HMS Viper was a six-gun Cockatrice-class schooner built for the Royal Navy during the 1830s. She was sold for scrap in 1851.

History
United Kingdom
NameViper
NamesakeViper
Ordered11 September 1828
BuilderPembroke Dockyard
Laid downJune 1830
Launched12 May 1831
Completed31 August 1831
ReclassifiedAs packet boat, 1831
FateBroken up, May 1851
General characteristics
Class and typeCockatrice-class schooner
Tons burthen18135/94 bm
Length
  • 80 ft (24.4 m) (gundeck)
  • 64 ft 6 in (19.7 m) (keel)
Beam23 ft 3 in (7.1 m)
Draught9 ft 5 in (2.9 m)
Depth9 ft 11 in (3.0 m)
Sail planbrigantine rig
Complement33–42
Armament2 × 6-pdr cannon; 4 × 12-pdr carronades

Description

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Viper had a length at the gundeck of 80 feet (24.4 m) and 64 feet 6 inches (19.7 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 23 feet 3 inches (7.1 m), a draught of about 9 feet 5 inches (2.9 m) and a depth of hold of 9 feet 11 inches (3.0 m). The ship's tonnage was 181 35/94 tons burthen.[1] The Cockatrice class was armed with two 6-pounder cannon and four 12-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 33–42 officers and ratings.[2]

Construction and career

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Viper, the twelfth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 11 September 1828, laid down in June 1820 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 12 May 1831.[2] She was completed on 31 August 1831 at Plymouth Dockyard.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Winfield, pp. 1202–03
  2. ^ a b Winfield & Lyon, p. 138
  3. ^ Colledge, pp. 375–76

References

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  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Phillips, Lawrie; Lieutenant Commander (2014). Pembroke Dockyard and the Old Navy: A Bicentennial History. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5214-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (epub). Barnsley, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.
  • Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555.