HO SHO MARU
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Date1868
Object NameCORVETTE
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
DimensionsLength 124.8' x Breadth 24.1' x Depth 10.3'
Gross Tonnage: 173 tons
Gross Tonnage: 173 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001147
Keywords
Yard Number: 258
Subsequent Names: HOSHO (1871)
Fate: Demolished in Japan in 1907.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: 3 masted barque rigged steamer, dragon figurehead. Armament 7” (100 pound) Armstrong muzzle loading gun, 5.5" (40 pound) Armstrong gun + 2 20-pound breach loading guns.
General History:
04/07/1868: Launched, named by Miss Mitchell.
20/08/1868: Trial trip.
05/09/1868: Sailed from Aberdeen for Nagasaki. HR1/5/2
24/01/1869: Arrived at Nagasaki under the command of Captain John Henderson.
15/05/1871: Transferred to Japanese Navy. Renamed HOSHO
Launching draft with propeller and one length of shafting, F 5’ 4”, A 6’ 1”
With mast and spars, but no machinery, F 5’ 9”, A 6’ 5”.
With boiler F6’ 1”, A 6’ 6”.
With boiler, engines, anchors & chain, F 6’ 6”, A 7’ 4”.
With 47 tons of coals in bunkers (full), F 7’ 10½”, A 7’ 9”
When ready for sea with guns and whole lot of stuff, say 150 tons, F 9’ 0”, A 9’ 2”.
Left Aberdeen for Japan direct on the 5th Sept 68.
It is propelled by engines N.H.P. 60, diam. of cylinders 25”. Length of stroke 18”, diam. of propeller 7’ 2”, Pitch 11’, revolutions 90.
The engines are horizontal, direct acting, with two tubular boilers 17’ 6” overall and 15’ 6” on the main part.
Steamed about 9 miles on her trial trip.
Her armament consists of 1 x 100 pounder, 1 x 40 pounder and 2 breech loading 20 lb guns
Handwritten.
“It is a sort of Hermaphrodite barque rigged and intended for a gunboat. She may suit the Japanese as such, but looks more like a yacht and in fact is not at all for a regular gunboat such as the British Government require. Has a dragon figurehead.”
(Source: “Offset” Book HR1/5/2 (Aberdeen City Archives))
22/08/1868:
'TRIAL TRIP - The HO-SO-MARU [sic], a new steam gunboat, built for the Japanese Government by Messrs. Hall & Co. made a trial trip in the bay on Thursday, leaving the harbour about noon, and returning again about four o'clock. The anticipations which existed regarding her speed were fully realized. For the first half hour after leaving the harbour she made eight knots an hour before the wind, and during the second half hour, nine knots. When the vessel was put about, she steamed with bare poles over seven and a half knots, in the face of a stiff breeze, although the engines were not working anything like their full power. The hopes maintained regarding her speed were thus fully met. Nothing could have exceeded the manner in which the HO-SO-MARU conducted herself, both under canvas and steam.'
(Aberdeen Herald)
Note: Engines were steam by screw, horizontal, direct acting, cylinder, 25” with 18” stroke. 90 r.p.m., 60 N.H.P.7½ knots by Hall Russell, Order No. 259 in HR.2.3.1
Boiler - 2 tubular iron boilers; heating area (ft^2) 1276; diameter 6' 8"; length 15' 5 1/2"; furnace 2 x 2' 6" diameter each
Propeller - 7’ 2” diameter, 11’ pitch, 2-bladed solid cast iron.
Cost & extras £9,328 (Builder's List in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
1841
