The Clown-class gunboat was a class of twelve gunboats ordered by the Royal Navy in January 1856 for use in the Crimean War, although by the time they were completed, later that year, the Crimean War was over and some of these gunboats were sent to the Far East and took part in the Second Opium War.
Design The Clown class was an improved version of the preceding designed by W.H. Walker. The ships were wooden-hulled, with steam power as well as sails, and of particularly shallow draught (design draught ) for coastal bombardment in shallow waters.
Sail plan Ships of the class were provided with a typical "gunboat rig" of three gaff rigged masts with a total sail area of .
Propulsion One-cylinder horizontal direct-acting single-expansion steam engine built by John Penn and Sons, with two boilers, provided 40 nominal horsepower through a single screw, sufficient for .
Armament Ships of the class were armed with one 68-pounder and one 32-pounder smooth bore muzzle loading cannons.
Ships NameShip builderLaunchedFateW & H Pitcher, Northfleet 19 May 1856Became a dredger at Woolwich in March 1867, renamed YC3 in 1868. Broken up on 14 November 1878W & H Pitcher, Northfleet 31 May 1856Breaking completed 25 May 1864W & H Pitcher, Northfleet 31 May 1856Sold at Lagos in May 1868W & H Pitcher, Northfleet 7 June 1856Only partially fitted, never completed for sea. On the sale list in June 1869 but not sold till 1884Pembroke Dockyard 8 March 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 9 February 1869Pembroke Dockyard 8 March 1856Coal lighter December 1869, renamed YC.6. Sold in 1871William Cowley Miller, Toxteth Dock, Liverpool 20 May 1856Became coal lighter YC.1 at Hong Kong in 1867. Renamed YC.6 in December 1869. Wrecked in a typhoon at Hong Kong on 2 September 1871William Cowley Miller, Toxteth Dock, Liverpool 26 May 1856Sunk at the Battle of Taku Forts in June 1859, but salved. Sold on 16 March 1866 to Glover & Co., Yokohama, then resold to Japanese ownersBriggs & Company, Sunderland12 May 1856Fitted for reserve. Breaking completed on 25 January 1864Briggs & Company, Sunderland12 May 1856 Breaking completed on 14 March 1864T & W Smith, North Shields 4 June 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 1 February 1871T & W Smith, North Shields 6 June 1856Sold at Hong Kong on 1 February 1871
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