HMS Defiance was the last wooden line-of-battle ship launched for the Royal Navy. She never saw service as a wooden line-of-battle ship. In 1884 she became a school ship.
Design Defiance was a development of the Renown class. The second pair of Renowns, and , had a modified, finer stern run. Defiance was originally laid down as to the same plan as Atlas, but a new plan dated 8 October 1858 was prepared giving Defiance a lengthened bow.Lambert, Battleships in Transition, pp.125-6.
Defiance was the last ship to use the midsection design that Isaac Watts created for HMS James Watt.Lambert, Battleships in Transition, p.126.
Career Her trials off Plymouth on 5 February 1862 were conducted when she was neither masted nor stored. The trial speed of was worse than the similar trials of Atlas and Anson . However Defiance's lack of sea service means that there can be no certainty as to whether her design was an improvement on Atlas.Lambert, Battleships in Transition, pp.125-6.
On 26 November 1884 Defiance became the Devonport torpedo and mining schoolship.Lambert, Battleships in Transition, p.126. Online history HMS Defiance In 1895, Captain H.B. Jackson was appointed to the command of Defiance, and over the next two years carried out experiments on wireless transmission that would lead to the introduction of wireless telegraphy to the Royal Navy.
Commander Frederick Hamilton was appointed in command on 1 November 1897, and re-appointed in early January 1898 after promotion to captain. Captain James de Courcy Hamilton was appointed in command on 1 November 1900.
A special railway station to serve personnel travelling to and from the school, known as "Defiance Platform", was situated just west of Saltash railway station from 1905 until 1930.
She was sold on 26 June 1931 to Castle's Shipbreaking Yard for dismantling at Millbay, Plymouth.Lambert, Battleships in Transition, p.126. Online history HMS Defiance Doige's Annual for 1932 poignantly describes her as "the last of England's 'Wooden Walls'".
Notes Some of the timbers, including 6 oak pillars, the captain's fire surround, two cross members and some decking was used in the renovation of Furzehatt House in Plymstock that was owned and occupied by the Castle family (this account was relayed to me by Major Bunny Castle (retired) who came over from NZ on holiday to see his childhood home).
References Lambert, Andrew Battleships in Transition, the Creation of the Steam Battlefleet 1815-1860, Conway Maritime Press, 1984. Online history HMS Defiance
External links
The Devonport Torpedo School Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History: HMS Defiance Photo of HMS Defiance