The Development of Ironclads - The first 10 years in the Royal Navy
Today we start to look at the ironclad age, with a rundown of the first decade of ironclad development in the RN.
Sources:
www.amazon.co.uk/British-Battleships-Oscar-Parkes/dp/085422002X
www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Battlefleet-G-Ballard/dp/0245530304
www.amazon.co.uk/British-Battleships-Victorian-Norman-Friedman/dp/1526703254
www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-Dreadnought-Warship-Development-1860-1905/dp/1840675292
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Pinned post for Q&A :)
If HMS Ark Royal hadn't been sunk by U-81 in November 1941 then when would she have decomissioned?
Land actions aside, could the Shogunate "Navy" have done Anything tacticly to win at the Battle of Miyako Bay , May 1869? Against the superior Imperial naval squadron? Since we're talking ironclad and all..
When Bismarck's wreck was found it was discovered that many of the 14 inch shells from King George V failed to penetrate Bismarck's armour due to the short range of the battle. What about Rodney's 16 inch shells? Did they also fail to penetrate Bismarck's armour or were more succesful than King George's 14 inch shells?
@@Knight6831 If the Ark had not been sunk in November of 41, it probably would have been sunk by U-73 on August 11th of 42. That was the date Eagle was sunk. Eagle had been deployed to Force H to replace Ark. So, if Ark had not already been sunk, it probably would have been where Eagle was the following August.
Brother I like your videos. Your videos are gourges and amazingAnd your videos soothes my heart Brother your video quality is nice Most of my friends and family members like your videos and watch your videos regularly Most of my friends are fans of your .your channel is inspiration for me. I have been regularly watching your videos from your 8k. But brother I am long awaited for a video on skanderbeg.when it will come?
Anyone else love it when the Rum Ration on Wednesday is measured not in pints or litres or gallons but in oak barrels?!? Luckily today is such a day.
Measured in hogsheads as it should be
I'm waiting for the day when it's measured in oil tankers.
I got hard stuff, but drinking beer on this Thursday Afternoon while only seven minutes in. I know I’m late and questions won’t, most likely be answered.
Don't surf KZhead drunk bloke! LOL! You might get lost at ~SEE~ LOL!!!! tHE YOLK'S ON ME~!~
This rum isn't rationed
Drach, you do realize that the amount of content you generate is mildly insane, right? I've been slogging through your library quite regularly for months, and I'm actually losing ground. Not that it's an unpleasant slog in any respect, but the monstrous nature of it gives it that feel.
It makes me wonder about content per capita. I know DarkDocs and Simon W. have more videos but they also have production teams.
@@ImpmanPDX Drach's ability to make *quality* content at his prolific rate is really what sets him apart. And as mentioned, most of the channels that maintain that level have production assistants or teams but as far as I know Drach is a one many Navy. Although maybe he's answered it in one of the 38,692 drydock episodes he's done!
@@jona.scholt4362 haha yeah it was Drydock 128 I think. Just listened to it yesterday about why he didn't have better graphics :)
Wouldn't say, "mildly" insane. I'd just say insane.
The Drydock - Your Naval Questions Answered - 5 Hours, More or Less 😉
"Sir, Bellerophon's bow wave is insight." The enemy: "Dear Gods. What is that thing?"
Oh, well done. That's today's "Best Comment"
"Thaaar she blows!" "Oh, sorry sir, it's not a whale. The royal Navy is experimenting again"
I'd love to see an old photo or painting of Bellarphon at speed.
Bellerophon*
Meanwhile Bellerophon: DIVE, DIVE, DIVE!
What a fascinating period. Just 5 years and we go from ships that could probably sneak into the Battle of Trafalgar relatively unnoticed to ships that wouldn't look massively out of place sailing around with older Pre-Dreadnoughts. Definitely looking forward to the rest of this series; areas of naval history I have basically zero knowledge of are often the most interesting videos to watch.
This, I most certainly have to agree.
Transitional periods in technology are often very fascinating.
Is it just me or does the idea of Warrior having a forge for molten metal deep within her bowels feel somewhat steampunky?
I imagine something from a Ghibli movie...
