HMS Orion (1854)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Orion.

HMS Orion was a 91-gun Hood-class second rate of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1854 and was the second of six ships to carry the name.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Orion
Ordered	30 March 1848 (sailing ship) 30 October 1852 (screw propelled)
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down	1 February 1850
Launched	6 November 1854
Completed	By 29 March 1855
Out of service	1861
Honours and awards	Baltic 1855
Fate	Broken up in 1867
General characteristics as ordered
Class and type	80-gun Hood-class second rate
Tons burthen	2,600 1/94 bm
Length	198 ft (60 m) (gundeck) 161 ft 0.75 in (49.0919 m) (keel)
Beam	55 ft 9 in (16.99 m)
Depth of hold	23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
Complement	720
Armament	Lower deck: 8 x 8in (65cwt) guns + 20 x 32pdr guns Upper deck: 4 x 8in (65cwt) guns + 24 x 32pdr (56cwt) guns Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 24 x 32pdr (42cwt) guns
General characteristics as built
Class and type	91-gun Hood-class second rate
Tons burthen	3,202 45/94 bm
Length	238 ft (73 m) (gundeck) 200 ft 10.75 in (61.2331 m) (keel)
Beam	55 ft 9 in (16.99 m)
Depth of hold	24 ft (7.3 m)
Propulsion	Sails 2-cyl. (70¾in diam., 3½ft stroke) horizontal single expansion trunk engine Single screw 600 nhp 2,329 ihp
Speed	11.45 kn (13.18 mph) (under steam)
Complement	720
Armament	Lower deck: 8 x 8in (65cwt) guns + 20 x 32pdr guns Upper deck: 4 x 8in (65cwt) guns + 24 x 32pdr (56cwt) guns Quarterdeck/Forecastle: 24 x 32pdr (42cwt) guns

Service

Orion was ordered as an 80-gun second rate on 30 March 1848 and laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 1 February 1850. With the advent of steam propulsion in warship design, Orion was reordered on 30 October 1852 to a new design, to incorporate a steam engine and a propeller. She was launched on 6 November 1854 and completed by 29 March 1855, with sea trials beginning on 24 February 1856 from Devonport.

Part of the Baltic Fleet off Cronstadt, ships L-R; Orion; Du Quesne; Royal George; Tourville, Flag Ship of Admiral Penaud. Illustrated London News 1855

Orion was commanded from her commissioning until late 1857 by Captain John Elphinstone Erskine. She took part in the Crimean War in 1855, serving in the Baltic Sea. On 23 April 1856 she was present at the Fleet Review at Spithead. For her service in the Baltic she was awarded the battle honour Baltic 1855.

She sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving at Havana on 14 July 1857 from Port Royal, and then departed for Halifax on 16 July 1857. She then sailed to the Mediterranean Sea in 1860.