HMS Warrior

HMS Warrior holds a unique place in British maritime history being the first ocean going, iron-hulled battleship in the world, and is this country's only surviving battleship. She was launched, after some delays, on the 29th December 1860 at Blackwall on the River Thames

Unquestionably the ruler of the seas, HMS Warrior never fired a shot in anger as no ship ever dared to engage her. Although well known for her great strength and speed, HMS Warrior was in fact very unresponsive to steering commands as her rudder arrangement was quite antiquated for such an innovative ship. This factor contributed to several accidents during her navel life.

Major advances in ship design, especially from America, ensured that HMS Warrior's reign as 'ruler of the seas' was destined to be very short lived. By 1871, only 10 years after her launch, HMS Warrior was deemed obsolete and was withdrawn as a first line warship. For the next few years she underwent a major re-fit and renewed her duties as a reserve, performing various naval and coastguard roles.

In 1883 HMS Warrior's seagoing life was over, she was stripped of her engines and boilers and towed out to Fareham Creek and left to slowly decay. In 1902 HMS Warrior's prospects took a turn for the better and she was re-fitted to be a mother ship to a flotilla of torpedo boats. In 1904 she became part of the HMS Vernon torpedo school, but this role ceased in 1923. Fortunately, HMS Warrior manage to elude the breakers yet again, being towed to Milford Haven in Wales to be used as a floating fuel jetty, a task she performed for the next 50 years.

In 1978 the oil depot was scheduled to close and the Maritime Trust agreed to underwrite the estimated £8,000,000 cost to restore her. The work began at Hartlepool in late 1979 and eight years later, on 16th June 1987, HMS Warrior returned in all her former glory to Portsmouth, which is now her permanent home.

To visit HMS Warrior is a remarkable experience and a testament to the workers whose skills have resulted in such an amazing transformation. Having been fortunate enough to have visited HMS Warrior on several occasions myself, it was a real pleasure to watch my excited youngsters enjoy the freedom to explore all her nooks and crannies on a recent day out. The whole family can benefit from not having the usual restrictions of a 'guided tour' and, for the youngsters, it's much more fun.