hms defence lead ship defence class armoured frigates ordered royal_navy completion assigned channel_fleet ship paid refit armed briefly reassigned channel_fleet recommissioned defence brief tours north_atlantic relieving ironclads refitted guard ship shannon recommissioned ship transferred channel_fleet guard ship defence placed reserve assigned mechanical training school devonport renamed school adopted served sold design description defence class ironclads designed smaller cheaper versions warrior class armoured frigates meant fit powerful engines warrior class ships knots mph slower far fewer guns naval architect sir future considered terms combat defence class ship worth quarter warrior feet long perpendiculars feet inches long overall beam feet inches draft feet inches ship displaced long tons ram shape hull subdivided watertight transverse bulkheads compartments double underneath engine boiler rooms defence feet inches shorter overall displaced long tons warrior class ironclads propulsion defence class ships cylinder trunk steam engine sons driving single propeller rectangular boilers provided steam engine produced total indicated horsepower sea trials february defence maximum speed knots mph ship carried long tons coal steam nautical miles knots mph ironclads barque rigged sail area square feet lower masts iron withstand shock defence knots mph sail funnel semi retractable reduce wind resistance sail ship propeller hoisted stern ship reduce drag sail rigged barque september april returning original ship rig armament armament defence class ships intended muzzle loading pounder guns main deck fore aft chase guns upper deck plus rifled breech loading pounder guns guns modified construction rifled pounder breech loading guns pounders breech loading inch guns breech loading guns new designs armstrong hoped pounder guns installed main deck amidships chase guns pounder guns mounted main deck firing tests carried september armoured target proved pounder inferior pounder gun armour penetration repeated incidents breech explosions battles caused navy begin withdraw gun service shortly inch solid shot pounder gun weighed approximately pounds gun weighed pounds gun muzzle velocity range yards elevation inch shell pounder armstrong breech weighed pounds muzzle velocity elevation maximum range yards pounder gun weighed pounds guns fire solid shot explosive shells defence rearmed refit fourteen inch inch rifled muzzle loading guns new guns heavier fewer carried shell calibre inch gun weighed pounds gun weighed long tons muzzle velocity credited ability penetrate nominal inches wrought iron armour muzzle calibre inch gun weighed long tons fired pounds shell credited nominal ability penetrate inch armour armour defence class ships wrought iron armour belt inches thick covered feet amidships armour extended upper deck level feet inch transverse bulkheads protected guns main deck armour backed inches teak ends ship left entirely unprotected meant steering gear vulnerable sub divided watertight compartments minimize flooding service hms defence laid december launched april commissioned december completed february completion served channel_fleet paid plymouth refit armament ship returned channel_fleet sent north_america station relieve served mediterranean_fleet command captain earned victoria_cross indian mutiny recovering items lost ironclad hms lord clyde grounded defence damaged propeller rudder briefly grounded trough wave nearly blown ashore march paid lengthy refit plymouth guard ship shannon ship rejoined channel_fleet transferred fleet mediterranean mediterranean_fleet patrolled dardanelles russo turkish war defence replaced sister ship guard ship saw sea going service july ship collided damaging bow flooding compartments converted floating workshop devonport renamed sold scrap devonport august
HMS Defence (1861)