Defence class battleship

The "Defence" Class of ironclad battleships were the class which historically immediately followed the first two British ironclads, HMS|Warrior|1860|6 and HMS Black Prince. The class consisted of two ships, HMS|Defence|1861|6 and HMS|Resistance|1861|6.

In 1859 the Admiralty was as yet not convinced that the cost of the HMS|Warrior|1860|6 class, which had significantly exceeded the costs of all previous warships, had to be accepted as the norm. It had been noted that the armour plate of 4.5 inches (110 mm) thickness as fitted to these vessels was adequate to deflect all ordnance currently afloat, and Their Lordships therefore requested a class of ships which, while carrying the same armour as the "Warriors", was cheaper and smaller. The designer, Isaac Watts, submitted a plan on November 24, 1859, in which he made it clear that he could only incorporate enough engine power for convert|10.75|kn|km/h|0, which would leave the French ironclad "La Gloire" some two knots faster, and able to avoid action if she so chose.

In view of the French programme of ironclad construction, which showed signs of overtaking the British, the Admiralty proposed that six ships of this design be constructed. Political considerations however ultimately ensured that only two were ordered on 14 December 1859. The Prime Minister of the day, Lord Palmerston, was not convinced that the day of the wooden line-of-battle ship had passed.

Sir Nathaniel Barnaby, a future Constructor of the Navy, considered that in terms of combat a "Defence"-class ship was worth one quarter of a "Warrior".

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