HMS Skylark (1826)

HMS Skylark was a 10-gun Cherokee-class brig-sloop built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s. She was wrecked in 1845.

History
United Kingdom
Name:	Skylark
Namesake:	Skylark
Ordered:	25 March 1823
Builder:	Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down:	May 1825
Launched:	6 May 1826
Completed:	22 February 1827
Fate:	Wrecked, 25 April 1845
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cherokee-class brig-sloop
Tons burthen:	236 78/94 bm
Length:	90 ft 2 in (27.5 m) (gundeck) 73 ft 9 in (22.5 m) (keel)
Beam:	24 ft 9 in (7.5 m)
Draught:	9 ft 4 in (2.8 m)
Depth:	11 ft (3.4 m)
Sail plan:	Brig
Complement:	52
Armament:	2 × 6-pdr cannon; 8 × 18-pdr carronades

Description

Skylark had a length at the gundeck of 90 feet (27.4 m) and 73 feet 3 inches (22.3 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 24 feet 11 inches (7.6 m), a draught of about 9 feet 4 inches (2.8 m) and a depth of hold of 11 feet (3.4 m). The ship's tonnage was 234 67/94 tons burthen.[1] The Cherokee class was armed with two 6-pounder cannon and eight 18-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 52 officers and ratings.[2]

Construction and career

Skylark, the second ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 25 March 1823, laid down in May 1825 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 6 June 1826.[2] She was completed on 22 February 1827 at Plymouth Dockyard.[1] On 25 March 1842, she was driven ashore at Greenock, Renfrewshire. She was refloated and taken into port.[4] On 25 April 1845, Skylark was driven ashore and wrecked at St Alban's Head, Dorset. Her crew survived.[5]

Notes

1. Winfield, p. 1077
2. Winfield & Lyon, p. 124
3. Colledge, p. 324
4. "Shipping Intelligence". The Morning Chronicle (22576). London. 29 March 1842.
5. "Ship News". The Times (18909). London. 28 April 1845. col E-F, p. 7.

References

• 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.
• 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.