The Vigilant-class gunvessel of the Royal Navy was an enlarged version of the Arrow-class gunvessel of 1854. Both classes were designed for shallow-water operations in the Baltic and Black Seas during the Crimean War. Fourteen of the class were completed, but were ready too late to take part in that conflict. Cormorant was sunk in action at the Taku Forts, Osprey was wrecked on the coast of Africa in 1867 and the rest were all sold during the 1860s, with Sparrowhawk lasting until 1872.
Design The class were designed as second-class despatch and gunvessels. They were intended to operate close inshore during the Crimean War and were essentially enlarged versions of the Arrow-class gunvessel, which has been designed by the Surveyor’s Department in 1854.
Propulsion A two-cylinder horizontal single expansion steam engine produced (varying between vessels) between and through a single screw, and gave a top speed of about 11 knots.
Sail plan All Vigilant-class gunvessels were barque-rigged.
Armament Although designed with a pair of 68-pounder Lancaster muzzle-loading rifles, the Vigilant class were finished with one / Armstrong breech-loading gun, one Lancaster muzzle-loading rifled gun and two 20-pounder breech loaders.
Ships NameShip BuilderLaunchedFateR & H Green25 October 1855Broken up by White at Cowes in 1868R & H Green22 November 1855Broken up by Castle at Charlton, arriving on 31 August 1866C J Mare & Company20 March 1856Sold to Castle for breaking at Charlton on 7 October 1864C J Mare & Company20 March 1856Ordered to be sold at Bombay on 25 February 1869J. & R. White26 January 1856Sold to Marshall, Plymouth in 1864 and broken up in 1865J. & R. White22 February 1856Sold on 2 June 1865 and broken up by White at Cowes in November 1866Money Wigram & Son6 March 1856Broken up by Marshall, Plymouth in November 1866C J Mare & Company24 April 1856Broken up by Castle at Charlton in March 1866C J Mare & Company16 August 1856Broken up by Castle at Charlton in August 1866Young, Magnay & Company11 January 1856Sold to the Chinese Imperial Customs on 20 September 1862, renamed Peking and sailed in April 1863 (to join Sherard Osborn’s "Vampire Fleet"). Resold to the Egyptian Government on 30 December 1865Young, Magnay & Company9 February 1856Sold at Esquimault in 1872Fletcher & Fearnall22 March 1856Wrecked on the South East African coast near Klippen Point on 30 May 1867Fletcher & Fearnall19 May 1856Sunk in action with the Taku forts in the Hai River, China, on 28 June 1859R & H Green13 March 1856Sold to Marshall, Plymouth on 8 March 1870
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