RN 1890-1931. Torpedo Boat Depot Ship. HMS Vulcan was the world’s first dedicated torpedo boat mothership. She was a 1880s concept of flotilla carrier, able to deploy them to attack an enemy fleet or protect a colonial station but the best deterrent of its time. A very “Jeune Ecole” concept though, by certain aspects, she … Read more
RN (1875-79, service until 1905-19): Iris, Mercury The Iris class Cruiser were an important milestone in the development of the type in the Royal Navy. Unlike contemporary masted vessels called as “armoured cruisers” such as the HMS Shannon and Nelson class, close to ironclads than true cruisers, the Iris class were the first all-steel warships … Read more
United Kingdom: Experimental torpedo ram (1881-1903) The Victorian Freak Among the “oddballs” of the Royal Navy, HMS Polyphemus is many’s favourite. She was unlike any other vessel in the Royal Navy. This “Victorian Freak” was born from 1872 studies from the “Torpedo Committee”. Initially a much larger and faster version of Vesuvius. But it was … Read more
United Kingdom: 1871-1904 Ironclad Ram For the first post of this new year were open the ball with the oddballs of the Royal Navy. Ships that were out of the ordinary and in the 19th Century pioneered some untapped aspects of naval technology, while having no real succession. They were just pretty unique. Among these … Read more
United Kingdom (1874-1881): Nelson, Northampton The Nelson class were two armoured cruisers (HMS Nelson, HMS Northampton) designed by Chef Constructor Nathaniel Barnaby as an improved version of HMS Shannon, much improved. Construction was quite long due to design revision after Shannon’s own sea trials. Both were equally disappointing with an armament only valuable against coastal … Read more
Armoured Cruiser HMS Shannon (1875) United Kingdom (1873-1899) The concept of the armoured cruiser had many origins and claiming nations. In the case of Russia, it is argued that the General Admiral class (1875) is a serious contenter. In fact exactly the same year, the British Royal Navy claimed their own: HMS Shannon. Started in … Read more