@CipiRipi00 doesn't make it less awesome
No, I can't imagine a design feature from a warship from the AGE OF STEAM feeling STEAMPUNKY. >rolls eyes
Definitely seemed nuts. I wouldn't want to be a sailor, but here I thought things were marginally better around this time. Rations had improved, scurvy was far less common, ships and navigation had generally improved so you had a smoother, shorter ride, armor was actually a thing, among many other improvements. Then I learned that you had to worry about MOLTEN METAL flying around the ship during battle, and it's back to square one.
It could be for heated shot to fire from the ship's cannons. Equally, it might also have been for repairs (forging new braces etc.).
An episode about the development of antifouling would be interesting.
+1 Keeping a ship afloat is just as important as building it in the first place.
I like that most hull paint is still coppery colored even though it's not actually coppered. Just still feels right. ::edit:: I feel the fool. It turns out everyone went back to copper after that disastrous 70s-80s run with tributyl. Talk about dating myself.
Ooooh I like that idea
They're currently still looking for a non-toxic version
@@MrNicoJac Given that being toxic is the whole point of conventional anti-fouling paint, that can't be easy. The only way I see is some sort, of anti-stick coating organisms can't hold on to. Like teflon in a fying pan. Won't be easy. Nor cheap I recon.
Over an hour long development of Ironclads on each country are very much welcomed, drach
The Conning Tower: "Something of a halfway house between being inside a Cathedral Bell as it was being rung, and a Kipper Smoke Shed!"
My dad was into ironclads. So much in fact he dressed up as one a few years ago for Halloween. On the way to the party, his car ran off the road and he wound up in the ocean. He managed to get out of the car but he sunk. Miss you dad
Thank you so much for this Drach, as a former stoker I would love an episode dedicated to the boilers and engines that powered these things, the development of the ironclads was closely connected with the advancing propulsion technology of the time. Again, thanks :)
As you command: kzhead.info/sun/hNqeqceqZ1-NgI0/bejne.html :)
@@Drachinifel I'm guessing we hear the names Penn, Maudslay and Humphrys quite a lot?
@Ian Morris "as a former stoker" How old are you? Aren't coal powered ships a pre-World War One sort of thing?
@@KageMinowara LHDs still have oil fired boilers (although I believe they might be diesel but then again the iowas were in until 92)
@@KageMinowara A Navy Stoker is now any crew who specialises in engine room duties, marine engineers.
Merrimack would later feature in her own ironclad story...
Americans are so in luv with themselves, next your going to tell us Ironclads were actually American designs stolen by the rest of the world
"In a slight nod to Health & Safety they actually had let the turret crew leave before they actually shot at them" Bloody soft I call that. Back in my day ...
Kids these days never been under some good navel fire and it shows
Sending my thanks to Drac for maintaining my sanity during the whole covid unpleasantness. I've learnt so much since march 2020. Im sure im not alone in this.
It is indeed rather calming .
True. and Drach does create a large amount of quality videos. Ideal for the hours of exile.
@@neilwilson5785 And. I really appreciate the lack of ads midway through.. his are my go to videos when decorating or something when i need hours of uninterupted diversion
Regarding repair of damaged tongue and groove armor, if you’ve ever tried to replace damaged tongue and groove wooden flooring, you’ll appreciate the problem.
No problem, just remove these 78 planks until you get to the damaged one.
I'M a flooring guy. You are correct. It's called a "weave" repair.
Suitable cuss words and spilling your blood to the task in the name the Gods of wooden construction helps..... as it does with most things..... the Gods demand sacrifice.
A bit connected: the Swedish goverment was offered John Erikssons design of USS Monitor just 3 months after the battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virgina. John Eriksson was from Sweden, and the Swedish goverment used his design. Sweden launched 14 monitors between 1865 and 1867.
That was about a third or so of the history of the American civil war that I got in a Swedish school.
@@sirgreggorygroda a lot happened during the US civil war, it was a very interesting war with a lot of technological innovations so I would recommend doing some reading.
@@garethbaus5471 No, no. Not that. That's a well you don't want to fall down. I've been half way to the bottom since 1967 ...
I dislike wars and fighting. But find the technology that comes from it incredibly fascinating
Exactly My thoughts... But at the same time, if You want peace, prepare for war...
