How would the French ironclad Hoche fare against HMS Renown in 1895?
Short answerRenown would have the decisive advantage because her fully quick-firing armament represented a major generational break.
NotesChanges in gunnery between the two designs give Renown a decisive advantage over Hoche in this comparison. Her battery is described as quick-firing throughout, including the 10-inch main guns, giving her a much greater volume and responsiveness of fire than the earlier ironclad. Hoche is judged better suited to fighting smaller contemporaries or ships of an older generation. The comparison also distinguishes Renown's overseas presence role from the heavily armed Admiral-class ships, whose arrival would signal a more serious confrontation. Victoria, Inflexible, and Devastation appear as examples of the varied British ironclads foreign powers might otherwise encounter.