HMS Surly was an Albacore-class gunboat constructed for the Royal Navy, launched on 18 March 1856 in Newcastle by T & W Smith. Built as part of the second batch of her class, she was ordered in October 1855, with her keel laid shortly thereafter on 15 October. The vessel's construction cost amounted to £9,867, with the hull costing £5,656 and her machinery £3,298. The ship was powered by a horizontal single expansion direct-acting engine supplied by Maudslay, Sons & Field, which produced 217 indicated horsepower (162 kW). She was fitted with three cylindrical boilers and a single screw propeller, enabling her to reach speeds of up to 7.5 knots (14 km/h). In addition to her steam propulsion, HMS Surly was equipped with sails, providing her with greater versatility at sea. She could carry 25 long tons (25 tonnes) of coal, supporting her steam-powered operations. Armament on HMS Surly included a single muzzle-loaded 68-pounder gun mounted on a pivot aft, a 32-pounder gun forward, and two 24-pounder howitzers on broadside carriages. She was crewed by approximately 36 to 40 men, suitable for her role during her service period. Initially assigned to the Royal Navy's Steam Reserve at Sheerness Dockyard, Surly served in various capacities, including as a tender to ships such as HMS Cornwallis and HMS Dauntless, particularly with the Coastguard Reserve at Hull by April 1861. Her service was relatively brief; she was paid off in April 1869 and sold at a public auction on 21 October 1869 for £1,025. HMS Surly's operational history reflects the typical dual-purpose design of mid-19th-century gunboats, balancing steam and sail power for coastal and reserve duties during a period of rapid naval technological transition.

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