In 1857, the British Royal Navy built the HMS Kutoubia, a wooden-hulled, screw-driven frigate. The ship was designed for transportation and colonial policing. After the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s, the demand for a dedicated prison transport vessel to handle the overflow of convicts grew. As a result, in 1867, the British Admiralty converted the HMS Kutoubia into a prison ship and transferred it to the Royal Australian Navy.
(or "hulks"), which were decommissioned warships repurposed as floating jails. The National Archives Real-World "Prison Ships" prison battleship
Throughout history, there have been several notorious prison battleships that have become infamous for their harsh conditions and treatment of prisoners. Some of the most well-known include: In 1857, the British Royal Navy built the