Kartería (Greek warship)
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Hellenic sloop-of-war Kartería (Καρτερία; Greek for "Perseverance") was the first steam-powered warship to be used in combat operations in history.[1] It was built in 1825 in an English shipyard for the revolutionary Hellenic Navy during the Greek War of Independence, on the order of Capt Frank Abney Hastings, a former Royal Navy officer who had volunteered his services to the Hellenic Navy.
Karteria | |
History | |
---|---|
Revolutionary Greece | |
Name | Karteria |
Commissioned | 1826 |
Out of service | 1831 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 233 tons |
Length | 38.4 m (126 ft 0 in) |
Beam | 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) |
Propulsion | steam paddles/sail |
Speed | 7 knots (under steam) |
Crew | 185 |
Armament | 4 68-pounder carronades, 4 68-pounder cannon |
The vessel was built by Daniel Brent Shipwrights in the Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe, London.[2] It was financed mainly from the proceeds of the 2nd Greek Loan raised by the London Philhellenic Committee, but also by Capt Hastings' private funds.
The 233-ton vessel was propelled by steam-powered paddles. Power was generated by 2 small steam engines. The vessel also featured 4 masts and could operate under sail: it was envisaged that the vessel would normally cruise under wind power, but switch to steam-power during combat operations, to allow maximum maneuvrability. It was armed with just 8 guns but all were 68-pounders, the most powerful calibre. The on-board furnaces that burnt coal to generate steam could also be used to heat cannon-shot to a red-hot state, creating highly incendiary missiles.[3]