Greek Steam Corvette Karteria 1826
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Hellenic sloop-of-war Kartería (Perseverance) was the first steam-powered warship to be used in combat operations in history.She was built in 1825 in an English shipyard for the revolutionary Hellenic Navy during the Greek War of Independence, on the order of Capt Frank Abney Hastings, a former Royal Navy officer who had volunteered his services to the Hellenic Navy.
The vessel was built by Daniel Brent Shipwrights in the Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe, London. She was financed mainly from the proceeds of the 2nd Greek Loan raised by the London Philhellenic Committee, but also by Capt Hastings' private funds.
The 233-ton vessel was propelled by steam-powered paddles. Power was generated by 2 small steam engines. The vessel also featured 4 masts and could operate under sail: it was envisaged that the vessel would normally cruise under wind-power, but switch to steam-power during combat operations, to allow maximum maneuvrability. She was armed with just 8 guns but all were 68-pounders, the most powerful calibre. The on-board furnaces that burnt coal to generate steam could also be used to heat cannon-shot to a red-hot state, creating highly incendiary missiles.
Under the command of Hastings, the Kartería soon gained a fearsome combat reputation, taking part in numerous operations against the Ottoman Navy. (Karteria fired 18,000 rounds in 1827 alone). The ship's most celebrated success was a raid on the port of Itea, near Salona (Amfissa) in the Gulf of Corinth, on 29/30 September 1827, where she sank 9 Ottoman ships.
The ship was laid up on 1830 due to mechanical problems and scraped on 1840.
Displacement: 233 tons
Length: 38.4 m
Beam: 7.6 m
Propulsion: steam paddles/ sail
Speed: 7 knots (under steam)
Crew: 185
Armament: 4 68-pounder carronades & 4 68-pounder cannon