HMS Swinger (1872)

HMS Swinger was an Ant-class iron screw gunboat of the Royal Navy, launched in 1872. She was designed by George Rendel and built by Armstrong Mitchell at Low Walker-on-Tyne.

Swinger was part of a class of gunboats designed for shallow water operations and coastal defense. These vessels were characterized by their relatively small size, iron hull construction, and armament of heavy guns for their displacement.

Design and Construction:

The Ant class featured a shallow draught, enabling them to navigate rivers and coastal areas where larger vessels could not operate. The hull was constructed of iron, providing greater strength and resistance to damage compared to wooden hulls. They were powered by a single screw propeller driven by a two-cylinder horizontal compound steam engine.

Service History:

Swinger served primarily in the Pacific Station. Her duties typically included patrolling, surveying, and representing British interests in the region. These types of gunboats were often deployed to areas with limited infrastructure and were expected to be largely self-sufficient.

Specific details of Swinger's operational history are somewhat sparse, but generally, gunboats of this type saw action in various colonial conflicts and were used to maintain order and project British naval power.

Fate:

HMS Swinger was sold in 1889.