HMS Pioneer was a 4-gun Intrepid-class gunvessel launched on 19 January 1856 from the Pembroke Dockyard.[2] She saw active service in China and was decommissioned in 1864.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Pioneer |
| Ordered | 18 April 1855 |
| Builder | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Laid down | July 1855 |
| Launched | 19 January 1856 |
| Commissioned | 31 May 1856 |
| Decommissioned | October 1864 |
| Fate | Sold for breaking up at Plymouth in 1865 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Intrepid-class gunvessel |
| Tons burthen | 868 49/94 bm |
| Length | 200 ft (61 m) pp |
| Beam | 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) |
| Installed power | 1,150 ihp (860 kW)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Sail plan | Barque |
| Speed | 11.3 knots (20.9 km/h) |
| Complement | 100 |
| Armament |
|
Service history
editShe was commissioned to the North America and West Indies Station before serving as part of the Channel Squadron.[3] She was then assigned to the East Indies Station and China Station where she participated in the Taiping Rebellion. She was then assigned to the Australia Station in 1862 serving until 1863.[4]
Fate
editUpon returning to Plymouth, she was sold to Marshall in October 1864 for breaking in 1865.[1]
Named in her honour
editThe Queensland Governor, George Bowen, named the Pioneer River in Queensland, Australia after the ship in which he visited the river in 1862.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c Winfield (2008) p.220-221
- ^ Bastock, p.32.
- ^ "HMS Pioneer". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ Bastock, p.33.
- ^ "Pioneer River (entry 26973)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 January 2016.