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The HMS Devastation was a British ironclad battleship launched in 1871 and a revolutionary ship on that time. By suppressing
the traditional rigging from a ship, it was estimated that the artillery turrets would be more effective and the hull more
stable. The HMS Devastation was a hard blow for those who had supported to the end the necessity of sails in the high-seas
warships. With the main armament installed on the top of the hull instead of inside it, the two ships of the Devastation class
were the most powerful battleships in the world until the advent of the Italian ironclads of the Caio Duilio class.
The HMS Devastation remained in service for long years, albeit passing through important upgrades. Firstly, in 1880 two
torpedo launchers were added, and later in 1891 the engines were replaced by more modern ones and the same happened with the
armament; the outdated muzzle-loading cannons were replaced by breech-loading pieces of lesser caliber but much higher range, and a number of minor
pieces was added as defense against torpedo boats. The ships of the Devastation class were finally scrapped in 1908-1909.
Class: Devastation (2 units - Devastation, Thunderer)
Type: Ironclad battleship
Length: 94 meters
Beam: 19 meters
Draught: 8.2 meters
Displacement (standard): 9330 tonnes
Propulsion (as built): 2 x shaft, 4 x direct-acting steam trunk engine, 8 x rectangular boiler, 6637 horsepower
Propulsion (in 1891): 2 x shaft, triple expansion steam engines, 8 x cylindrical boiler
Speed: 13.84 knots (25.6 kilometers/hour) as built; 14 knots (25.9 kilometers/hour) in 1891
Range: 3550 nautical miles (6570 kilometers) at 12 knots
Complement: 329-410
Armament (as built): 4 x 305-millimeter 13.5-caliber muzzle-loading rifled cannon
Armament (in 1880): 4 x 305-millimeter 13.5-caliber muzzle-loading rifled cannon, 2 x 356-millimeter torpedo tube
Armament (in 1891): 4 x 254-millimeter 32-caliber breech-loading rifled cannon, 6 x 57-millimeter cannon,
8 x 47-millimeter cannon, 2 x 356-millimeter torpedo tube
Armor: 216-305 millimeters in belt (with a wooden backing of 406-457 millimeters), 254-305 millimeters in citadel,
127-152 millimeters in bulkheads, 51-76 millimeters in deck, 254-356 millimeters in main turrets, 152-228 millimeters in conning tower
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