Passenger vessel; Troopboat

Scale: 1:24. A contemporary full hull model of a flat-bottomed troopboat (circa 1758), built in the Georgian style. The model is decked and equipped and contains 72 figures, several of which have come unstuck. It is one of a set of four troopboat models on loan from Greenwich Hospital (SLR2538-SLR2540). The model is distinguished by two pike-carrying troops at the stern. The oarsmen sat on small thwartship benches. The oars were rowed against the thole pins placed in the gunwales. A swivel gun was usually mounted on the stem-piece, as in this model, and sometimes a small cannon was placed in the slide, aft. All the interior fittings were detachable so that the boats could be carried in the transport. This troopboat has a round stern as opposed to those with a square transom (see SLR0498 and SLR0500).

These clinker-built 18th-century troopboats were carried in specially adapted transports chartered by the Admiralty, and were used in landing operations on enemy shores. Landing was by means of a portable ramp carried in the bows. Many were used in raids on the French coast in 1758 and also at the capture of Havana and St. Lucia. Thirty were employed for the spearhead of Wolfe’s attack on the Heights of Abraham, 1759.

Object Details

ID: SLR0499
Collection: Ship models
Type: Full hull model; Plank-on-frame
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1758
People: Cunningham, Charles
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection
Measurements: Overall: 117 x 490 x 360 mm