HMS Victoria was launched in 1859 as the Royal Navy’s last first-rate three-deck ship of the line to serve at sea. At 6,959 tons she was briefly the world’s largest warship, but Warrior’s 9,284-ton iron hull displaced her from that position a year later. Together, the ships show overlapping technology trees: wooden naval architecture reached its peak as iron construction passed it. Victoria still served as Mediterranean Fleet flagship, though her gun battery was reduced so space could support command duties. Her final Spithead review and later accommodation role show how quickly a premier capital ship could move away from front-line status.
Notable Point · 44:18-46:47
HMS Victoria reached the wooden battleship peak as Warrior passed it
The world’s largest wooden warship lost that distinction to HMS Warrior within a year, compressing an entire change of capital-ship technology into two hulls.