HMS Thunderer (1831)

HMS "Thunderer" was a two-deck 84-gun second rate ship of the line, a modified version of the "Canopus"/"Formidable"-class launched on 22 September 1831 at Woolwich Dockyard.

She was constructed with diagonal framing and improved underwater lines on the principles of Sir William Symonds, Surveyor of the Navy. In 1840, HMS "Thunderer" fought in the Syria campaign, taking part in the battle of Sidon, which was the last fleet action conducted purely by wooden ships of the line under sail. In the same year she acted as flagship at the bombardment and capture of the fortress at St. Jean d'Acre, which was the first action at which steam vessels were present, albeit as support vessels rather than fighting ships. She was fitted with iron-clad plate in 1863 for trials of new armour-piercing guns.

She was hulked in 1863 as a target ship at Portsmouth. "Thunderer" was renamed twice in quick succession: first in 1869 to "Comet", and again in 1870 to "Nettle". HMS "Nettle" was sold in 1901.

Notes

References

* [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2186 Mid-Victorian RN vessel HMS Thunderer] . Retrieved 20 November 2007.
*Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.