Diana (1823)
Mowhawk (1843)
Bann class (1855)
Gleaner (or Pelter) class
Pelter (1854)
Pincher (1854)
Badger (1854)
Snapper (1854)
Gleaner (1854)
Ruby (1854)
Dapper class
Lark (1855)
Magpie (1855)
Dapper (1855)
Fancy (1855)
Grinder (1855)
Jasper (1855)
Hind (1855)
Jackdaw (1855)
Thistle (1855)
Starling (1855)
Snap (1855)
Redwing (1855)
Weazel (1855)
Clinker (1855)
Cracker (1855)
Boxer (1855)
Stork (1855)
Skylark (1855)
Biter (1855)
Swinger (1855)
Albacore class (1855)
Beaver (1855)
Whiting (1856)
Nightingale (1855)
Violet (1856)
Seagull (1855)
Skipjack (1855)
Sandfly (1855)
Sheldrake (1855)
Plover (1855)
Tickler (1855)
Banterer (1855)
Bullfrog (1855)
Bustard (1855)
Carnation (1855)
Charger (1855)
Cockchafer (1855)
Dove (1855)
Forward (1855)
Grasshopper (1856)
Hasty (1856)
Herring (1856)
Insolent (1856)
Mayflower (1856)
Staunch (1856)
Goldfinch (1856)
Goshawk (1856)
Julia (1855)
Louisa (1855)
Bouncer (1856)
Hyena (1856)
Savage (1856)
Wolf (1856)
Griper (1855)
Fervent (1856)
Forester (1856)
Spanker (1856)
Traveller (1856)
Thrasher (1856)
Opossum (1856)
Partridge (1856)
Charon (1856)
Haughty (1856)
Leveret (1856)
Mackerel (1856)
Procris (1856)
Shamrock (1856)
Spey (1856)
Tilbury (1856)
Peacock (1856)
Pheasant (1856)
Primrose (1856)
Pickle (1856)
Prompt (1856)
Porpoise (1856)
Firm (1856)
Flamer (1856)
Fly (1856)
Sepoy (1856)
Erne (1856)
Spider (1856)
Lively (1856)
Surly (1856)
Swan (1856)
Delight (1856)
Grappler (1856)
Growler (1856)
Parthian (1856)
Quail (1856)
Ripple (1856)
Cochin (1856)
Cherokee (1856)
Camel (1856)
Caroline (1856)
Confounder (1856)
Crocus (1856)
Beacon (1856)
Brave (1856)
Bullfinch (1856)
Redbreast (1856)
Rose (1856)
Blazer (1856)
Rainbow (1856)
Brazen (1856)
Raven (1856)
Rocket (1856)
Hardy (1856)
Havock (1856)
Highlander (1856)
Albacore (1856)
Amelia (1856)
Foam (1856)
Wave (1856)
Magnet (1856)
Manly (1856)
Mastiff (1856)
Mistletoe (1856)
Earnest (1856)
Escort (1856)
Cheerful class
Cheerful (1856)
Chub (1856)
Daisy (1856)
Dwarf (1856)
Blossom (1856)
Gadfly (1856)
Gnat (1856)
Garland (1856)
Fidget (1856)
Flirt (1856)
Onyx (1856)
Pert (1856)
Midge (1856)
Tiny (1856)
Angler (1856)
Ant (1856)
Nettle (1856)
Pet (1856)
Decoy (1856)
Rambler (1856)
Clown class
Fenella (1856)
Garnet (1856)
Handy (1856)
Hunter (1856)
Drake (1856)
Janus (1856)
Clown (1856)
Kestrel (1856)
Ready (1856)
Thrush (1856)
Watchful (1856)
Woodcock (1856)
Algerine class
Jaseur (1857)
Jasper (1857)
Algerine (1857)
Lee (1857)
Leven (1857)
Slaney (1857)
Britomart class
Britomart (1860)
Cockatrice (1860)
Wizard (1860)
Speedy (1860)
Doterel (1860)
Heron (1860)
Pigeon (1860)
Linnet (1860)
Tyrian (1861)
Trinculo (1860)
Cherub (1865)
Netley (1866)
Minstrel (1865)
Orwell (1866)
Cromer (1867)
Bruiser (1867) (or Bruizer)
Bramble (cancelled)
Crown (cancelled)
Protector (cancelled)
Danube (cancelled)
The gunboats designed from 1870 onwards were of composite construction, i.e. they had an iron keel, stem and stern posts, and iron framing, with wooden planking retained over the iron frames.
