HMS Acheron (1838)

HMS Acheron was the last Hermes-class wooden paddle sloop ordered for the Royal Navy. She was launched at Sheerness in 1838. She spent two commissions in the Mediterranean before being reclassed as a survey ship in 1847. Between 1848 and 1851 she made a coastal survey of New Zealand, the first such survey since Captain Cook. She was paid off at Sydney and was tender to HMS Calliope. She was sold at Sydney in 1855.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Acheron.

Acheron in New Zealand
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Acheron
Ordered15 September 1837
BuilderSheerness dockyard
Cost£25,509
Laid downOctober 1837
Launched23 August 1838
Commissioned8 January 1839
Fate
  • Survey ship, 1847
  • Sold at Sydney, 23 April 1855
General characteristics
TypePaddle sloop
Displacement1,006 tons
Tons burthen715 43/94 bm
Length
  • 150 ft 0 in (45.7 m) gundeck
  • 128 ft 0 in (39.0 m) keel for tonnage
Beam
  • 32 ft 9 in (10.0 m) maximum
  • 32 ft 5 in (9.9 m) for tonnage
Draught
  • 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) (forward)
  • 12 ft 0 in (3.7 m) (aft)
Depth of hold17 ft 0 in (5.2 m)
Installed power160 nominal horsepower
Propulsion
  • 2-cylinder side lever steam engine
  • Paddles
Sail plan3-masted barque
Complement135
Armament
  • As built:
  • 2 × 9-pounder (13 1⁄2 cwt) brass guns
  • From 1842:
  • 1 × 8-inch (52 cwt) pivot gun
  • 2 × 32-pounder (17 cwt) carronades

Acheron was the second named vessel since it was used for an 8-gun Bomb, purchased in October 1803 then captured by the French in the Mediterranean and burnt on 3 February 1805.

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