Cybercaptain: HMS Warrior

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

HMS Warrior

HMS Warrior in 1864 (credit historyinportsmouth.co.uk)

Back in 2016 I also did visit HMS Warrior among the many exhibits at Portsmouth Naval dockyard, she's representing the Victorian seafaring era, much like the s/s Great Britain by Brunel. The Warrior was also fitted with a propeller, I'm sure this was much to the benefit of Brunel's example to the rest of the world.

The steering wheel on deck (credit solarnavigator.net)

The 27 ton propeller could be hoisted for sailing and also the 2 funnels could be retracted and her anchors (4 pcs) were the heaviest in her time with 5.6 tons each. These maneuvers were all done manually by only manpower but she had lots of it, roughly 700 crew in total.

The wheel on deck with the Danish princess words on it (credit solarnavigator.net)

The ship was initially assigned to the Channel Squadron under the command of Captain Arthur Cochrane. In March 1863, Warrior escorted the royal yacht that brought Princess Alexandra of Denmark to Britain to marry the Prince of Wales. The princess appreciated the conduct of the ship's crew, and requested Admiral Sir Michael Seymour to convey to the ship that "she was much pleased". Cochrane had the message engraved on a brass plate and fitted to the ship's wheel. (credit Wikipedia)

The wheel under deck (for when under battle)

The wheel under deck

She was designed to do 14kts under sail and propulsion and at seatrials she set a speed record of 17.5 knots in the Irish sea. Her steam engine produced 4300kW but funny enough they had not developed a way to have steam assist the anchor and propeller not the sail hoisting. One also has to remember there was no electricity so the engine room must have been really dark and gloomy with only oil lamps and the 10 boilers fire pits giving light to the stokers.

Illustration of the hull and decks (credit solarnavigator.net)

Carpenter's shop

The ship was never deployed in anger, she was so much feared that she only needed to show up. HMS Warrior is widely considered the most revolutionary warship of the Victorian era. When she was launched in 1860, she was the world's first iron-hulled, armored battleship, instantly making every other warship on the planet obsolete. The hull was so thick it could withstand any ordnance available, the armor to protect all of this was 4.5″ of wrought iron over two layers of 9″ teak and the 1″ iron hull.

Gun deck

The Ultimate Deterrent (1861–1875): Built in response to France's Gloire, Warrior was faster, more heavily armored, and more powerful than anything else afloat. She was so intimidating that she never had to fire her guns in anger; her mere presence served as the ultimate diplomatic tool. Her history is not very exciting, once she collided with HMS Royal Oak while cruising to Scotland and she lost her figurehead and jib boom and smashed Royal Oak's cutter. Captain Boys was court-martialed and acquitted over the incident. Otherwise she was mostly involved in escorts and defusing political impasse situations.

Salon

Captain's cabin/ office

Rapid Obsolescence: Technology moved so fast in the late 19th century that Warrior was outclassed within a decade by mastless turret ships. She was placed in reserve in 1875 and finally decommissioned in 1883.

Portable armaments

Armaments, rifles

Armaments against boarding, sabres

The "Indignities" (1904–1979): After her frontline service, she was stripped of her masts and guns. She served as a floating school for the Royal Navy's Torpedo School (HMS Vernon) in Portsmouth before being towed to Wales in 1929 to spend 50 years as a humble oil fuel jetty. As per records she serviced about 5000 bunkerings in her time.

Funnel on deck

Her bowsprit and figurehead

Anchor chains

Restoration and Return (1979–Present): Saved from the scrap yard by the Maritime Trust, she underwent a massive £8 million restoration in Hartlepool. She made a triumphant return to Portsmouth on 16 June 1987, greeted by thousands of people and a flotilla of boats.