In addition to the _Sovereigns_ two “second-class battleships” were built, the _Centurion_ and _Barfleur_, of which details are:-- Displacement--10,500 tons. Complement, 620. Length--(Waterline) 360ft. Beam--70ft. Draught--(Maximum) 27ft. Armament--Four 10-inch, ten 4.7-inch, eight 6-pounders, twelve 3-pounders, two Maxims, two 9-pounder boat guns. Torpedo tubes (18-inch)--two submerged and one above water in the stern. The _Barfleur_ was laid down at Chatham in November, 1890, launched in August, 1892, and completed two years later. The _Centurion_, laid down at Portsmouth in March, 1891, was launched a year later, but completed before her sister. The ships were armoured generally on the _Royal Sovereign_ plan, with 12-inch belts which, however, were only 200ft. long, instead of 250ft. The bulkheads were six inches only, and the upper belt (nickel steel) an inch less than in the big ships. The barbettes were reduced to nine inches only, but on the other hand were made circular instead of pear-shaped, and 6-inch shields were provided for the big guns--probably as the result of criticisms of the unprotected big guns of the _Sovereigns_. With a few early exceptions as to the shape of the base, and with certain variation in form, this kind of “turret” has been adhered to ever since in the British Navy and copied into every other. Both ships were engined by the Greenock Foundry Company, and designed for 13,000 H.P., with forced draught, giving a speed of 18.5 knots, which speed both exceeded on trial. This high speed and their coal endurance--they carried a maximum of 1,125 tons, sufficient for a nominal 9750 mile radius--makes them something more than the “second-class battleships” which they nominally were. Compared to the _Sovereigns_ they were:-- =========================+====================+================== _Minus Points_: | _Barfleurs._ | _Sovereigns._ | | Displacement (tons) | 10,500 | 14,100 Principal guns | 4--10in., 10--4.7 | 4--13.5, 10--6in. Armour belt | 12 inches. | 18 inches. -------------------------+--------------------+------------------ _Plus Points_: | | | | Horse Power | 13,000 | 13,000 Speed | 18.5 | 17 Nominal endurance (kts.) | 9,750 | 7,900 =========================+====================+================== From which the existence of an elementary conception of the “battle-cruiser” of to-day seems fairly apparent. To-day the battle-cruiser, instead of having guns of reduced calibre, carries a reduced number, but the general principle of “moderate sacrifices for increased speed” obtains.