The Warship Under Steam 113 



We jump nine years to look at the next 

 date on our " family tree ", this being 

 the Inflexible, 1881. This was a modifica- 

 tion of the turret principle, the latter 

 having given place to what was called the 

 " citadel ". Here we have the armour- 

 plating concentrated on a section of the 

 ship, varying from a third to about half 

 the ship's length, and here, of course, the 

 guns were concentrated. 



The " citadel " was also designed to 

 afford protection for the engine-room, on 

 which the safety of the ship depended to 

 a very great extent. Thus it was possible 

 for the enemy to rake fore and aft, and 

 do a great deal of damage, but the vital 

 parts were furnished with armour plates 

 2 ft. thick. The twin-screws were main- 

 tained, and we note that the tonnage dis- 

 placed was now 11,880. The Inflexible 

 was 320 ft. long, and had a speed of 

 rather more than 13 knots, not so fast, 

 you will observe, as some of her earlier 

 sisters. 



