List of bomb vessels of the Royal Navy

The concept entered the Navy in the 1680s, based on French designs and usage, and remained in service until the mid-19th century.

[1] They were fleet support units, and as such were not intended to engage enemy ships directly except in self-defence, and so received only light conventional armament.

[3] Racehorse, Furnace, Carcass, Fury, Hecla, Erebus and Terror, among others, all went on to serve as exploration vessels.

[6] Bomb vessels were first used by the Royal Navy during the Nine Years War, when French coastal towns such as Dunkirk and St Malo were bombarded by English fleets.

[7] The concept of Royal Navy bomb vessels was first proposed by naval draughtsman Edward Dummer, who observed their French counterparts in action in the 1684 Bombardment of Genoa.

Dummer was unable to go aboard any of the French bomb vessels, but took detailed sketches of their design and operation and was later granted an audience to present these to King Charles II of England later that year.

Both vessels were broadly similar to ketches but with two 12 1⁄2 inch mortars installed in fixed positions before the main mast.

[8] To fill the gap in operational capability while the 1695 Serpent class vessels were under construction, a number of merchant ships were purchased and converted.

[7] Captured from Spain: Converted from naval yachts of the same name: The existing fleet of bomb vessels was augmented in wartime with the temporary conversion of ship sloops.

[13] The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 led to a revival of the concept of the bomb vessel, but on a much smaller scale.

[14] In addition to these vessels, several old sailing frigates that had recently been converted to screw propulsion were earmarked for fitting with mortars.