HMY Victoria and Albert

HMY Victoria and Albert was a twin-paddle steamer launched 25 April 1843. It functioned as a royal yacht of the sovereign of the United Kingdom, owned and operated by the Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1842 at Pembroke Dock and was designed by William Symonds. She measured 1,034 tons burthen, carried two guns, and was the first royal yacht to be steam powered, being fitted with a 430 horsepower (320 kW) engine.

For other ships with the same name, see List of ships named HMY Victoria and Albert.

HMY Victoria and Albert
HMY Victoria and Albert, depicted during a royal visit to Le Tréport, France; September 1843.
History
Namesake: Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort
Builder: Pembroke Dock
Laid down: 1842
Launched: 25 April 1843
Renamed: Osborne, 1855
Fate: Scrapped, 1868
General characteristics
Type: Royal Yacht
Tons burthen: 1034
Installed power: 430 hp (320 kW) steam engine
Propulsion: Twin paddles
Armament: 2 guns

Steam yachts, first introduced in 1823, became popular amongst Victorian millionaires and Royalty around Europe. [1]

She was lengthened in 1853. She was 200 feet and emerged at 260 x 33 x 22 feet, displacement 1,382 tons, with new engines of 600 horsepower (450 kW).[2]

She made twenty voyages. She was renamed Osborne, after the launch of HMY Victoria and Albert II on 16 January 1855.

Her Majesty's Yacht Osborne continued in service, conveying the Royal Family to their summer home, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight.[1] She was named after the Queen's new estate.

In the 1861 Census, Osborne, 'and her hulk Blonde' had on board, Master Commanding G H K Bowers; a master, boatswain, assistant engineer, quartermaster, 2 carpenters, 11 seamen, 3 stokers and 6 boys.[3]

On 15 February 1862 the Prince of Wales boarded Osborne at Triest, having arrived by train. The Royal party stopped at Venice, the Dalmatian Coast, Corfu and Ionian Islands. She received a 21 gun salute at Alexandria. The tour continued via Jaffa, Constantinople, Athens, Malta and France, to return by train.[4]

Osborne was scrapped in 1868.c.

The ship's figurehead is preserved above the door of the South Office Block in Portsmouth's Royal Dockyard.[5]

References
  1. Holland, Julian (2012). Amazing & Extraordinary Facts; The Steam Age. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. "www.worldnavalships.com".
  3. "Osborne's 1861 census page".
  4. Cities, Citadels, and Sights of the Near East. 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  5. "Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust".

Bibliography
  • Jones, Colin (1996). "Entente Cordiale, 1865". In McLean, David & Preston, Antony (eds.). Warship 1996. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-685-X.


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