@@augustosolari7721 indeed
@@augustosolari7721 I agree, as the saying goes "Necessity is the mother of invention"
At the same time, war Will exist as long as they are different nations and we don't unite as one as equals...
@@augustosolari7721 i hate the antichrist
Please bring this series back Drach!!
Time to grab some popcorn, this is going to be jolly good
Oh bully!!!!!
"The Americans had started a program to build six large frigates" Hey, I've seen this before, it's a classic
Aren't the Americans building another six frigates today? Maybe more than 6...
@@RCAvhstape we have a thing for 6 packs hehehe
@@KG-jm1zl Okay, just looked it up. They are planning to buy 20 new frigates, the new Constellation class, and using some of the original sailing frigate names.
@@RCAvhstape are these the italian ones?
@@ineednochannelyoutube5384 I think so, but they will be built in the US under license with lots of mods.
HMS Warrior is still afloat, at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. I went round her a few weeks ago. A great visit!
Before discovering Drach, never had any interest on ships, from age of sail until late 21st century. Now that ive binged guides, combat histories and QnAs, Im all down with knowing navies and ships in any medium that Ive come across. So I thank you for sparking this interests and making me very conscience on playing vidya games that has ships in them
You could try reading the Hornblower books.
Lol, same. Cheers Drach. 👍
The difficulties this rapid pace of change imposed on *management* deserves attention. Within a service life, a commander would have to oversee the addition of engineers and stokers, the carpenter equaled to the blacksmith/riveter, coal added to the supply considerations, head of steam buildup and lag understood. It is not only a matter of where would you find qualified people to run the sophisticated machinery. Who of the previous generation can train the new officers on how to command these innovations and these new ratings? How do you retain them? A steam engineer is not an illiterate midshipman that you can gang presss into service and manage by lashes. And mind you, it will only get worst with the introduction of radio, electricity, hydraulics, electronics, diesels, turbines. The fact that the RN as an organization survived all these changes and pressures is remarkable.
The press mostly took men from British merchant shipping. They didn't just sweep random people off the street.
5:22 "The reason for this mixed order was simple: France..." Enough said. The tradition continued for decades.
An excellent account of a very complicated period. The contemporary order that should be famous: "Down funnel, up screw, all hands make sail!"
Love that they preserved Warrior, such a shame they didn’t preserve Warspite
someone should convince an eccentric billionaire to go and fund full-scale dry-berthed mock-ups of her and USS Enterprise to serve as museums
@@fluffly3606 not those are land based ship mockups that I would want to visit.
At around 18:00 I love how the church in the background is exactly between the funnels. Makes it look like the ship has it's own mini-church on the deck. ^^ Hats off to the photographer, if it was done intentionally and not just coincidence. :)
Ah, more tales of the glorious age of metal measured in inches, lashings of gold scrollwork and battle doctrine that consists of "Sail me closer!".
Considering the emphasis on "stealth" nowadays, that doctrine may be making a comeback. Considering my understanding of "stealth" probably not, it was a joke! ;_;
I have been tearing through your content while I've been bed ridden at home. You're keeping me afloat this week good sir.
Hope you’re feeling better soon, sir. Should you run out of Drachinifel - quality content or simply fancy a good read, may I recommend the works of Patrick O’Brian?
@@csoanes01 If I run out of stuff by Drach we're in trouble, but I'll check him out anyways! Thanks!
@@kylestickley8096 they’re historical novels based around the napoleonic navy, but like in the sharpe books the events and characters are based in fact
Thanks for the incredibly interesting video. My Gr Gr Grandfather served in this period, I have his service record , the original waxed paper. He served on HMS Iron Duke and HMS Monarch and was to be found on the latter in the 1881 census in the Mediterranean. Thomas Henry Bushell was a sail maker if I remember rightly.
Oh wow - did he fight at Alexandria? Monarch was there, one of eight to take part. 1882.
Warrior is now preserved a in Portsmouth. It is well worth visiting because you can also go onboard victory and see the mary rose. altogether an excellent day out for anyone interested in ships
I had a look around Warrior in 1987.
Found this channel specifically for the Dystopian Wars content, now find myself going through everything else. Congrats man, you managed to make a fan of tanks interested in naval vessels. :-)
Don't forget the HMS Terror and Erebus had been fitted with steam engines and retractable screw propellers prior to their departure for the Franklin Expedition in 1845 (recently discovered).
