HMS Research (1863)

HMS "Research" was a small ironclad warship, converted from a wooden-hulled sloop and intended as an experimental platform in which to try out new concepts in armament and in armour.

In the period from 1860 to 1865 the Board of Admiralty were seriously concerned at the speed with which France was producing ironclad warships. One of the steps taken to counter this perceived threat was the conversion of partially built British wooden ships into ironclads. (See "Prince Consort" class).

The 17-gun sloop HMS "Trent" had been ordered in November 1860 as one of the "Perseus" class. She was selected for conversion to an ironclad, and her name was changed to HMS "Research". Although she had been building for a year work was not far advanced, and the necessary changes to her length and beam could easily be made. Her sloop ends were replaced by an oval stern and a ram bow, and the draught altered to give her a trim of convert|3.5|ft|m by the stern.

Her armament was carried in a midships armoured compartment which, when used in subsequent designs, became known as a box battery. The designed armament of seventeen guns was discarded, and the offensive power of the ship was concentrated into four 100-pounder Somerset smoothbore cannon, which were at the time the most powerful guns afloat. While these guns were certainly much more effective against armour than smaller pieces, whether a two-gun broadside would have prevailed against more gernerously armed ironclads is open to question.

For the first time, in this ship, a degree of axial fire was possible from broadside guns. The hull sides were recessed at either end of the battery, and gunports were constructed facing fore and aft to which the guns could be moved. Moving the guns in anything other than calm weather was a hazardous procedure.

"Research" rolled excessively, and was normally retained in harbour during the winter months. Although Edward Reed, her designer, had expected great things of her, the "Standard" of October 27 1865 said "probably the very worst vessel, both as a fighting machine and a sea-boat, that ever yet went out of a dockyard of any nation pretending to a maritime reputation".

She served in the Channel Fleet from 1864 to 1866, and in the Mediterranean from 1871 to 1878. She saw no other service before being sold.

References

* Oscar Parkes, "British Battleships" ISBN 0-85052-604-3
* Conway, "All the World's Fighting Ships" ISBN 0-85177-133-5