The growth in the size of battleships has been steady, with the exception of the class represented by the _Barfleur_ and _Canopus_, both of which were engined by the Scotts. These vessels are embodiments of a desire to check the advance in the size and cost of the battleship. The deficiency in the number and calibre of their guns was partly compensated by the introduction, for the first time in battleships, of quick-firing weapons of large calibre. The _Barfleur_ had four 12 in. breechloaders and ten 4.7 in. quick-firers; while the _Canopus_ had four 10 in. breechloaders and ten 6 in. quick-firers. But opinion has again strongly grown in favour of having in each British ship the best that can be achieved; and thus the _Prince of Wales_ has a displacement greater than any previous ship, while in the _King Edward_ and the _Lord Nelson_ classes there has been a further growth in every element of power. The probabilities, too, are that we have not yet by any means seen the end of this advance.
[Illustration: Plate XIX. _From a Photograph by West and Son, Southsea._ HIS MAJESTY'S BATTLESHIP "PRINCE OF WALES," 1902.]
SIZE AND FIGHTING QUALITIES OF BRITISH BATTLESHIPS OF DIFFERENT PERIODS.
------------+--------------------------------------------------------- | Date of Completion. | +---------------------------------------------------- | | Displacement. | | +----------------+------+---------+----------- | | | | | Total | Collective | | | | | Weight | Energy at | | | | | of Shot | Muzzle of Name. | | | Side Armour. |Speed.| in One | One Round. | | | | | Round. | ------------+----+------+----------------+------+---------+----------- | | tons | in. | knots| lb. | foot-tons | | | | | | _Warrior_ |1861| 9,210| 4-1/2-in. |14-1/2| 3800 | 61,476 | | | wrought iron | | | | | | | | | _Hercules_ |1868| 8,680| 9-in. to 6-in. |14 | 5400 | 70,200 | | | wrought iron | | | | | | | | | _Alexandra_ |1877| 9,490| 12-in. to |15 | 5426 | 71,400 | | | 6-in. wrought | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | _Inflexible_|1881|11,880| 24-in. to |13 | 6936 | 123,120 | | | 16-in. wrought | | | | | | iron | | | | | | | | | _Benbow_ |1888|10,600| 18-in. |16.75 | 4600 | 135,560 | | | compound | | | | | | | | | _Royal |1892|14,150| 18-in. and |17.5 | 5800 | 159,610 Sovereign_ | | | 5-in. compound | | | | | | | | | _Barfleur_ |1894|10,500| 12-in. |18.5 | 2450 | 67,670 | | | compound | | | | | | | | | _Canopus_ |1900|12,950| 6-in. hardened |18.25 | 4600 | 178,720 | | | steel | | | | | | | | | _Prince of |1902|15,000| 9-in. |18.25 | 4600 | 194,400 Wales_ | | | super-hardened | | | | | | steel | | | | | | | | | _King |1904|16,350| 9-in. |18.50 | 5920 | 270,040 Edward VII._| | | super-hardened | | | | | | steel | | | | | | | | | _Lord |1905|16,500| 10-in. |18.50 | 7960 | 413,900 Nelson_ | | | super-hardened | | | | | | steel | | | ------------+----+------+----------------+------+---------+-----------