Warrior’s original figurehead has ended up at Fleet HQ, Northwood, London, only to crumble beyond repair sometime in the 1960s. The new ’spirit of Warrior’, carved by two Isle of Wight craftsmen, weighed 2 tons and like the original was almost 4 metres (12 feet) high. In February 1985, it was hoisted aboard and attached to the stem-piece. *

*From the HMS Warrior guidebook

HMS Warrior was the world’s first ocean going, iron-hulled, armoured warship – the largest, fastest and most powerful of the time. Launched on 29 December 1860, Warrior rendered all other warships obsolete overnight. She never fired a shot in anger, simply because she was too powerful for any other ship to think of challenging her. Indeed, her deterrent value contributed to Britain’s Security.

Forgotten for a century, restored to her original condition, and now moored in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, HMS Warrior is the only surviving embodiment of the most revolutionary changes to take place in the long and distinguished history of the Royal Navy.*

The Upper Deck

The Bridge

The Gun deck

Warriors main armament consisted of 26 68-pounder guns, loaded from the muzzle (front), capable of firing shot or shells nearly a mile and a half  (2.3 kilometers). They were reliable and effective, being a larger version of a tried-and-trusted design. Not so reliable were the ten new Armstrong 110-pounder breech loaders, fitted as a trial. These had rifled barrels for greater accuracy and fired cone-headed shot or shell almost double the distance of the ‘older’ guns. However, the trial was unsuccessful because the new guns had a nasty tendency to overheat and blow out the breechblock or just jam up.*

*From HMS Warrior 1860 guidebook

Third rate 74-gun battleship, launched in Portsmouth in 1781. Took part in the battle of Saintes (1782) and Nelson’s victory at Copenhagen (1801). Broken up in 1857.

This is the oldest figurehead in the Museum’s collection –  and one of the oldest warship figureheads in the world.*

*From an signboard next to the figurehead.

The 74-gun battleship Warrior is ready for launching in Portsmouth Dockyard. The completed hull is supported by a few last shores, while alongside, men are preparing the ropes that will secure her to the dock.

The traditional flags are flying from short poles where eventually her masts will be placed. These include the distinctive red flag, with the fouled anchor of the Admiralty Board and the Royal Standard.*

*From a sign next to the model ship

We returned to Portsmouth to carry on where we left off the previous day. We started off with a visit to the Royal Marines Museum, which is included in the entrance ticket to Portsmouth Docks but situated a short way from the dockyard itself. It was thundering as we arrived and we didn’t quite make it inside before the heavy rain started. The museum explains the history of the Royal Marines and gives insight into what basic training involves and what it takes to become a Royal Marine. The videos of recruits stories as they undertook their training are quite touching and enlightening. We spent the whole morning there and had lunch in the Quartermaster’s Kitchen before making our way to Portsmouth Docks.

On arrival at the docks we visited HMS Warrior, the first armour-plated iron-hulled warship. Warrior propelled by steam power as well as being fully rigged for sail. The evolution of this type of warship led to Warrior becoming obsolete just a decade after she had been launched.

After Warrior we visited the Museum of the Royal Navy before returning to Winchester for our evening meal. We returned to La Place, the food was not quite as good as our previous visit but the atmosphere and experience was much better.