HMS Resistance was a Defence-class ironclad built for the Royal Navy in the early 1860s, representing a scaled-down and more economical alternative to the Warrior-class armoured ships. She measured 280 feet (85.3 meters) between perpendiculars and 291 feet 4 inches (88.8 meters) overall, with a beam of 54 feet 2 inches (16.51 meters) and a draft of 26 feet 2 inches (8 meters). Displacing approximately 6,070 long tons (6,170 tonnes), Resistance featured a hull subdivided into 92 watertight compartments, including a double bottom beneath the engine and boiler rooms, enhancing her survivability. Constructed at Westwood, Baillie’s shipyard in London, Resistance was launched on 11 April 1861 and commissioned in July 1862 at a cost of £258,120. She was the first Royal Navy capital ship equipped with a ram, shaped like a plough, marking a notable innovation. Her propulsion system consisted of a two-cylinder trunk steam engine by John Penn and Sons, producing 2,329 indicated horsepower and enabling a maximum speed of 11.4 knots during sea trials. She carried 450 long tons of coal, sufficient for a range of 1,670 nautical miles at 10 knots. Resistance was also rigged with sail, including iron lower masts and a bowsprit, and her propeller could be hoisted to reduce drag under sail. Armament initially included a mix of 68-pounder smoothbore guns and rifled breech-loading weapons, although modifications in 1867 rearmed her with rifled 7-inch and 8-inch guns. Her armor comprised a 4.5-inch wrought-iron belt covering the midship section, backed by 18 inches of teak, with transverse bulkheads protecting her guns. However, the unprotected ship ends left her steering gear vulnerable. Service-wise, Resistance served initially with the Channel Fleet, then transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1864, becoming the first ironclad deployed there. She later functioned as a guardship in the River Mersey and resumed this role until 1880. From 1885, she was used as a target for armour and weapon testing, sinking following a Whitehead torpedo test in 1888. Sold for scrap in 1898, Resistance was damaged en route to the breakers and was eventually salvaged, refloated, and broken up in 1899, marking the end of her maritime career.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.