Karteria (Greek warship)

Steamship Karteria

• 4 × 68- pounder

The Karteria (Greek Καρτερία (f. pl. ) = Endurance) was the first steam-powered ship, which was involved in combat operations. It was built in 1825 in an English shipyard for the Greek Navy for use in the Greek War of Independence. Captain of Karteria was the British naval officer Frank Abney Hastings.

It was built by Daniel Brent at the shipyard Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe, London. It was the first of six ships of Thomas Cochrane, the commander of the Greek navy, which was completed.

The 400 - ton vessel was classified as a sloop and the paddle wheels were driven by two small steam engines. The ship had four masts and could sail. It was armed with four 68- pounders, the projectiles could be heated by a furnace red hot and used as incendiary projectiles. Only in 1827 was the ship from 18,000 volleys.

The ship was put into service in Greece in 1826 and was the first steam warship which was involved in combat operations. Under the command of Frank Abney Hastings the Karteria soon acquired a fearsome reputation. A successful operation was, for example, the attack on the port of Itea near Salona in the Gulf of Corinth 29-30. September 1827, where she sank nine Ottoman ships.