HEIC Nemesis

Launched in 1839, the "Honorable East India Company Nemesis" was the first British ocean-going iron warship, and was used to great effect in the First Opium War in China.

History

Construction

The warship's displacement was 660 tons, she was armed with two 32 pounder and four 6 pounder guns, and could carry a crew of 90 [ [http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Coastal/en/section4-6.php Others: Model of HEIC Warship Nemesis] , Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defense, Accessed 2007-06-04] . The steam- and sail-powered ship was particularly effective in China because its shallow draft (5-6 feet) allowed it to travel into rivers to pursue and engage other vessels and targets.

The "Nemesis" was built by John Laird. Its watertight bulkheads were the first to be used in a warship. In 1840, the "HEIC Nemesis" became the first iron ship to sail around Cape Horn, aided by techniques to adjust a compass for the effect of an iron hull developed the year before by Sir George Airy, the Astronomer Royal.

Other References

The "Nemesis" makes an appearance in James Clavell's novel Tai-Pan however it is stated to be a royal navy ship that arrived to assist in the shallow Chinese rivers that would be traversed to gain access to inland China. This "Nemesis" was also capable of pulling a 96 gun Ship-of-the-Line a ship that would have outweighed "Nemesis" by several thousand tons.

References

External links

* [http://website.lineone.net/~d.bolton/Misc/nemesis.htm The HEIC Paddle Frigate Nemesis]