Clown class gunboat
A typical 'Crimea gunboat'
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Clown class |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy
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| Preceded by: | Cheerful class |
| Succeeded by: | Algerine class |
| Built: | 1856 |
| In commission: | 1856 – 1871 |
| Completed: | 12 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | 'Crimean' gunboat |
| Tons burthen: | 232 80⁄94 tons bm |
| Length: |
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| Beam: | 21 ft 10 in (6.65 m) |
| Draught: | 4 ft 0 in (1.22 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h) |
| Crew: | 30 |
| Armament: | 1 × 68-pounder, 1 × 32-pounder SBML guns |
The Clown-class gunboat was a class of twelve gunboats ordered by the Royal Navy in January 1856 for use in the Crimean War, although by the time they were completed, later that year, the Crimean War was over and some of these gunboats were sent to the Far East and took part in the Second Opium War.
The Clown class was an improved version of the preceding Cheerful class designed by W.H. Walker. The ships were wooden-hulled, with steam power as well as sails, and of particularly shallow draught (design draught 4 ft (1.2 m)) for coastal bombardment in shallow waters.
Ships of the class were provided with a typical "gunboat rig" of three gaff rigged masts with a total sail area of 4,889 sq ft (454.2 m2).
One-cylinder horizontal direct-acting single-expansion steam engine built by John Penn and Sons, with two boilers, provided 40 nominal horsepower through a single screw, sufficient for 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph).
Ships of the class were armed with one 68-pounder and one 32-pounder smooth bore muzzle loading cannons.
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