HMS Unicorn

As one of the last of the successful Leda class frigates, HMS Unicorn is one of only two surviving frigates that have the distinction of being the oldest British ships still afloat (some are older but are in dry dock - HMS Victory being an example). Due to her relatively quiet life HMS Unicorn has survived as the most 'original' ship of her age in the world. Her keel was laid at the No. 4 slip at Chatham Naval Dockyard in 1822 and her design, although improved by Sir Robert Seppings, was based on the French vessel 'Hebe' captured in 1782. HMS Unicorn was launched on 30th March 1824, was 150ft (45.4m) in length and carried an armament of 46 guns - 18 pound guns on her main gun deck - 9 pound guns and 36 pound Carronades on her upper deck.

Completed at a time of settled peace, HMS Unicorn was immediately laid up in reserve and was roofed over, as was the custom, to protect her decks from the elements. There she remained until she was loaned to the War Department in 1857 for use as a powder hulk on the River Thames at Woolwich. HMS Unicorn performed this role until 1862 when she was once again laid up in Sheerness. Now, 38 years since her launch date, and with the advent of steam power, the sailing warship was considered to be obselete. As a result, HMS Unicorn languished at Sheerness in Kent for a further 11 years.

Due to her protected existence her hulk remained in good condition and in 1873 HMS Unicorn was selected for conversion to a drill ship for the Royal Naval Reserve at Dundee. The paddle sloop 'Salamander' promptly towed HMS Unicorn to her new home where some minor modifications were carried out, the most noticeable being the addition of signal masts. These were lightweight, and not stepped on the keel. For nearly a century HMS Unicorn remained in a similar role, serving the Royal Naval Reserve until 1906, then the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Following the Second World War, HMS Unicorn came back under the command of the Royal Naval Reserve. During both World Wars HMS Unicorn was used as the area headquarters of the Senior Naval Officer, Dundee.

In 1939 an embarrassing situation arose when the first Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Stanhope, chose the name 'HMS Unicorn' for a new aircraft carrier, not realising that the name was already registered. This resulted in the frigate's name being changed to HMS Unicorn II, and subsequently to HMS Cressy, when it became a logistical headache for the Navy having two ships with such similar names. In 1959 the aircraft carrier was scrapped allowing the frigate the opportunity of reverting back to her original name. Throughout the war the aircraft carrier was under the command of Captain W. F. Keay, and it was his widow who performed the renaming ceremony of HMS Unicorn.

The first threat of the breakers yard came in 1961 when the Earl Grey Dock, where HMS Unicorn had remained during her service in Dundee, was due to be filled in with the imminent construction of the Tay Road Bridge. One of her previous commanders succeeded in reversing the Navy's decision to scrap the frigate, and a new berth was found for her downstream. Five years later her future was again uncertain when construction commenced on the Royal Naval Reserve's new land-based headquarters.

The HMS Unicorn Preservation Society was formed in 1968, under the chairmanship of Lord Dalhousie, with the sole aim of preserving the vessel for future posterity. On 26th September 1968 Prince Philip was able to accept HMS Unicorn from the Royal Navy on behalf of the society. Various alterations have been made to the vessel in an attempt to bring her back to her former appearance. These include the removal of the signal masts, and a small section of roof to uncover the head rails, and the installation of a new figurehead, a new bowsprit and replica replacement armament. Some of the officers' cabins, together with the Captain's accommodation, have also been restored to reflect the appropriate styles of the day. HMS Unicorn is a ship well worth a visit, and can be found in a remarkable state of preservation at the Victoria Dock, Dundee.