Breastwork Monitors: HMS Cerberus, Magdala (1967-1924) Alongside turret ironclads, some in the British admiralty saw in turreted, steam-only and low-freeboard ironclads, a vision of future. The type developed in the US by John Ericson 1861 started with the namesake ship, USS Monitor. Derided in the US by some as the “cheesebox on a raft” was … 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 (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
