Seahorse
History
United Kingdom
Name	Seahorse
Namesake	Seahorse
Ordered	9 January 1823
Builder	Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down	November 1826
Launched	22 July 1830
Fate	Sold for scrap, 1902
General characteristics
Class and type	Seringapatam-class frigate
Tons burthen	1218 40/94 bm
Length	159 ft 3 in (48.5 m) (gundeck) 133 ft 3 in (40.6 m) (keel)
Beam	42 ft (12.8 m)
Draught	14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Depth	13 ft 3 in (4.0 m)
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship

HMS Seahorse was a 44-gun Seringapatam-class fifth-rate frigate built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s, one of three ships of the Andromeda sub-class. After completion in 1830, she was ordered to be converted into a steam-powered ship in 1845, but this did not happen for another decade.

Description

The Andromeda sub-class was a slightly enlarged and improved version of the Druid sub-class, with a more powerful armament.^[1] Seahorse had a length at the gundeck of 159 feet 10 inches (48.7 m) and 133 feet 4 inches (40.6 m) at the keel. She had a beam of 41 feet 10 inches (12.8 m), a draught of 14 feet 10 inches (4.5 m) and a depth of hold of 13 feet 3 inches (4.0 m). The ship's tonnage was 1211 53⁄94 tons burthen.^[2] The Andromeda sub-class was armed with twenty-six 18-pounder cannon on her gundeck, ten 32-pounder carronades and a pair of 68-pounder guns on her quarterdeck and four more 32-pounder carronades in the forecastle. The ships had a crew of 315 officers and ratings.^[3]

Construction and career

Seahorse, the ninth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,^[4] was ordered on 9 January 1823, laid down in November 1826 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 22 July 1830.^[3] She was completed for ordinary at Plymouth Dockyard in August 1830 and completely roofed over.^[2]