HMS Avenger (1845)

HMS Avenger was a British Royal Navy steam frigate launched in 1845. She was built at Devonport Dockyard and was part of a broader effort to modernize the Royal Navy's fleet with steam-powered vessels. Avenger was a wooden paddle steamer, reflecting the transitional period in naval technology between sail and steam power.

Her design incorporated both sails and paddle wheels, allowing her to operate independently of coaling stations and to maintain a good speed under sail when wind conditions were favorable. She was armed with a variety of guns, typically including both long guns and carronades, characteristic of frigates of the era.

Avenger's service was relatively short. On December 20, 1847, while en route to Malta from Gibraltar, she struck a submerged reef near the Sorelli Rocks, off the coast of Tunisia (then part of the Ottoman Empire). The sinking was rapid, and a large number of her crew were lost. Only a small number of survivors were rescued by nearby vessels.

The loss of HMS Avenger prompted inquiries into the cause of the wreck and the navigation practices employed. The incident highlighted the challenges of navigating in poorly charted waters and underscored the risks inherent in early steam navigation.