HMS Avenger wrecked on the Sorelle Rocks with heavy loss of life (1847)

HMS Avenger, a wooden paddle-wheel frigate launched in 1845, was wrecked on the Sorelle Rocks in the Mediterranean Sea in December 1847. The vessel, commanded by Captain Charles Elers Napier, ran aground near Tunisia on 20 December, resulting in heavy loss of life.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. HMS Avenger was a wooden paddle-wheel frigate of the Royal Navy, launched in 1845. She served with the Channel Fleet from April 1846 until November 1847, when she was transferred to the Mediterranean. By late 1847, the ship's armament had been reduced, with no guns on her main deck.

Voyage. In late 1847, HMS Avenger was part of the British naval force in Portugal. On 17 December 1847, she sailed from Gibraltar bound for Malta. The ship was commanded by Captain Charles Elers Napier, who was the stepson of Rear Admiral Sir Charles Napier, then commanding the Channel Fleet.

Wreck. On 20 December 1847, HMS Avenger ran onto the Sorelle Rocks, located near Tunisia in the Mediterranean Sea. The incident resulted in heavy loss of life, as recorded in historical accounts of the ship's service.

People involved

Sources

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