Ariel class
Coquette (1871)
Foam (1871)
Decoy (1871)
Merlin (1871)
Mosquito (1871)
Goshawk (1872)
Swinger (1872)
Ariel (1873)
Zephyr (1873)
Forester class
Cygnet (1874)
Express (1874)
Contest (1874)
Sheldrake (1875)
Mallard (1875)
Moorhen (1875)
Foxhound (1877)
Forward (1877)
Firm (1877)
Forester (1877)
Firebrand (1877)
Firefly (1877)
Banterer class
Redwing (1880)
Grappler (1880)
Wrangler (1880)
Wasp (1880)
Banterer (1880)
Espoir (1880)
Bullfrog (1880)
Cockchafer (1881)
Starling (1882)
Stork (1882)
Raven (1882)
Albacore class
HMS Albacore
HMS Mistletoe
HMS Watchful
Bramble class
Rattler (1886)
Wasp (1886)
Lizard (1886)
Bramble (1886)
Pygmy class
Redbreast class
Magpie (1889)
Redbreast (1889)
Redpole (1889)
Ringdove (1889)
Lapwing (1889)
Goldfinch (1889)
Thrush (1889)
Widgeon (1889)
Sparrow (1889)
The only ironclads of gunboat size were three largely experimental (and unsuccessful) vessels ordered in 1864. The first two were towed to Bermuda (being considered unsatisfactory to sail under their own power) where they served as harbour vessels. Vixen was the first twin-screw vessel built for the Royal Navy, and Waterwitch employed a form of water pump propulsion.
Vixen (1865)
Viper (1865)
Waterwitch (1866)
Staunch class (1867)
Plucky class (1870)
Ant class - Gadfly, Pincher, Griper and Tickler are sometimes referred to as the Gadfly class.
Blazer (1870)
Comet (1870)
Bustard (1871)
Kite (1871)
Scourge (1871)
Snake (1871)
Mastiff (1871)
Bloodhound (1871)
Arrow (1871)
Bonetta (1871)
Badger (1872)
Fidget (1872)
Bulldog (1872)
Pike (1872)
Pickle (1872)
Snap (1872)
Ant (1873)
Cuckoo (1873)
Hyaena (1873)
Weazel (1873)
Gadfly (1879)
Pincher (1879)
Griper (1879)
Tickler (1879)
Medina class (or "River" class) (1876)
Medina (1876)
Medway (1876)
Sabrina (1876)
Spey (1876)
Tay (1876)
Tees (1876)
Dee (1877)
Don (1877)
Esk (1877)
Slaney (1877)
Trent (1877)
Tweed (1877)
Bouncer class (1881)
Handy class (1882)
Drudge class (1882)
Polyphemus class
Polyphemus (1881)
Hull 2 (cancelled 10 November 1882 before being named)
Adventure (cancelled 12 August 1885)
Rattlesnake (1886)
Grasshopper class (1887)
Sharpshooter class
Sharpshooter (1888)
Spanker (1889)
Speedwell (1889)
Seagull (1889)
Salamander (1889)
Sheldrake (1889)
Skipjack (1889)
Boomerang (1889)
Karakatta (1889)
Plassey (1890)
Assaye (1890)
Gossamer (1890)
Gleaner (1890)
Alarm class
Jason (1892)
Circe (1892)
Hebe (1892)
Onyx (1892)
Leda (1892)
Alarm (1892)
Jaseur (1892)
Renard (1892)
Niger (1892)
Speedy (1893)
Antelope (1893)
Dryad class
Hazard (1894)
Halcyon (1894)
Harrier (1894)
Hussar (1894)
Dryad (1893)
Bramble class (1898)
Pluto class (1831) - steam vessel rated from 1837 as a first-class steam gunvessel
Firebrand class (1831) - steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
Firefly class (1832) - steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
Tartarus class (1834) - steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as first-class steam gunvessels
Lizard class (1840) - steam vessels reclassified in 1844 as second class steam gunvessels
Porcupine class (1844) - steam vessel reclassified in 1844 as a first-class steam gunvessel
Spitfire class (1845) - steam vessel reclassified in 1844 as a first-class steam gunvessel
Jackal class
Jackall (1844)
Lizard (1844)
Torch class (1845)
Bloodhound class
Bloodhound (1845)
Myrmidon class (1845)
Grappler class (1845)
Recruit class (1850)
NB. A third vessel of the class was retained by Prussia.
