HMS Liffey was the lead ship of the five-ship Liffey class of 51-gun wooden screw frigates built for the Royal Navy. Launched on 6 May 1856 at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, she represented a transition from traditional sailing ships to steam-powered vessels. Originally ordered in 1844 as a Constance class sailing frigate designed by Sir William Symonds, she was later reordered in 1851 as a screw frigate based on the Surveyor's Department design. Her propulsion system featured John Penn and Sons engines, renowned for their quality, equipped with a shut-off valve to prevent steam loss in case of damage. She was fitted with an 18-foot (5.5-meter) Griffiths' two-bladed screw propeller and carried bunkers for 342 tons of coal, enabling her to operate under steam power. Construction began at Devonport Dockyard on 12 July 1854, culminating in her launch in 1856. She was commissioned in November 1858 at Portsmouth to serve with the Channel Squadron. Notable service includes escorting the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) to Denmark in May 1868. During the 1869–70 period, she was part of the Flying Squadron, equipped with "Keyham's Donkey" pumping apparatus for firefighting and flooding control, and participated in a global cruise, arriving at Madeira in June 1869 and returning to Plymouth Sound in November 1870. In 1877, HMS Liffey was converted into a store ship for the Pacific Station, with her machinery removed and her rig reduced. She served in this capacity at Coquimbo, Chile, after arriving there in November 1878. During her time as a harbor ship, her crew notably played football with foreign sailors, contributing to the local sporting history. She remained in service until 1902, after which she was sold as a hulk in 1903. Subsequently, she was acquired by an English nitrate company, towed to Mejillones in 1906, and later sold in 1924 to serve as a coal and stores chata until her final dismantling in 1937. Her remains were discovered in 2017 in the bay of Mejillones, where divers found parts of her keel, frames, stern, and stem. Her ship's wheel, cannons, and figurehead are preserved in museums and local sites, marking her maritime significance and historical legacy as a pioneering steam frigate and harbor vessel.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.