HMS_Harrier_(1854)

HMS <i>Harrier</i> (1854)

HMS Harrier (1854)

Sloop of the Royal Navy

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Harrier.

HMS Harrier was a Royal Navy Cruizer-class screw sloop launched in 1854. She took part in the Crimean War, served on the Australia Station and took part in the New Zealand Wars. She was broken up in 1865

Quick Facts History, United Kingdom ...

Construction

Harrier was launched on 13 May 1854 from Pembroke Dockyard.[2]

Service history

Crimean War

Boats of the Harrier and Cuckoo destroying Russian shipping at Nystad, in 1855. Illustrated London News from a sketch by John Wilson Carmichael

From 1854 to 1856 Harrier took part in the Crimean War as part of the naval force in the Baltic Sea. She served on the South Atlantic Station before refitting in Portsmouth in 1860.[3]

Australia station

She recommissioned on 29 October 1860 for the Australia Station. She undertook a punitive action against Fijian natives in 1863.

New Zealand Wars

The action for which Samuel Mitchell was awarded the Victoria Cross

She took part in the rescue operations when HMS Orpheus was wrecked in Manukau Harbour, New Zealand and was also grounded but was refloated. She undertook operations during the Invasion of Waikato and the Tauranga Campaign in New Zealand. Her captain, Commander Edward Hay, was killed on 30 April 1864 during the storming of Gate Pā,[3] and his coxswain, Samuel Mitchell, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Fate

Harrier paid off at Portsmouth on 31 March 1865 and was broken up the next year.[1]

Citations

  1. [1]
    Winfield (2004) pp.213-215
  2. [2]
    Bastock, p.34.
  3. [3]
    "HMS Harrier". Retrieved 17 March 2010.

References

  • 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.
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