Engineering the Warrior

Menu

Historical Background

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Engineering the Warrior Engineering the Warrior

in Portsmouth 21st Century Engineering in       Portsmouth

Find Out More Find Out More

Credits and Thanks Credits and Thanks

Credits and Thanks Home

Portsmouth Grammar School Crest
The Portsmouth Grammar School

HMS Warrior logo


VT Shipbuilding logo

 

In 1858 Prince Albert visited the docks at Cherbourg. He was not happy with what he saw. In fact, he returned to England hopping mad because the French appeared to be so far ahead in naval technology and preparations for the war with Britain that everyone thought was looming. 

His anger spurred the Admiralty into action and HMS Warrior was their response. The brainchild of Admiral Baldwin Walker, Controller of the Navy, Warrior was designed by Isaac Watts, the Navy’s Chief Constructor. He drew on Brunel’s earlier work with iron ships to construct the most powerful warship of her day.


Warrior under construction

The hull of the Warrior under construction at the Thames Ironworks, Blackwall in the autumn of 1859.
© HMS Warrior 1860

 


Warrior in the 1860s

HMS Warrior in the mid 1860s
Wikipedia


Warrior wasn’t just powerful, she was innovative too. She was equipped with a steam powered propellor as well as sails and when the propellor wasn’t needed it could be lifted out of the water. The funnels from the boilers were telescopic and could be cranked down into the hull to keep out of the way of the sails.  Watts’ greatest innovation was the inclusion of a citadel.  This was a huge armoured box which protected the guns. Sealed by watertight bulkheads at each end it was constructed from 11 cm wrought iron plate, bolted to an incredible 46 cm of solid teak mounted on the 1.6 cm plating of the ship’s hull.  In tests the most powerful guns of the day were unable to pierce this armour, even at point blank range!

 

As an example of a steam powered warship, the Warrior is without comparison.  Even today, wandering around her dark boiler room and marveling at the scale of the engineering involved you can’t help thinking that Brunel would have approved.

Click on the links below to find out more. These resources are in PDF format.


Sunset Warrior

The Warrior is now on public display in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
© HMS Warrior 1860

  • Forces, Blocks and Tackles - How do you lift a sail weighing over a tonne during a storm in the middle of the Atlantic? Find out here and have a go at making your own simple pulleys.
  • Materials and Structure - The Warrior’s citadel was made from an early composite material. Find out why it was so effective at stopping cannon balls.
  • Armament - The Warrior was armed with some of the most sophisticated weaponry of her time. Find out how a cannon works and build your own, smaller, version.
  • Propulsion - Find out how the Warrior used wind and steam for propulsion, then build your own model land yacht to investigate how sails work.
  • Navigation - How did sailing ships find their way around before the days of GPS?  Find out here and then build your own compass.
  • Teachers’ Notes - Curriculum links and suggestions about how history, science and D&T teachers can use these resources in their lessons.