File:Her Majesty's Experimental Squadron - ILN-1845-0726-0008.jpg

English: Her Majesty's Experimental Squadron.

The Illustrated London News, 26 July 1845, page 56
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DEPARTURE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON In our paper of the 28th ult., we gave a description of the grand naval spectacle, which took place at Spithead, on the Monday previous, and accompanied the same by numerous engravings, illustrative of the various manoeuvres and evolutions of the Experimental Squadron, when inspected by her Majesty the Queen, and his Royal Highness Prince Albert. Last week we detailed the departure of the squadron on Tuesday week, in the presence of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the King and Queen of the Belgians, the Queen Dowager, and other Royal and distinguished peasonages, who had assembled to witness the grand and imposing spectacle. We now present to our readers an accurate view of the departure of the squadron, with some additional particulars by our correspondent at the Isle of Wight. The fleet being all under weigh, with their sails extended to the breeze, which from noon had gradually died away, and for some little while it was imagined the fleet would get becalmed, and have to come to anchor-the whole atmosphere above looked anything but propitious for the occasion, while on the other hand the clouds assumed a thundery appearance, but the gloom "wore off," and the breeze again freshened. At twenty five minutes past one H.M.S. Queen passed between the Superb and Rodney, closely followed by the remainder of the squadron; and here we may observe, that although, without disparagement to the gallant officers and crew of the Queen, that noble ship, though slower in her movements than the rest of the fleet in getting under weigh, when her canvas was full, she "walked a-head" of her companions. Abreast the Warner (a buoy with the beacon), the fleet were compact, and sailing in the following order:-H.M.S. Queen leading, abreast of which was the Rodney, then close upon her the Superb and Albion; a short distance from them the Canopus, Vanguard, and Trafalgar, neck-and-neck, followed behind by the St. Vincent. Although the breeze was not sufficiently strong to note any particular advantage of one ship over the other, still, as all got inder way together, such were the positions each occupied when abreast the Warner. At this tune her Majesty, in the Royal yacht, passed through the fleet. Each ship, as the yacht passed, manned her lower and topmast rigging with their respective crews, the effect of which was novel and grand beyond description. At forty minutes past two a signal was made from the Admiral's ship, the St. Vincent, (which was the sternmost ship,) to the fleet to "shorten sail," and which was immediately answered by the respective ships taking in their studding-sails and royals, and hauling up their courses. This signal was followed by another, to the effect that each vessel should take up her appointed position. The Albion "hove to," allowing the Admiral and the Trafalgar to pass ahead, while the other ships, one by one, wore under easy sail to their respective berths. The Queen, which was the headmost ship, "wore round," and returned by the wind, on the larboard tack, until she became the sternmost ship of the weather division, when she tacked and fell into her station. In this position they proceeded to sea, the Royal yacht accompanying the fleet some considerable distance a-head. Abreast of Sandown Bay, the numerous merchant steamers and yachts put about and returned to Spithead, with the exception of the R. Y. S. Kestrel, Commodore the Earl of Yarborough, which vessel accompanies the squadron with the K. Y. S. Xarifa, the Earl of Wilton, and a few other noblemen and distinguished members, in their yachts. At thirty-seven minutes past four the Royal yacht hove in sight from Spithead, and at a quarter to five passed the Hibernia, which ship manned yards as her Majesty passed, the band on board playing " God save the Quden," the Royal yacht being followed in her wake by the Princess Alice, then the Fairy, and Black Eagle; after the Royal yacht had passed about a mile to the westward of the Hibernia, that ship fired a parting salute; the Queen Dowager and Royal visitors on board the Princess Alice disembarking at Ryde; and the Royal yacht, accompanied by her tender, the Fairy, proceed towards Osborne House. The Experimental Squadron consists of: Starboard Division--St. Vincent, 120, Captain R. F. Rowley-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker; Trafalgar, 120, Captain F. Martin; Queen, 110, Sir B. W. Walker, K.C.B.; Albion, 92, Captain Lodyer, C.B. Larboard, or Port Division-- Vanguard, 80, Captain G. W.Willis; Canopus, 84, Captain Moresby, C.B.; Rodney, 90, Captain Collier, C.B.; Superb, 80, Captain A. L. Corry. Steam Sloop, The Rattler, 5, Commander H. Smith (b).

The whole squadron, which presents a total of 781 guns, and nearly 7000 men, is stored and provisioned for five months, and, with the exception of the officers and crew, may be said to be complete; the cruise will, however, benefit the whole, and render them fit for actual service, should the nation ever require them.