Surveyor Baldwin Walker converted available 80-gun ships, including completed and unfinished hulls, because they could enter service sooner against Russia. He did not regard those ships as the ideal foundation of the future steam battle fleet. Walker and First Lord James Graham expected France to resume its place as Britain's principal naval rival after the war, so they continued larger new construction for that contest. Victoria, Howe, and Revenge belonged to this longer-term programme. Victoria and Howe took more than five years to build because Walker insisted on the quality of their materials.
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Emergency conversions for Russia, new battleships for France
The Royal Navy converted available 80-gun ships for immediate war service while reserving first-rate new construction for the longer-term French challenge.