INS Memnon (1841)

History
India
Operator| Indian Navy
Builder| Fletcher, Son & Fearnall, Limehouse
Launched| 1841
Fate| Wrecked 1 August 1843
General characteristics [1]
Type| Paddle steamer
Tons burthen| 1,140 (bm)
Armament| 2 × 68-pounder guns + 4 × 32-pounder guns
Notes| An important source for EIC vessels mistakenly gives Memnon's launch year as 1843 and mistakenly states that she was wrecked on her maiden voyage.[2]

INS Memnon was a steam paddle frigate launched on the Thames in 1841 for the Indian Navy of the British East India Company (EIC). She was wrecked in August 1843.

On 22 June 1842 Memnon, Commander F.T.Powell, arrived at Singapore, direct from England. At the time the United Kingdom was engaged in the First Opium War so Memmnon proceeded to Hong Kong. She did not proceed beyond Chusan and so did not participate in the subsequent operations of the war.[3]

Memnon arrived at Bombay from Hong Kong 26 January 1843. The EIC then used her to carry mail to and from Suez. On what would be her last voyage she left Bombay 22 July.[4]

Memnon was wrecked on 1 August 1843 off Cape Guardafui, Majerteen Sultanate, while on a voyage from Bombay to Suez. After many tribulations the crew were able to send a boat with some men that reached Aden on 25 August. The EIC's Political Agent immediately dispatched INS Tigris, which rescued the remainder of the crew.[4]

All 170 crew and passengers were rescued.[5][6] HCS Palinurus conducted salvage operations between October 1843 and June 1844.

## Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Colledge & Warlow (2006), p. 255.
2. ^ Hackman (2001), p. 335.
3. ^ Low (1877), pp. 153–154.
4. ^ a b Low (1877), pp. 160–164.
5. ^ "Ship News". The Times. No. 18418\. London. 4 October 1843. col B, p. 7.
6. ^ "Ship News". The Times. No. 18420\. London. 6 October 1843. col E, p. 7.

## References

[edit]

* 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. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
* Hackman, Rowan (2001). Ships of the East India Company. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-96-7.
* Low, Charles Rathbone (1877). History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863). R. Bentley and son.