The proposed refit substitutes a four-bladed disconnecting screw for Shannon's inefficient propeller so that she could steam better without sacrificing sailing performance. A unified battery of modern rifles would replace her mismatched guns and simplify the fighting arrangement. The proposal is judged against the weak U.S. fleet of 1881 rather than against the strongest Royal Navy ships. In a navy still dominated by wooden corvettes, gunboats, and monitors, even this flawed British cruiser could have supplied a credible high-seas armoured hull. The comparison also shows how Chilean, Argentine, and Brazilian acquisitions shaped North American assessments of naval adequacy.
Notable Point · 1:06:58-1:08:37
An American modernization plan for HMS Shannon
A hypothetical 1881 U.S. purchase would replace Shannon's screw and mixed armament to create a credible high-seas armoured ship.