HMS Unicorn (1824)

HMS "Unicorn" and her sister ship, HMS "Trincomalee", are surviving sailing frigates of the successful "Leda" class. "Unicorn" is now a museum ship in Dundee, United Kingdom.

HMS "Unicorn" was built in peacetime at Chatham Dockyard and launched in 1824. A superstructure was built over her main deck and she was laid up "in ordinary", serving as a hulk and a depot ship for most of the next 140 years. Her lack of active duty left her timbers well preserved, and in the 1960s steps were initiated to convert her to a museum ship. Though steps were taken, including the addition of the totally new bowsprit visible in the picture, to restore "Unicorn" to a similar condition as her sister, HMS "Trincomalee", this plan has been changed. It was discovered that the ship was the only example of a wooden frigate of her type existing 'in ordinary,' and as a result the intention is now to preserve her in her current condition.

"Unicorn has never been to sea 'cept when she was towed from Chatham to Dundee."" " [Built at Chatham - never masted] "

ee also

*HMS "Trincomalee"
*HMS "Leda"

External links

* [http://www.frigateunicorn.org/ HMS "Unicorn" - official site]
* [http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/ships/html/sh_094900_hmsunicorn.htm HMS "Unicorn" - webpage] , ""
* [http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/498 HMS "Unicorn" - webpage] , "National Historic Ships"
* [http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/historic/leda/leda.htm Origin of the "Leda" class frigate]
* [http://post.queensu.ca/cgi-bin/listserv/wa?A2=ind0503&L=marhst-l&F=&S=&P=88650 Funding crisis could sink HMS "Unicorn"]