View source for HMS Valorous (1851)

{{short description|Frigate of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Valorous}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Valorous (1851).jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Valorous'', a sketch by [[William Lionel Wyllie|W L Wyllie]]
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Valorous''
|Ship ordered=25 April 1847
|Ship builder=[[Pembroke Dockyard]]
|Ship laid down=March 1849
|Ship launched=30 April 1851
|Ship acquired=
|Ship completed=7 July 1853
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]], 27 February 1891
|Ship notes=
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class={{sclass|Magicienne|frigate|0||1849}} second-class [[paddle wheel|paddle]] [[frigate]]
|Ship tons burthen=1,256<small>{{fraction|69|94}}</small> [[Builder's Old Measurement|bm]]
|Ship length={{convert|210|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|36|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draught={{cvt|8|ft|8|in|m|1}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship power=400 [[nhp]], {{convert|1300|ihp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
|Ship hold depth={{convert|24|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Paddle wheels; [[Marine steam engine|oscillating steam engines]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|9|-|10|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship complement=175
|Ship armament=*[[Gundeck]]: 10 × 32 pdr guns
*Upper deck: 1 × [[68-pounder gun]], 1 × {{cvt|10|in}} gun, 4 × 32 pdr guns
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Valorous''''' was one of two 16-gun, steam-powered  {{sclass|Magicienne|frigate|0||1849}} second-class [[paddle wheel|paddle]] [[frigate]]s built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the 1850s. [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]] in 1853 she played a small role in the [[Crimean War]] of 1854–1855 and was sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in 1891.

==Design and construction==
The ''Magicienne''-class ships had a length at the [[gun deck]] of {{convert|210|ft|m}} and {{convert|185|ft|6|in|m|1}} at the [[keel]]. They had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|36|ft|m}}, and a depth of [[hold (ship)|hold]] of {{convert|24|ft|6|in|m|1}}. The ships' [[tonnage]] was 1,256<small>{{fraction|69|94}}</small> tons [[Builder's Old Measurement|burthen]] and they had a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|8|ft|8|in|m|1}}. Their crew numbered 175 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=RW>Winfield, p. 1432</ref>

The ships were fitted with a pair of 2-cylinder [[Marine steam engine|oscillating steam engines]], rated at 400 [[nominal horsepower]], that drove their [[paddlewheel]]s. The engines produced {{convert|1300|ihp|lk=on}} in service that gave them speeds of {{convert|9|-|10|kn|lk=in}}. The ships were armed with eight 32-pounder (56 cwt)<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 56 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> cannon on the [[gundeck]]. On the upper deck were one each 68-pounder (95 cwt) and a {{convert|10|in|adj=on|0}} (85 cwt) shell guns as well as four more 32-pounders.<ref name=WL>Lyon & Winfield, p. 155</ref>

[[File:The Niagara, Valorous, Gordon and Agamemnon laying the cable at mid-ocean RMG PU6212.tiff|thumb|''Niagara'', ''Valorous'', ''Gorgon'' (misspelt ''Gordon'') and ''Agamemnon'' laying the [[Transatlantic telegraph cable]] at mid-ocean in 1858]]

''Valorous'' was built at a cost of [[pound sterling|£]]69,064, of which her machinery cost £24,329.<ref name=RW/> She was originally ordered on 25 April 1847 as a first-class [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] to John Edye's design, approved on 12 August 1847. On 5 August they were re-ordered as {{convert|210|ft|m|abbr=on}} vessels.  When finished, they constituted the last group of paddle warships built for the Royal Navy.<ref name=WL/>

==Career==
In 1852 she was in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], then in 1854 she was assigned to the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref name=Mackay138/> On 23 July, ''Valorous'' ran aground off [[Åland]], [[Grand Duchy of Finland]]. She was severely damaged, losing her forefoot and keel and being holed. A sail was placed over the hole and her crew managed to prevent her from sinking.<ref name=Times010854>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Baltic Fleet |date=1 August 1854 |page=10 |issue=21812 |column=E-F }}</ref> In 1855 she operated in the [[Black Sea]] during the [[Crimean War]].  In 1857 she was on the [[North America and West Indies Station]], and from 1863 until she was paid off in September 1867 she operated off the [[Cape of Good Hope]].<ref name=Mackay138/> On 10 January 1871, she was driven from her moorings and ran aground at [[Plymouth]], [[Devon]]. Damage was described as slight.<ref name=NC130171>{{Cite news |title=Marine Intelligence |newspaper=Newcastle Courant |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |date=13 January 1871 |issue=10229 }}</ref> Carrying extra stores, she accompanied the [[British Arctic Expedition]] ships {{HMS|Alert|1856|2}} and {{HMS|Discovery|1874|2}} as far as [[Qeqertarsuaq|Qeqertarsuaq, Godhavn]] in 1875.<ref>{{cite book |title=Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia |first=William James |last=Mills |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-57607-422-0}}</ref> On 27 July, ''Valorous'' ran aground {{convert|10|nmi|km}} off [[Sisimiut|Holstenborg]], Greenland. She was refloated and found to be leaky. She was taken in to Holstenborg for repairs, which took ten days. A watertight bulkhead was inserted at the bow as part of the repairs.<ref name=BO010975>{{Cite news |title=Collision at Sea |newspaper=Bradford Observer |location=Bradford |date=1 September 1875 |issue=3955 |page=3 |volume=42 }}</ref> In 1878 she was commanded by [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Captain John A Fisher (later Admiral of the Fleet)]].<ref name=Mackay138>Mackay, pp. 138–139</ref>
[[File:The accident to the P. and O. Steamer 'Australia' - The Graphic 1879.jpg|thumb|The accident to the [[P&O]] Steamer ''Australia'', where ''Valourous'' came to assist. ''The Graphic'' 1879]]
[[File:Irish Relief Squadron, under the Duke of Edinburgh distributing Stores from HMS 'Valorous' at Killerran - ILN 1880.jpg|thumb|The Irish Relief Squadron, under the [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Duke of Edinburgh]], ''Valorous'' distributing stores at [[County Galway|Killerran]]. [[Illustrated London News]] 1880]]

==Disposal==
She was sold on 27 February 1891 to E Marshall of [[Plymouth]] for breaking up.<ref name=RW/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book |last1=Lyon |first1=David |last2=Winfield |first2=Rif |name-list-style=amp |title=The Sail and Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889 |publisher=Chatham |year=2004 |isbn=1-86176-032-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Mackay |first=Ruddock F. |title=Fisher of Kilverstone |location=London |year=1973 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}
* {{cite book|last1=Winfield|first1=Rif|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|date=2008|publisher=Seaforth|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84415-700-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ge8kCwAAQBAJ}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2229 History of HMS ''Valorous'']

{{Magicienne class paddle frigate}}
{{1854 shipwrecks}}
{{1871 shipwrecks}}
{{1875 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valorous}}
[[Category:1851 ships]]
[[Category:Frigates of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Victorian-era frigates of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built in Pembroke Dock]]
[[Category:Crimean War naval ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1854]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in January 1871]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1875]]