HMS Challenger

​Origin
HMS Challenger was a steam-assisted Royal Navy Pearl-class corvette launched on 13 February 1858 at the Woolwich Dockyard. She was the flagship of the Australia Station between 1866 and 1870. As part of the North America and West Indies Station she took part in 1862 in operations against Mexico, including the occupation of Vera Cruz. Assigned as the flagship of Australia Station in 1866 and in 1868 undertook a punitive operation against some Fijian natives to avenge the murder of a missionary and some of his dependents. She left the Australian Station in late 1870.

She was picked to undertake the first global marine research expedition: the Challenger expedition. The Challenger carried a complement of 243 officers, scientists and crew when she embarked on her 68,890-nautical-mile (127,580 km) journey. The HMS Challenger expedition first sounded the depths now known as the Challenger Deep. This first sounding was made on 23 March 1875 at station 225. The reported depth was 4,475 fathoms (26,850 ft; 8,184 m) at 11°24′N 143°16′E, based on two separate soundings.

​Effects
The HMS Challenger is capable of being submerged underwater and can survive any depth. Both it and anyone aboard are protected from pressure maladies that would otherwise be experienced, such as crushing pressure or the bends. This is achieved by the ship being able to protect its crew via a giant replenishable bubble of air that encompasses the entire vessel.

​Collection
This ship was collected by undercover agent J.B. Garnham after having bought it in 1921, where a duplicate created by ((?)) to be sold off and broken down in it's place. This was only accomplished, unfortunately, after the fgurehead had been already removed.

​Trivia

 * This artifact is to be used in a later story where agents must travel to the Marianas Trench.