British Sixth Rate frigate 'Challenger' (1826)

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Challenger

3540
Nominal Guns28B181
NationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
OperatorRoyal Navy
Ordered27.6.1825B181
Keel Laid Down11.1825B181
Launched14.11.1826B181
How acquiredPurpose builtB181
ShipyardPortsmouth Dockyard - Portsmouth B181
Designed by
John HayesBritish
Ship Builder
B181
CategorySixth RateB181
Ship TypeFrigate
Sailing RigShip Rigged
Wrecked19.5.1835B181

Dimensions


DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentB181
Length of Gundeck125' 7 ½"Imperial Feet38.1127 
Length of Keel105' 11 ½"Imperial Feet32.0167 
Breadth32' 8 ½"Imperial Feet9.7663 
Depth in Hold9' 3 ¼"Imperial Feet2.7496 
Burthen602 91⁄94Tons BM 

Armament


3.1827Broadside Weight = 383 Imperial Pound ( 173.6905 kg)B181
Upper Gun Deck20 British 32-Pound Carronade
Quarterdeck6 British 18-Pound Carronade
Bow Chaser2 British 9-Pounder

Crew Complement


Date# of MenNotesSource
3.1827175Design complementB181

2 Ship Commanders


DatesRankNameSource
2.7.1827 - 8.1828Captain
Adolphus FitzclarenceBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1814-1853
W02514.6.1833 - 19.5.1835Captain
Michael SeymourBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1801-1864
W033

1 Commissioned Officer


DatesRankNameSource
23.11.1826 - 7.1828Lieutenant
Cheesman Henry BinsteadBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1810-1841
NBD1849

1 Warrant Officer


DatesRankNameSource
25.9.1827 - 29.4.1828Master
Robert BeecroftBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1816-1834
ref:1871

Service History


DateEventSource
19.5.1835

Wrecked off Mocha on the coast of Chile

B181

 
Previous comments on this page

Posted by jude de angulo on Friday 7th of October 2022 08:52

In August 1826 Fremantle was promoted to captain and in 1828 took command of the 26-gun frigate Challenger,and sent to claim the west coast of Australia for the United Kingdom. Challenger was dispatched by the Admiralty from the Cape of Good Hope on 20 March 1829, anchored in Cockburn Sound on 27 April and landing on Garden Island on 2 May. A week later he hoisted the British flag on the south head of the mouth of the Swan River and took formal possession in the name of His Majesty King George IV of "all that part of New Holland (Australia) which is not included within the territory of New South Wales.

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