hms ships hms forming second group wooden steam battleships selected conversion ironclads response perceived threat britain offered large french ironclad building programme ship ordered west_coast canada completed represent british interests flagship years relieved refitted arrival subsequently guard ship southampton paid ship reserve sold scrap design description hms given straight stem rounded stern hull original form found hull earlier prince consort class led longitudinal weakness conversion central battery ironclad cost contemporaries offset shorter battery effective broadside carried armour earlier class nearly knot slower built serve distant waters expected face opposing ships significant force shortcomings thought acceptable feet long perpendiculars beam feet inches ship draught feet forward feet inches aft displaced long tons propulsion simple horizontal cylinder horizontal return connecting rod steam engine driving single bladed inch propeller steam provided rectangular boilers working pressure psi kpa cm2 engine produced indicated horsepower ship sea trials november gave ship maximum speed knots mph carried maximum long tons coal ship rigged masts sail area square feet best speed propeller disconnected sail knots mph armament available inch inch guns powerful ships received armament inch guns deemed adequate expected service activity retained active career battleship uniform armament calibre half sister hms victorian ironclads retain original armament unchanged entire active careers armed inch rifled muzzle loading guns guns mounted upper deck chase guns fore aft calibre inch gun weighed long tons fired pound shell credited nominal ability penetrate inch armour armour complete waterline belt wrought iron inches thick amidships tapered inches thick bow stern level main deck reached feet waterline guns main deck amidships protected section inch armour feet long inch transverse bulkheads end left chase guns unprotected armour backed sides ship consisted inches teak total weight armour long tons service history hms laid october wooden deck gun ship line construction suspended pending experience conversion half sisters prince consort class broadside ironclads admiralty ordered july cut deck converted armoured frigate price ship launched march commissioned september completed october order match french deployment armored alma classes pacific_ocean admiralty ordered sail west coast canada shortly completed arrival ship flagship reached operational base july headquarters remained moored end telegraph link britain april time sea service gunnery practice days quarter january picked fresh crew panama brought years station relieved revenge flagship started home cleaned left great_britain maximum knots mph sail steam return voyage took months struck rock sailing slightly damaged refitted plymouth april guard ship southampton paid ship placed reserve portsmouth sold scrap september coal extremely expensive west_coast americas hms generally sails covered miles sail victorian sailing ironclads career travelled company ironclad british ironclad sail britain mediterranean
HMS Zealous (1864)