One of the huge problems with the Armstrong guns was the use of Lead to help with the gas seal. This would slowly just melt away with firing making the gas seal almost non existent, and also have the fun effect of melting into the bore which would need to be cleaned out regularly. Combined with the normal fouling caused by cannon fire it meant that they would need lots of cleaning and maintenance after only a few shots, not something that is ideal in the middle of a naval gunfight. There is one on display and working currently at the Royal Armouries in Portsmouth, which was restored after being used as a bollard in a carpark in Northern Ireland.
It was indeed propitious that the Royal Navy was able to make such rapid progress in armored ship design in time to meet the Martian Invasion.
Watched this two and a half times.. very good stuff.. always been interested in ironclads ... in my 1890 1900 to 2000 south America campaign I retained an argentine ironclad refurbished for use as offices.. technicaly hulked as we had taken the screws off and just left the engines to give the ratings more to clean and polish... by about 1920 it had so many ambilicals running to it and radio aparatus installed that it was quite an interesting project all by itself.... getting the urge to rerun this campaign from maybe 1850 and see how that works out... south America is a rich wargaming environment that few seem to have developed in recent years...
What sort of game is that?
Coffee Early Time in Alaska! Listening to Drach use 'ironclad' as a noun!
I was rather surprised that you did not mention that the HMS Warrior is now a museum ship docked at Portsmouth near the HMS Victory. It is a beautiful ship, by the way.
It also hosts weddings, I imagine it helps bring in a bit of the cash needed for upkeep
I've been looking forward to this series and, on the basis of this first episode, it's going to be a belter! Top work Drach!
A really excellent cover of the topic. I found is very interesting. Thanks so much Drach!
another amazing informative presentation. Loved it! Cant wait for the rest of the series. Great job ;)
1h on royal navy ironclads?? Oh for God's sake Drach we have things to do!!! 😂 Anyways get the snacks and the irn-bru
I notice Drach's hour appears to contain 70 minutes. Much like the 30 minute long "5 minutes, more or less"
@@tedferkin exactly! But there is nothing wrong with that... He who can cope with 60m of good content can easily cope with 10 more minutes!
Anyone else love it when the Rum Ration on Wednesday is measured not in pints or litres or gallons but in oak barrels?!? Luckily today is such a day.
One hour..... for part one.
Irn-bru; MADE FROM GURDIRS! (Classic ad - never gets old).
Thank you so much for doing this drachinfel I love the ironclad era it's one of my favorite periods of development
One of the most fascinating and informative videos yet! So little info is out there on these early/transitional period iron clads. Thanks Drach. Look forward to more like this.
I've been waiting for you to do something like this for ages. Absolutely brilliant presentation matey.
Have been waiting for a while for this ongoing historical series regarding the development of ironclads and their evolution into the Battleships that followed prominently in WW1 and WW2. Very nice piece as usual and I appreciate your attention to the detail that the topic deserves and requires to be fully appreciated for further study. Thank you so sincerely for your efforts.
Excellent exposition of the subject Drach, many odd niggling questions answered, thank you mate.
Great content, Drach. Your comprehensive warship history is shaping up nicely.
Thank you for all the work you put into making this. .
for a minute i was like "he mentioned pallas without mentioning cochrane." but then i looked it up and realized this pallas is like three or four pallases after cochrane's pallas!
A very informative and enjoyable summary of a time I have little knowledge of... thank you!
Absolutely fascinating! I’m looking forward to the subsequent decades, and nations!
@29:09 comments on the tendency of the Prince Consort, Ocean, and Caledonia to be unstable in the open ocean, rolling heavily but not capsizing. Translated to modern terms, “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down”… ;-)
YES IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS, this period is so underrated I can't wait for the next part
the only video with 1k upvotes and not one downvote iv ever seen on KZhead.
Looking forward to the rest of this series!
Thank you for your work!
From my perspective, a truly fascinating presentation. I also fail to understand the greatest industrial nation at the time, not developing an improved, functional breech loader to replace the Armstrong.
