1862)
- Humber (cancelled)
- Undine (cancelled)
- Rye (cancelled)
- Portia (cancelled)
- Discovery (cancelled)
- Cormorant (or Eclipse) class (1860)
- Cormorant (1860)
- Racehorse (1860)
- Serpent (1860)
- Star (1860)
- Eclipse (1860)
- Lily (1861)
- Sylvia (1866)
- Nassau (1866)
- Myrmidon (1867)
- Tartarus (cancelled 1864)
- Pegasus (cancelled 1863)
- Albatross (cancelled 1863)
- Guernsey (cancelled 1863)
- Plover class (1867)
- Plover (1867)
- Ringdove (1867)
- Philomel (1867)
- Lapwing (1867)
- Magpie (1868)
- Bullfinch (1868)
- Seagull (1868)
- Curlew (1868)
- Swallow (1868)
- Bittern (1869)
- Vulture (1869)
- Woodlark (1871)
Composite screw gunvessels
The gunvessels designed from 1867 onwards were of composite construction, i.e. they had an iron keel, stem and stern posts, and iron framing, with wooden planking retained over the iron frames.
- Beacon class (1867)
- Beacon (1867)
- Avon (1867)
- Gnat (1867)
- Cracker (1867)
- Dwarf (1867)
- Flirt (1867)
- Fly (1867)
- Elk (1868)
- Boxer (1868)
- Thistle (1868)
- Hornet (1868)
- Rocket (1868)
- Lynx (1868)
- Teazer (1868)
- Midge (1868)
- Pert (1868)
- Hart (1868)
- Growler (1868)
- Frolic class (1872)
- Frolic (1872)
- Kestrel (1872)
- Ready (1872)
- Rifleman (1872)
- Arab class (1874)
- Condor class
- Flamingo (1876)
- Griffon (1876)
- Condor (1876)
- Falcon (1877)
- Linnet class (1879)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Swift | Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Company, Leamouth, London | 29 November 1879 | Sold at Hong Kong in 1920 for mercantile use, renamed Hoi Ching |
| HMS Linnet | Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Company, Leamouth, London | 30 January 1880 | Sold as a salvage vessel on 27 April 1904 |
- Algerine class
- Rambler (1880)
- Ranger (1880)
- Algerine (1880)
- Dolphin class (1882)
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Dolphin | William Raylton Dixon, Middlesbrough | 9 December 1882 | Sailing training ship in 1899. Hulked as accommodation for submarines in 1907. Submarine depot ship in 1912. Sold on 13 March 1925, but foundered under tow on 19 April 1925, then raised and beached; and used as an accommodation school ship until broken up in 1977 at Bo'ness |
| HMS Wanderer | William Raylton Dixon, Middlesbrough | 8 February 1883 | Sailing training ship (brig-rigged) in 1894. Sold to Ward, Preston for breaking in February 1907 |
Like the preceding Arab to Dolphin classes, these were designed by Nathaniel Barnaby; they were re-classed as screw sloops on 26 November 1884.
| Name | Builder | Launched | Fate |
| HMS Mariner | Devonport Dockyard | 23 June 1884 | Boom defence 1903; salvage vessel 1917,laid up 1922, then sold to Hughes Bolckow, Blyth on 19 February 1929 for breaking up. |
| HMS Reindeer | Devonport Dockyard | 14 November 1883 | Boom defence 1904; salvage vessel 1917, renamed Reindeer I. Sold as salvage ship 12 July 1924; abandoned at sea March 1932. |
| HMS Racer | Devonport Dockyard | 6 August 1884 | Tender to Britannia at Dartmouth 1896; to Portsmouth February 1903. Salvage vessel June 1917. Sold to Hughes Bolckow, Blyth on 6 November 1928 for breaking up. |
| HMS Icarus | Devonport Dockyard | 27 July 1885 | Sold 12 April 1904. |
| HMS Acorn | Milford Haven Shipbuilding Company | 6 September 1884 | Sold 15 December 1899 for breaking, which took place at Milford Haven in 1904. |
| HMS Melita | Malta Dockyard | 20 March 1888 | Boom defence May 1905; salvage vessel December 1915, renamed Ringdove; sold to Falmouth Docks Board on 9 July 1920. |
Steel torpedo-and-gunvessels
Notes
- ^
The dictionary definition of gunboat at Wiktionary - ^ The dictionary definition of gunvessel at Wiktionary
References
- ^ Stranack, Royal Navy, Lieutenant-Commander B. Ian D (1977). The Andrew and The Onions: The Story of The Royal Navy in Bermuda, 1795–1975. Bermuda: Island Press Ltd. ISBN 9780921560036.
- ^ Gould, Richard A. (22 February 2007). "The archaeology of HMS Vixen, an early ironclad ram in Bermuda". Taylor & Francis Group Online. Informa UK Limited. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ Moore, Peter (5 April 2019). "15 stunningly beautiful shipwrecks you must visit: 2. H.M.S. Vixen, Bermuda". Wanderlust. Wanderlust. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
The HMS Vixen was an armoured gunboat that served with distinction, protecting the Royal Navy Dockyard in Bermuda. After finishing her days as an accommodation hulk for dockyard workers, the Vixen was scuttled off Daniel's Head in 1895, laying in a narrow gap in the coral reef, with the bow just above water.
- ^ Lewinski, John Scott (17 March 2023). "Destinations-East Coast & Bermuda-Where to Go Snorkeling in Bermuda: HMS Vixen Wreck, Daniel's Head". Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Cruises, Inc. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
Sunk deliberately, the HMS Vixen was a Royal Navy gunboat launched out of the UK in 1866. After serving her military career, she was supposed to be sold for scrap in Bermuda. However, the military brain trust at the time decided Bermuda needed protective barriers in key spots around the island. The Vixen was scuttled in 1896 near Daniel's Head off Bermuda's west coast.
- ^ Jordan, John, ed. (2009), "Warship notes", Warship 2009, Anova Books, p. 170, ISBN 978-1-84486-089-0
