Algerine - class gunboat The " Algerine " class gunboats were a class of six 3 - gun wooden gunboats ( reclassified as gunvessels from 1859 ) built for the Royal Navy in 1857 . A further pair were built in India for the Bombay Marine in 1859 . An enlarged version of the very numerous " Albacore " class , they reflected the change in use from coastal operations towards deep - water cruising , but were delivered too late to see action in the Crimean War . They were the first class of Royal Navy gunboat to incorporate a hoisting screw , which gave them improved performance under sail . Of note , the last man hung from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine executed on 13 July 1860 in " Leven " . Design and construction . Developed during the Crimean War as an enlarged version of W . H . Walker ' s " Albacore " class , the " Algerines " were an acknowledgement that gunboats designed for coastal operations would inevitably be called upon to act in a cruising role , both in shallow and in deeper water . Their increased size gave them much improved accommodation , and in general they were effective vessels , leading to the construction of two identical vessels for the Indian Marine . Armament . As built , they were armed with one 68 - pounder ( 87cwt ) muzzle - loading smoothbore gun and two 24 - pounder howitzers . By 1863 the three surviving vessels of the class were armed with one 110 - pounder Armstrong breech - loading gun and one 40 - pounder Armstrong breech - loading gun . Propulsion . The class were each fitted with a 2 - cylinder horizontal direct - acting single - expansion steam engine manufactured by Maudslay , Sons & Field . This engine drove a single screw , which for the first time in a gunboat was provided with a hoisting mechanism ; this ensured a better performance under sail than previous classes . These engines developed 80 nominal horsepower ( a designed indicated horsepower of ) . The design speed under steam was . Rig . Fitted at first with a simple schooner rig ( often known as a " gunboat rig " in the Royal Navy ) , the use of these vessels as cruisers encouraged commanding officers on far - flung stations to augment their sail area by fitting topmasts and yards , making them barquentine s . Operational lives . " Jaseur " was lost on the Bajo Nuevo Bank in the Caribbean within two years of her launch , having spent the whole of her short career on the North America and West Indies station , mostly in deterring the slave trade . " Jasper " also served on the West Indies station before being sold to the Chinese in 1863 to form part of Sherard Osborn ' s Vampire Fleet . When the venture was called off , she was sold to Egypt to prevent her purchase by the Confederate Navy . " Algerine " spent her entire career on the China station , and was present at the capture of Canton in 1857 . " Lee " was also sent to the China station , but her career was abruptly curtailed on 25 June 1859 when she was sunk at the second battle of the Taku Forts . " Leven " , like " Lee " and " Algerine " served on the China station , and took part in the successful first battle of the Taku Forts . The last man hanged from the yardarm in the Royal Navy was a Royal Marine , Private John Dalliger , executed for attempted murder on 13 July 1860 in " Leven " . " Slaney " served with " Algerine " at the capture of Canton and with " Leven " at the first battle of the Taku Forts . Bombay Marine versions . Having proved their worth in the Royal Navy , two copies were built of teak at Bombay for the Bombay Marine .