HMS Merlin (1838)

HMS Merlin was a 2-gun paddle packet boat, the name ship of her class, built for the Royal Navy during the 1830s. She was converted into a survey ship in 1854 and then into a gunvessel two years later.

Description
Merlin had a length at the gun deck of 175 ft and 153 ft at the keel. She had a beam of 33 ft, and a depth of hold of 16 ft. The ship's tonnage was 889 $14⁄94$ tons burthen. The Merlin class was armed with a pair of 6-pounder carronades.

Construction and career
Merlin, the twelfth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy, was ordered on 10 March 1838, laid down the following month at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 18 September 1838. She was completed in April 1839 and commissioned on 20 April.