Intrepid-class gunvessels were a class of six Royal Navy first-class wooden gunvessels built in 1855-56. They were rated as sloops from 1859 to 1862,Except Victor, which remained a gunvessel throughout the period and were scrapped by 1865. Victor was sold to the Confederate States of America as the raider CSS Rappahannock, but she was interned by the French at Calais and never fulfilled her intended function.
Design and construction Designed in 1855, the Intrepid-class gunvessels were intended to serve in the shallow waters of the Black and Baltic seas during the Crimean War.Winfield (2008) p. 218 They were built quickly, and of inferior wood, which explains their short lifespan of 10 years.
Propulsion A two-cylinder horizontal single-expansion steam engine produced between and through a single screw, giving a speed of about . Twin funnels distinguished them from most other British classes of gunvessel.
Sail plan The vessels of the class were designed to be barque-rigged, which required less manpower than the traditional full-rigged ship.
Armament The Intrepid-class gunvessels were designed with one 68-pounder muzzle-loading rifle and four 32-pounder (25cwt) muzzle-loading smoothbore guns. This armament was later replaced with a single 7-inch/110-pounder breech loader, one 40-pounder breech loader and four 20 pounder breech loaders.
Ships The first pair were ordered on 18 April 1855, the second pair were ordered on 15 May 1855, and the final pair were ordered on 27 July 1855. A further two were ordered on 9 April 1856 from Pembroke Dockyard, but were cancelled. NameShip BuilderLaunchedFatePembroke Dockyard20 December 1855Broken up by Castle, Charlton, arriving in August 1866Pembroke Dockyard19 January 1856Sold to Marshall in October 1864 for breaking at Plymouth in 1865Money Wigram & Sons2 November 1855Sold as Scylla to Gordon Coleman & Company in November 1863, who resold her later the same month to the Confederacy as the raider CSS Rappahannock. She was interned by the French at Cherbourg and never served the Confederacy at seaMoney Wigram & Sons13 November 1855Sold to Marshall on 7 October 1864 for breaking at Plymouth in 1865J Scott Russell22 March 1856Sold to Castle, Charlton for breaking in 1864J Scott Russell21 April 1856Sold to White, Cowes for breaking on 2 June 1865
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