HMS Hong Kong (1857)

Hong Kong in the Battle of Fatshan Creek, depicted by John Corbett
United Kingdom
Name	Hong Kong
Namesake	Hong Kong
Launched	1856[1]
Fate	Sold c. 1858[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Paddle steamer

HMS Hong Kong was a paddle river tender launched in 1856. She was hired by the Royal Navy by 1857 and was active in Guangdong during the Second Opium War.

History

The steamer was launched in 1856.[1] By early 1857, it was acquired by the Royal Navy as a hired steamer. On February 10, the ship, led by HMS Sybille, took part in a firing against Qing ships off Second Bar Island.[2] On April 6, the ship was involved in another skirmish in Sandy Bay, where several junks were sunk.[3]

On May 25, Hong Kong, with Commodore Charles Elliot on board, fought in the Battle of Escape Creek.[3] In the same month, command was transferred to Commodore Henry Keppel, who hoisted his broad pennant on the ship for future actions in the Canton River.[4] Under his pennant, Hong Kong participated in the Battle of Fatshan Creek on June 1,[5] from which Keppel commanded the British forces.[6] The ship came under heavy Chinese fire, and suffered heavy damage during the battle. She was grounded twice and was hulled twelve times.[3] She survived the battle, and was transferred out of Keppel's command on August 22, 1858.[4] She was sold around the same year.[1]

References

1. Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
2. United Kingdom Parliamentary Papers, Session 1857 Sess. 2. Vol. 43. London: Parliament of the United Kingdom. 1857. p. 18. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
3. Clowes, William Laird (1903). The Royal Navy: a history from the earliest times to the death of Queen Victoria. Vol. 7. Sampson Low, Marston and Company. pp. 93–136. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
4. "Biography of Henry Keppel R.N." The Victorian Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
5. Kennedy, William (1900). "Chapter VIII - Battle of Fatshan Creek". Hurrah for the Life of a Sailor!: Fifty Years in the Royal Navy. Edinburgh and London: Blackwood. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
6. "Broad pennant". Royal Museums Greenwich. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2021.