The Royal Navy had difficulty in finding a suitable ship. Several were checked but were not seen as suitable for the long journey to Australia. A French storeship, the "Eclipse", had been damaged when it ran ashore. An American ship, the "Rattlesnake" was not of suitable quality. The Navy purchased the British-made "Grantham", a packet boat, used for the quick transport of mail. When it was partly taken apart for repairs, the Navy decided it needed so much work, that it would cost too much to repair or rebuild it. They then selected the "HM Supply", a small Royal Navy ship based in Portsmouth, which was used to move naval stores around to the different naval yards.