Maritime record MWX1670 - Amazon 1866

Royal Navy Sloop of 1,081 ton, sank after collision with the SS OSPREY, 10 July 1866.

`Only recently commissioned, this wooden screw sloop ran into the SS OSPREY cutting her in two and causing her to sink with the loss of ten lives. The warship sustained vital damage and after picking up the 22 survivors of the steamship, her own crew took to their boats. Fortunately, there was sufficient room for all on board and no casualties in the sloops complement. A court martial was held on board HMS VICTORY under Rear Admiral G C Wellesley. Sub-Lieut. Alfred C Loveridge was the officer of the watch at the time of the collision, which took place at 1am, the AMAZON striking the other vessel on the port quarter, about one third of her length from the stern. Both vessels displayed lights and the conditions were clear and calm. The steamship sank within 5 minutes and the warship at 3.30am as fog set in. Sub-Lieut. Loveridge was dismissed from the service. (1)(2) 'Plymouth 10th July: HMS AMAZON, from Portsmouth to Halifax, N.S., and the OSPREY...foundered this morning early after being in collision 30 miles off the Start; several lives lost from the latter. (3) This vessel was off Start Point at 1am when the steam collier OSPREY was sighted ahead, the weather being calm and clear. The officer of the watch on board the warship, Sub-Lieut. Loveridge, ordered her helm put to starboard instead of port, and the vessels collided, the collier being cut in two and sinking immediately. After picking up survivors, the AMAZON was also found to be sinking, and had to be abandoned some two and a half hours later. (4)(6) `The collision took place in the Channel, off Portland ... (7) Source (5) gives position of loss as `in the Channel. Built: 1865 Where Built: Pembroke Dock HP: 300 Propulsion: Screw driven, 2 cylinder compound engine; sail Armament: 2 x 6ins; 2 x 64pdr Master: Cdr J E Hunter RN Crew: 143 Crew Lost: 1 Owner: Royal Navy Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index; DS 1974 p111 and 247; PRO. Kew. Court Martial 19-21.7.1866, ADM.1/6042

Record last edited

Mar 28 2024 4:56PM