H.M.S. Challenger, the fifth ship to carry this name, was 200 feet in length and displaced 2,306 tons. Built as a screw corvette and launched at Woolwich in 1858, she saw active service off Mexico in 1860 as well as in the Fiji Islands in 1862. In 1872 she was converted into a survey ship and, under the command of Captain G.S. Nares, N.N., was sent on a scientific expedition around the world. The information gathered, particularly from the deep soundings of the ocean floors, was of such importance that the voyage became justly famous, especially once the multi-volumed report was published. Retired in 1880, Challenger spent her later years on harbour duty in Chatham and was finally sold out of the Service in 1921.