Britannia (1824); Passenger/cargo vessel; Packet

Scale: Unknown. A model depicting the temporary rudder fitted to HMS 'Britannia' (1820), a first rate 120-gun warship. The stern is shown in a stylised manner with a section of the poop deck, but largely in frame, the framing and the overall shape of the stern not resembling the actual ship. The temporary rudder and the stern have both been made largely in wood and stained and polished a dark brown colour. The stern is mounted on a simple lozenge shaped baseboard, made from the same material and stained the same colour as the model. The temporary rudder over hangs the baseboard and can be pivoted in an arch.

The temporary rudder is made from several pieces of wood, fixed to three upright timbers and a diagonal section extends from the top of the rudder and there is provision for securing the extension to a yard that is positioned transversely on the poop deck. The top of the rudder post has provision for a tiller (now missing). There is the remains of a wheel on the poop deck, which may be a temporary structure to facilitate the operation of the temporary rudder.

Object Details

ID: SLR2355
Collection: Ship models
Type: Sectional model; Stern model; Rudder model
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Vessels: Britannia (1820)
Date made: circa 1827
People: South Kensington Museum; Marshall, H.
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
Measurements: Overall: 288 mm x 562 mm x 326 mm
Parts: Britannia (1824); Passenger/cargo vessel; Packet