2-970-091 - /Heritage Images

Launch of the Floating Battery "Thunderbolt" at Millwall, 1856. Warship at Messrs. Samuda's Works on the River Thames in London, '... the first time that a vessel entirely of iron has been built for "fighting purposes"...The Thunderbolt went nobly off from the slips into the waters with the greatest ease. The cheers were loud and long; and many were the good wishes and compliments to Miss Watts, the daughter of the Assistant-Surveyor of the Navy, who had the honour of naming the vessel. The Thunderbolt is 2000 tons burden, and about 186 feet in length...Outside the plating, planks of teak, six inches in thickness, are bolted, and over these are plates of iron four inches thick. The sheathing of wood and iron is expected to be proof against shot or shell...the bottom is nearly flat, so as to make it float on a very small draught of water, and draw up close under the walls of a fortress'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.