Large frigates made Warrior a natural British answer

Warrior grew out of an Admiralty preference for very large frigates. HMS Mersey and HMS Orlando carried food and fuel for worldwide commerce raiding, although long Atlantic voyages strained the hulls of these large wooden ships. The Royal Navy maintained a concentrated battle fleet while frigates handled routine patrols and visible presence overseas. Sending a ship of the line supplied an occasional stronger signal, but frigates made everyday presence more economical. Adding armor to the large-frigate design tradition therefore served an established role. Warrior's 9,284-ton displacement made her much larger than La Gloire, and rapid British follow-on construction reinforced the impression of superiority.