Decent breech-loaders were actually developed in the UK relatively soon after the early failures, and then exported widely, but the higher-ups had been scared off by the initial problems and stuck to specifying muzzle loaders even when ships of similar spec were leaving the same yards to foreign customers with superior breech loaders :D
@@Drachinifel Thank you. That makes much more sense.
@@gfodale One of the problems with being the world leader in existing technology is the difficulty of introducing new technology. This applies in may fields.
Utterly brilliant, fascinating video, thank you!
Purchased and read Friedman`s Battleships of the Victorian era a few months ago, so this is quite welcome video
I'm absolutely loving this topic and cant wait for the next video
before watching this video I had just watched your Battle of Hampton Roads video. Hearing that the USS Monitor was not the first turreted ship, made this video a very nice follow up.
Very nicely done and what a big variation. Wood Based ships of the line conversions and purpose built Iron hulled ships. Good experiments to prepare for the next 40 years
Absolutely incredible amount of facts about the post Nelson ships I had no knowledge of . Many thanks regards fred
I love this episode about a fascinating subject. Episode 2 soon please! 👍
I love this video and channel. I just started playing Ultimate Admiral Dreadnought and now have an irresistible urge to learn about the era
I'm adding this channel to The Tank Museum, Perun, Mega-Projects, and Economics Explained on the list of channels that I like to listen to while painting.
A fascinating period really enjoyed this video thanks! As someone who loves the sailing ships, I enjoyed those photographs of this last era of sail for warships.
Heck yes! Time for more Drach!
Appreciate you for doing this, I like learning in a chronological order so this will help my understanding of Pre WW1 dreadnaughts and beyond!
This video and the one “from sail to steam” are still my two favorites I keep coming back to over and over.
FINALLY! been waiting for an ironclad specific video since I got down the rabbit whole of ironclads because of the Boshin War. Cheers mate!
Very interestng! Thank you for making this documentary!
Very good sir, learned a lot today.
Finally! I've been waiting for Drach's take on the most transformative era of warship design
excellent work as always
That was quite a marathon I was on the warrior a few years ago We are so lucky it is still around It was so good being able to walk her decks and those of the victory That was a bucket thing for me the HMS Victory It really was quite turbulent times for the navy going from wood to steel 👍👍👍
waiting for this one for a while! thank you!
Most interesting. I have never researched these vessels. More, more!!!
Love this topic! Thank you!
Thank you as always!
Thank you for your hard work..your show was the very frist KZhead channel i subscribed too ..that was 3+ year's ago & i still find you the most enjoyable too Listen too.. So i Brad Wayne Casini am very Thankful for you & the work you've done..
Thank you, Drachinifel.
Ohh ohh, I'm so excited for these... and i have no idea why!
I'd like to see some content regarding the supply of rope, blocks, spars, etc. How may MILES of cordage did a full sail rig require? Just keeping the Navy supplied must have been a significant part of British GDP.
It was probably like modern US military spending where it was a significant drag on the civilian economy but they were wealthy enough to begin with that most people didn't really care.
As always very informative.
Thanks for this great video.
as Im sticking together an Airfix kit these videos are the perfect accompaniment
These three episodes will cover my favorite period, w/ Thunderer and Devastation (such names!) just around the corner. USS Weehawken, under Worden and crewed w/ Monitor survivors, was able to accurately engage targets at a mile range.
Drach "Now, during this time the French were giving it another go at running as a monarchy-" Me, trying to not scream/giggle and pay attention: *"MHM"*
Not as funny for the residents of Mexico I am afraid. At least Napoleon III's lame attempts at empire-building there were fairly brief... and we did get "Cinco de Mayo" out of it ;)
Outstanding video....Thanks from Kentucky
Love this man’s work and humor.
I like the videos about ironclads & pre-dreadnaughts. I hope there will be more!
Taking two days to process this while driving. Simply wonderful
I love your content! Great video!
Looking forward to the episode on the French Navy. Some of their ships were amazing.
I always enjoy your content, but this one was esp. entertaining. Thanks.
Thanks for informative video!!!
Outstanding old chap just outstanding!! Ship designers versus bureaucrats.
I feel sorry for the Chiefs and other “old salts” who had to live through all of these new-fanged developments.
Yep, it must have been frustrating for men raised on the wooden walls. "What do you mean she's obsolete? She hasn't even been bloody finished yet!"