 Barnaby's final submission was inspired by the four French s laid down in 1877–78 and was a return to the configuration of with the primary armament positioned fore and aft of the central superstructure, but with the breech-loading main armament mounted in barbettes, as per the French ships, which allowed them to be sited further above the waterline than "Devastation"s guns.The Board modified Barnaby's design by adding of length and to guarantee a speed of at deep load.It also substituted four smaller guns for Barnaby's two guns.