User:Toddy1/Sandbox 9
The "central-citadel" system was introduced into British battleship design in 1873 as a consequence of the recommendations of Lord Dufferin's 1871 Committee on Designs.[1] "It was first embodied in the Inflexible and subsequently adopted in many other vessels. The thick armour was concentrated on a citadel of moderate longitudinal extent in relation to the total length of the ship. Before and abaft the citadel the defence consisted of a strong under-water armoured deck, above which the 'unarmoured ends' were minutely sub-divided and reinforced by cork-packing, designed to assist the maintenance of buoyancy and stability should the ends be seriously injured by shot or shell (or 'riddled') in action."[1]
When the Royal Navy undertook trials of the Imperieusé (which had similar characteristics to recent contemporary French battleships) and "a turret ship of moderate freeboard, armoured on the central system – with turrets placed en echélon to give greater horizontal command – it was shown that, in comparatively moderate weather, when the Imperieusé could fight her high-placed guns with perfect efficiency the ship of moderate freeboard with her guns near the water was practically unable to make an effective reply."[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b The Naval Annual 1904, The principles and methods of armour protection in modern war-ships, by William H White, p110-11.
- ^ The Naval Annual 1904, The principles and methods of armour protection in modern war-ships, by William H White, p111-12.