HMS Congo (1816)

HMS Congo was the first steam powered warship built for the Royal Navy, though it must be recorded that she was not very successful as such.

Related Topics:
Steam - Royal Navy

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She was classified as a Steam Sloop and was built in 1816 at Deptford specifically for an exploration of the river Congo.

Related Topics:
Deptford - Congo

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The steam engine is recorded as weighing 30 tons and was capable of developing '20 Horse Power'.

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Trials proved that this power, when transmitted to the paddle wheels, could only propel the vessel at about 3 knots. Such a rate of progess, coupled with unsatisfactory handling characteristics (she was described as very crank) resulted in the engines and paddle wheels being removed. Examination of the situation by James Watt Jnr, son of James Watt, could only come up with a recommendation to use the engine for pumping out docks at Plymouth.

Related Topics:
Paddle wheel - James Watt - Plymouth

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So she sailed without the steam engine, rigged as a schooner.

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As far as the expedition was concerned, this was the first attempt to map the Congo, and did little beyond prove that the river was not navigable beyond 200 miles from the sea. The other thing it proved was that such expeditions were little more than suicide until medical science had improved - all of the officers and most of the crew were dead of disease before they reached the blockage. It was to be another 50 years before the river got mapped.

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Aramament is recorded as one Carronade and 12 small swivel guns.

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