Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 46:15-49:14

What a two-deck HMS Warrior would require

A more capable French Gloire could prompt a much larger Warrior with roughly twice the gun battery and wider strategic consequences.

HMS Warrior (1860)IroncladsJohn FisherRoyal NavyShip Design
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Question

What would it have taken for a two-deck HMS Warrior to become reality?

Short answer

A substantially more threatening Gloire could justify a larger, broader Warrior carrying roughly 84 to 90 guns, perhaps followed by more sister ships.

Notes

A substantially more threatening French Gloire could justify a two-deck Warrior carrying roughly 84 to 90 guns. The additional deck and armament would require a much larger hull, with greater beam to support the increased height. Extra length and a second engine with twin shafts are considered, although the machinery proposal is explicitly treated as doubtful. A stronger French challenge might also lead Britain to order four Warriors instead of two. That precedent could influence Fisher's later judgment about how many Dreadnoughts to order, but the connection remains a counterfactual possibility.