The HMS Challenger was a wooden, steam assisted Navel Corvette (warship) and measured 61m in length. The HMS Challenger was first launched in Feburary 1858 and was on active duty for over 10 years with the Royal Navy.

In 1870 a Edinburgh university proffessor and marine zooligist called Charles Wyville Thompson, managed to persuade the Royal Society of London to support him with a experdition of the world's oceans.

The Royal Navy lent them the HMS Challenger and preperation were made. 15 of the ships 17 guns were removed to make room for laboratries and they created storage rooms for the marine samples. They assembled a crew of over 200 people and a team of 6 scientists, led by Wyville Thompson himself.

On Saturday 7th December 1872 the HMS Challenger was ready and set sail from Sheerness, England.

It would travel for 42 months, cover over 127,600km and make over 362 stops.

HMS Challenger