HMS Donegal (1858)

HMS Donegal was a screw-propelled second-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1858, she was part of the Renown-class, a group of ships initially designed as sailing vessels but converted to screw propulsion during construction.

Donegal's construction began at Devonport Dockyard in 1852 as a sailing ship. However, with the advent of steam power and screw propulsion, she was redesigned to incorporate these technologies. This conversion resulted in a hybrid design, retaining the traditional lines of a sailing ship while benefiting from the speed and maneuverability offered by her steam engine.

She was armed with a mix of smoothbore and rifled muzzle-loading guns. Specific armament details varied throughout her service life as naval technology evolved. She was rated as a 70-gun ship upon commissioning.

Donegal saw service in various parts of the world, including deployments to the Mediterranean and the Pacific. Her duties typically involved showing the flag, protecting British interests, and participating in naval exercises.

She was sold out of the Navy in 1886, marking the end of her active service. The fate of the ship after her sale is not readily available in detail but typically involved either breaking her up for scrap or repurposing her for other uses. The Donegal, like many of her contemporaries, represents a transitional period in naval history, bridging the gap between sail and steam power in the Royal Navy.