HMS Resistance (1861)

HMS "Resistance" was the second and last ship of the "Defence" Class to be commissioned. She served in the Channel from 1862 to 1864, and was then posted to the Mediterranean, where she was the first British ironclad to see service. She paid off in Portsmouth in 1867 for a two-year refit and re-armament.

From 1869 until 1873 she served as guardship in the Mersey, and was then re-commissioned into the Channel Fleet, where she served until 1877. She formed part of the Particular Service Squadron during the Russian war scare of 1878, reverting thereafter to Mersey guardship. Her active service finished in 1880 when she finally paid off and was partly stripped and dismantled at Devonport.

In 1885 she was used as a target in the testing of torpedoes and gunfire. She survived this, to be sold for scrapping on 11 November 1898. She foundered in Holyhead Bay on 4 March 1899, but was raised and taken to pieces at Garston, Liverpool in 1900.

References

* Admiral George Ballard, "The Black Battlefleet" (1980) ISBN 0-245-53030-4

* David Lyon and Rif Winfield, "The Sail and Steam Navy List, 1815 to 1889" (2004) ISBN 1-86176-032-9

* Oscar Parkes, "British Battleships" ISBN 0-85052-604-3

* Conway, "All the World's Fighting Ships" ISBN 0-85177-133-5