HMS Cyclops (1839)

HMS Cyclops was a paddle wheel steam frigate built for the Royal Navy and launched in 1839 and taken out of service in 1861 and sold for breaking in January 1864.

Built in the Royal Navy dockyard in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire in Wales[1] with a wooden hull, she weighed 1,195 tons, had six guns and was propelled by a paddle in the middle of the ship[2] powered by J.

The Cyclops was originally intended as a sister ship for the Gorgon but in July 1838 her design was altered by adding a 12 foot long midships section and she became a steam frigate, changing to a corvette in the 1850s.

[9] Ali invaded Syria and took control of the Ottoman Fleet forcing young Sultan Abdülmecid I to request help from the European powers.

[9] Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia agreed to assist and issued an ultimatum to Ali demanding his withdrawal from Ottoman possessions (Arabia, Crete and Syria) in return for being made hereditary Viceroy of Egypt.

[10] On 25 September Cyclops arrived at Sidon, the main Egyptian southern division supplies depot, alongside HMS Thunderer, Gorgon, Wasp, Stromboli, Hydra, SMS Guerriera (Austrian) and Gulfideh (Ottoman).

[8] Cyclops remained in the theatre until leaving for Malta in October and saw action at Tsour, the Syrian War continued into November 1840.

From November to December 1846 she was commanded by Captain William Frederick Lapidge off the south-east coast of America following which she formed part of the Channel Squadron.

[11] From July 1848 her captain was George Fowler Hastings, during whose command she transported soldiers to Ireland and saw service on the west coast of Africa until February 1851.

[3] From September 1857 under Captain William John Samuel Pullen she was in the East Indies and China and was involved in surveying the Red Sea and Ceylon.

[19][20][21][22] Her final service was to lay a submarine cable between Karachi and Aden to complete the telegraph link between London and India.