Download or read book Development of British Warships, 1856-1906 written by Nicholas J. Dingle and published by Pen & Sword Maritime. This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The half century covered by this book saw more rapid and radical change in naval technology than the previous half a millennium. Warships were transformed from wooden sailing ships firing solid shot from broadsides of muzzle-loading cannon to steel vessels powered by steam, armed with torpedoes and firing explosive shells from infinitely more powerful breech-loading guns mounted in traversing turrets. This was a period of great innovation, and no little confusion, in naval architecture, which resulted in a plethora of fascinating, though not always successful, designs. Nicholas Dingle traces the evolution of British warships in this intriguing period, illustrating it with beautiful images selected from a remarkable collection of official Admiralty photographs housed in the National Archives"--Jacket.