Developing Early Iron Armour: The Development of Rolling as the Preferred Method of Manufacture Between 1854 and 1863

Abstract

Abstract During the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856 the British and French cooperated to build the first operational armoured ships to attack land fortifications. Competition replaced cooperation after the War as both countries began to develop armoured frigates and build ironclad navies. This period of rapid development in naval technology saw major national efforts to develop effective armour plates and manufacture them to the quality and quality required. In Britain the ‘Special Committee on Iron’ was set up to lead research into this new field and identify the best materials and methods of manufacture. Over the period 1856 to 1863 the quality and thickness of plates improved and this article looks at the relative merits of hammered and rolled plates over this period and the eventual adoption of rolled plates in 1863.