HMS Magicienne was the lead vessel of her class of two second-class paddle frigates built for the Royal Navy in the 1850s. She was constructed at Pembroke Dockyard, with her keel laid in September 1847, launched on 7 March 1849, and completed on 20 February 1853. As a paddle frigate, she featured a length of 210 feet (64 meters) at the gun deck and a keel length of 185 feet 6 inches (56.5 meters). The ship had a beam of 36 feet (11 meters) and a depth of hold of 24 feet 6 inches (7.5 meters), with a tonnage of approximately 1,258 tons burthen. Her draught was 8 feet 4 inches (2.5 meters), allowing for relatively shallow waters. Magicienne was powered by twin 2-cylinder oscillating steam engines rated at 400 nominal horsepower, which produced 1,300 indicated horsepower (approximately 970 kW). These engines drove paddlewheels, enabling her to reach speeds of 9 to 10 knots (17–19 km/h). Her complement consisted of around 175 officers and ratings. Armament included eight 32-pounder (56 cwt) cannon on the gundeck, supplemented on the upper deck by one 68-pounder (95 cwt) gun, a 10-inch (254 mm) shell gun, and four additional 32-pounders, making her a well-armed vessel for her class. Originally ordered as a first-class sloop, Magicienne was re-ordered as a 210-foot vessel in August 1847 and was among the last paddle warships built for the Royal Navy. Her service included deployment to the Baltic Sea during the Crimean War of 1854–1855. After a relatively brief career, she was sold for scrap in September 1866 to Marshall of Plymouth. As a paddle frigate of the mid-19th century, HMS Magicienne exemplified the transitional period in naval technology, combining traditional sailing design with steam-powered propulsion, marking an important phase in maritime evolution.

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