HMS Penguin was a Pearl-class cruiser of the Royal Navy, launched in 1876. It had a length of 204 feet, a beam of 34 feet, and a draft of 15 feet. The ship was armed with two 7-inch guns and six 64-pounder guns, and its propulsion system included both sails and a steam engine, giving it a top speed of 11 knots. HMS Penguin served in various roles, including as a survey ship and training vessel. It participated in the Zulu War in 1879 and conducted survey work in the Pacific. The ship was eventually decommissioned in 1903 and sold for scrap in 1911. HMS Penguin had a notable incident in 1889 when it collided with a merchant vessel, resulting in the loss of 32 lives. The ship's history reflects the transition from sail to steam power in naval vessels during the late 19th century, showcasing the technological advancements and challenges faced by ships of that era.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.