HMS Penguin was a six-gun Alert-class packet brig constructed for the Royal Navy in the 1830s. She measured 95 feet in length at the gundeck and 75 feet at the keel, with a beam of 30 feet 4 inches. Her draught was 10 feet 11 inches, and she had a depth of hold of 14 feet 8 inches. The vessel's tonnage was approximately 360 tons burthen. As an Alert-class brig, Penguin was initially armed with a combination of two 6-pounder cannons and four 12-pounder carronades, though later configurations saw her equipped with either six 32-pounder or eight 18-pounder cannons, enhancing her firepower. She was crewed by 44 officers and ratings, reflecting her role as a swift and versatile vessel suitable for dispatches, patrolling, and communication duties along the coast and overseas stations. Penguin was the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy. She was ordered on 14 April 1836, laid down at Pembroke Dockyard in Wales in November of the same year, and launched on 10 April 1838. After her launch, she was completed at Plymouth Dockyard by 21 September 1838 and officially commissioned on 24 July 1838. While specific details of her service history and notable events are not provided in the source, her construction and armament suggest she played a typical role for a packet brig of her class—ensuring communication, escorting other vessels, and maintaining naval presence during the early Victorian era. Her design and armament profile highlight her importance in the Royal Navy's efforts to maintain maritime communication and control during a period of significant naval development.

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