This section includes two early iron-hulled screw gunvessels ordered in May 1845, which in other respects were half-sisters to two wooden-hulled gunvessels ordered at the same time. The four vessels comprised the first-class gunvessels Rifleman (wooden hulled) and Sharpshooter (iron hulled), and the second-class gunvessels Teazer (wooden hulled) and Minx (iron hulled). Further vessels ordered later to the same design were either cancelled or built to very different concepts. Rifleman and Sharpshooter were re-classed as sloops in 1854.
Rifleman class (wooden half-sisters to iron-hulled Sharpshooter)
Rifleman (1845)
Sepoy (cancelled 1849)
Cossack (cancelled 1849)
Sharpshooter class (iron half-sister to wooden Rifleman)
HMS Sharpshooter
Teazer class (wooden-hulled half-sisters to iron-hulled Minx)
Teazer (1846)
Boxer (cancelled 1849)
Biter (cancelled 1849)
Minx class (iron half-sister to wooden Teazer)
Minx (1846)
Swallow class - 4 first-class gunvessels were ordered in 1852-53; while still building, they were re-rated as third-class sloops in 1854 and will be found under the list of corvette and sloop classes of the Royal Navy.
Arrow class - originally rated as "despatch vessels", these six ships were re-classed as second-class gunvessels in 1856.
Arrow (1854)
Beagle (1854)
Lynx (1854)
Snake (1854)
Viper (1854)
Wrangler (1854)
Vigilant class
Coquette (1855)
Wanderer (1855)
Alacrity (1855)
Vigilant (1856)
Lapwing (1856)
Ringdove (1856)
Surprise (1856)
Renard (1856)
Foxhound (1856)
Mohawk (1856)
Sparrowhawk (1856)
Osprey (1856)
Cormorant (1856)
Assurance (1856)
Intrepid class
Flying Fish (1855)
Pioneer (1856)
Victor (1855)
Intrepid (1855)
Roebuck (1856)
Nimrod (1856)
Philomel (or Ranger) class
Ranger (1859)
Espoir (1860)
Landrail (1860)
Nimble (1860)
Speedwell (1861)
Pandora (1861)
Lee (1860)
Dart (1860)
Snipe (1860)
Sparrow (1860)
Torch (1859)
Plover (1860)
Penguin (1860)
Steady (1860)
Cygnet (1860)
Griffon (1860)
Mullett (1860)
Philomel (1860)
Newport (1867)
Alban (cancelled)
Jaseur (1862)
Humber (cancelled)
Undine (cancelled)
Rye (cancelled)
Portia (cancelled)
Discovery (cancelled)
Cormorant (or Eclipse) class (1860)
Cormorant (1860)
Racehorse (1860)
Serpent (1860)
Star (1860)
Eclipse (1860)
Lily (1861)
Sylvia (1866)
Nassau (1866)
Myrmidon (1867)
Tartarus (cancelled 1864)
Pegasus (cancelled 1863)
Albatross (cancelled 1863)
Guernsey (cancelled 1863)
Plover class (1867)
Plover (1867)
Ringdove (1867)
Philomel (1867)
Lapwing (1867)
Magpie (1868)
Bullfinch (1868)
Seagull (1868)
Curlew (1868)
Swallow (1868)
Bittern (1869)
Vulture (1869)
Woodlark (1871)
The gunvessels designed from 1867 onwards were of composite construction, i.e. they had an iron keel, stem and stern posts, and iron framing, with wooden planking retained over the iron frames.
Beacon class (1867)
Beacon (1867)
Avon (1867)
Gnat (1867)
Cracker (1867)
Dwarf (1867)
Flirt (1867)
Fly (1867)
Elk (1868)
Boxer (1868)
Thistle (1868)
Hornet (1868)
Rocket (1868)
Lynx (1868)
Teazer (1868)
Midge (1868)
Pert (1868)
Hart (1868)
Growler (1868)
Frolic class (1872)
Frolic (1872)
Kestrel (1872)
Ready (1872)
Rifleman (1872)
Arab class (1874)
Arab (1874)
Lily (1874)
Condor class
Flamingo (1876)
Griffon (1876)
Condor (1876)
Falcon (1877)
Linnet class (1879)
Algerine class
Rambler (1880)
Ranger (1880)
Algerine (1880)
Dolphin class (1882)
Mariner class
Like the preceding Arab to Dolphin Classes, these were designed by Nathaniel Barnaby; they were re-classed as screw sloops on 26 November 1884.
Steel torpedo-and-gunvessels
Curlew class (1885)
