HMS Sepoy (1856)

HMS "Sepoy" was a 4-gun "Albacore"-class gunboat of the Royal Navy launched in 1856 and broken up in 1868.

Construction

The "Albacore" class was ordered to meet the sudden need for shallow-draft vessels in the Black Sea and Baltic Sea during the Crimean War. Many of them were built of unseasoned timber, and their lives were consequently short. "Sepoy" was launched on 13 February 1856 at the North Shields yard of T & W Smith, and commissioned seven weeks later.

Career

Accoring to "The Times" of 12 March 1856, the gunboats "Sepoy" and "Erne" left the Tyne in tow of the "Cock-o'-the-North", for Woolwich. ["The Times (London)", Wednesday, March 12 1856, p.9] She was present at the Fleet Review, Spithead on 23 April the same year, as part of the White Squadron ["The Times (London)", Thursday, April 24 1856, p.7] , and, in company with HM gunboats "Bullfrog", "Carnation" and "Spanker", from the 1st Div of Steam Reserve at Sheerness, she went to Gravesend on 5 March 1863 to take on board the RN Volunteers of the London division. They were embarked to in firing a Royal salute on the arrival of the Princess Alexandra ["The Times (London)", Wednesday, March 4 1863, p.12]

Disposal

"Sepoy" was broken up in 1868.

References