Built at Deptford as a wooden screw gunboat for the Royal Navy.
07 October 1854 launched under the name HMS RUBY. On of the Gleaner class designed by Mr. W.H.Walker.
Tonnage 216 ton (bm) as designed, dim. 100 x 22 x 6.6ft. (draught).
One reciprocating engine, 60hp speed 8 knots. Engined by Penn with a trunk engine.
Armament 1 – 68 pdr. S.B./M.L, 1 – 32 pdr. S.B/M.L., 2 – 24 pdr. howitzers.
Crew 36 officers and ratings.
Three masts, first only dipping lugsails, but before they went to the Baltic, sail area greatly increased.
The heavier rig that was used in the Baltic was most likely, the rig used on the ALBACORA class gunboats of 1856 – a topsail and topgallant on the foremast as well as a flying jib. The combination fore-and-aft and square rig became known as the “gunboat rig”.
October 1868 she was broken up.
The intention was to fit her out with two 68 pdrs. guns, but the stability got so small that a 32 gun was placed instead.
The stamp is partly designed after a painting of which a reproduction is depict in the book ‘Send a Gunboat’, which has the under titling: The gunboat RUBY and rocket boats in auction in Kounda Bay, 13 July 1855.
During the Crimean War, the main task for the Allied British and French Baltic fleet was to blockade the Russian fleet in Kronstad. The main operations were the destruction of Bomarsund fortress on the Aland Islands in 1854 and the bombardament of Sveaborg fortress outside Helsinki-Helsingfors in 1855.
However, smaller detachments of mainly British vessels were involved in disturbing Finnish seafarers and in operations against small towns along the Russian and Finnish coast.
This actions were successful, in October 1855 the Tsar had more men guarding danger points along the coast of Bothnia and Finland that the entire strength of the British Army, and the prowling gunboats had captured or destroyed up to 80.000 tons of enemy shipping.
The gunboats were very small and living condition confined, also she carried very little coal, the gunboats invariable cruised in company with a larger warship, from which they drew coal, ammunition and victuals
The HMS RUBY when prowling along the Russian coast in the Gulf of Finland sighted in July a Russian warship, when she was sent into Kounda Bay on 13 July 1855 near Viborg (now Viipuri) towing with her the boats of the HMS MAGICIENNE and ARROGANT. When she sighted the enemy warship, the Russian warship towed two, oared gunboats.
The RUBY opened fire on the Russian vessels, which quickly retired, with the British naval forces in pursuit.
When she tried to enter the sound leading to Viborg, she had to stop, across the sound was a barrier of stakes, and the RUBY could not pass. Trying to help the boats to cross the barrier of stakes, she came suddenly under fire of hidden guns onshore only 350 yards away.
First there was complete chaos, as enemy riflemen joined in, but when the guns of the RUBY found their targets, they drove the riflemen from their positions.
In one of the boats of the ARROGANT a rocket exploded.
After the rocket exploded, the boat drifted to the shore nearer to the enemies fire. The Captain of the Mast of the ARROGANT George Henry Ingouville who was wounded, jumped overboard, he swam around to the boats bow, took hold of the painter and tried to pull her out to sea again (he is also depict on the stamp.)
Lieutenant Dowell of the RUBU took three volunteers and went to the rescue.
When Dowell arrived on the scene, he took of the men from the boat and rescued Ingouville from the water, and towed the stricken boat out of guns range. (For this act of bravery Ingouville and Dowell both received the Victoria Cross.)
When three Russian gunboats and a steamer came up the sound, the British force withdrew, with the loss of a midshipman from one of the boats, and several wounded.
Jersey 1985 22p sg375, scott?
http://www.chapter-one.com/vc/award.asp?vc=615 http://www.royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk/histvc03.htm
mostly copied from Watercraft Philately Vol. 35 page 82. Send a gunboat by A. Preston & John More.