A single-screw compound engine produced about 2,590 indicated horsepower, while a bark or full ship rig preserved sailing range and flexibility on distant stations. The class was modestly paced, with a reported powered speed of roughly fourteen and three-quarter knots that may have included assistance from the sails. The first ships combined seven-inch muzzle-loaders and 64-pounders, while Comus briefly received unreliable Mark I six-inch breech-loaders. Canada and Cordelia instead carried ten improved Mark II six-inch guns, accepting a smaller broadside count in return for longer-ranged, more manageable weapons. The changing fits show designers adjusting armament to technology, crew demands, and service far from major dockyards.
Notable Point · 20:20-24:22
A compact sail-and-steam cruiser with varied guns
The class combined a roughly 2,380-ton hull, compound steam machinery and sail rig with armament that changed as British gun technology evolved.