HMS Warrior (1860) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids History
HMS Warrior
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Warrior
Ordered	11 May 1859
Builder	Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Blackwall, London
Cost	£377,292
Laid down	About August 1859
Launched	29 December 1860
Commissioned	1 August 1861
Decommissioned	31 May 1883
Renamed	Vernon III, March 1904 Warrior, 1 October 1923 Oil Fuel Hulk C77, 27 August 1942 HMS Warrior (1860), 1985
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Class and type	Warrior-class armoured frigate
Displacement	9,137 long tons (9,284 t)
Length	420 ft (128.0 m) (o/a)
Beam	58 ft 4 in (17.8 m)
Draught	26 ft 10 in (8.2 m)
Installed power	5,772 ihp (4,304 kW) 10 rectangular boilers
Propulsion	1 shaft, 1 Trunk steam engine
Sail plan	Ship rig
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Range	2,100 nmi (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement	706 officers and enlisted men
Armament	26 × Smoothbore muzzle-loading 68-pounder (206 mm) guns 10 × Rifled breechloading 110-pounder (178 mm) guns 4 × Rifled breechloading 40-pounder (121 mm) guns
Armour	Belt: 4.5 in (114 mm) Bulkheads: 4.5 in (114 mm)

HMS Warrior was a very important ship built for the Royal Navy in 1860. It was the first battleship ever made with a hull (the main body of the ship) completely out of iron. This was a huge step forward in naval history!

Warrior was built because France had just launched its own ironclad warship called Gloire. Britain wanted to make sure its navy stayed the strongest in the world. Today, you can visit HMS Warrior in Portsmouth, England. It's a Museum ship alongside other famous ships like HMS Victory and the remains of the Mary Rose.

The First Iron Warship
- Why Iron Was Important
Building a Giant
- Size and Speed
- Powerful Weapons
Life on Board
- Daily Routines
A Ship of Many Names
- Later Years
- Becoming a Museum
Images for kids
See also

The First Iron Warship

HMS Warrior was a true marvel of its time. Before Warrior, warships were made mostly of wood. But wooden ships couldn't stand up to the powerful new cannons being developed. Iron was much stronger and could protect a ship better.

Why Iron Was Important

Using iron for the hull meant that cannonballs would bounce off or get stuck, instead of smashing through. This made ships like Warrior almost impossible to sink with the weapons of that era. It changed how naval battles were fought forever.

Building a Giant

Building HMS Warrior was a massive project. It was much bigger and heavier than any warship built before. Its construction showed how advanced British engineering was in the 1800s.

Size and Speed

Warrior was 420 feet (128 meters) long, which is longer than a football field! It could travel at a speed of 14 knots (about 16 miles per hour). This was very fast for a ship of its size at the time. It used both steam power and sails to move.

Powerful Weapons

The ship carried many powerful guns. It had large 68-pounder guns and newer 110-pounder guns. These guns could fire heavy cannonballs or shells over long distances. The ship's armor protected the crew and the engines.

Life on Board

Life on HMS Warrior was busy for its crew of over 700 sailors and officers. They had to work together to keep the ship running, whether sailing or preparing for battle.

Daily Routines

Sailors had strict daily routines, including cleaning, training, and maintaining the ship. They slept in hammocks and ate simple meals. Life at sea was tough, but also exciting for many.

A Ship of Many Names

Even though Warrior was a cutting-edge ship, it didn't see much combat. Its very existence helped keep the peace because other countries knew Britain had such a powerful ship.

Later Years

After its time as a frontline warship, Warrior was used for different purposes. It was renamed several times, including Vernon III and Oil Fuel Hulk C77. It even served as a floating oil storage tank for many years.

Becoming a Museum

In the 1980s, a huge effort began to restore Warrior to its original glory. It took many years and a lot of hard work. Now, it's a fantastic museum ship where visitors can explore its decks and learn about its history. It's a great example of Victorian engineering.