HMS Warrior was the name ship of her class of two 40-gun steam-powered armoured frigates built for the Royal Navy in 1859–61. She and her sister ship, HMS Black Prince were the first armour-plated, iron-hulled warships, and were built in response to France's launching in 1859 of the first ocean-goingiron clad warship, the wooden-hulled Gloire. Warrior conducted a publicity tour of Great Britain in 1863 and spent her active career with the Channel Squadron. She became obsolescent following the 1871 launching of the mastless and more capable HMS Devastation, was placed in reserve in 1875, and was paid off in 1883.
She subsequently served as a storeship and depot ship, and in 1904 was assigned to the Royal Navy's torpedo training school. The ship was converted into an oil jetty in 1927 and remained in that role until 1979, at which point she was donated by the Navy to the Maritime Trust for restoration. The restoration process took place in Hartlepool, over a span of eight years, during which many of her features and fittings were either restored or recreated. When this was finished she returned to Portsmouth as a museum ship. Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Warrior has been based in Portsmouth since 1987.
The hull being brought into the Coal Dock by the Stranton & another tug.
More detail »A Sea Cadets band plays as they march past & welcome the Warrior.
More detail »HMS Warrior at the end of her restoration at Hartlepool.
More detail »HMS Warrior at the end of her restoration at Hartlepool.
More detail »The figurehead of HMS Warrior at the end of her restoration at Hartlepool.
More detail »HL209 boat is to the front of the Warrior with Hartlepool Headland on the shoreline.
More detail »HMS Warrior during various stages of restoration between 1985 and 1987.
More detail »HMS Warrior in the Coal Dock, Hartlepool.
More detail »HMS Warrior o the day she left Hartlepool. Tug 'Sun Anglia' also in the picture.
The 'Sun Anglia' became 'Svitzer Anglia' and came back to the Tees. In 2014 she was transported to South America where she now works.
More detail »HMS Warrior shortly after she arrived in Hartlepool for a £9 million restoration.
More detail »HMS Warrior's original deck before restoration work commenced.
More detail »Original anchor on the after deck of HMS Warrior.
More detail »One of the yards being lifted into position by crane.
More detail »HMS Warrior in 1985 with a lovely view Hartlepool Dock Yard.
More detail »HMS Warrior on her journey from the Coal Dock where she had been berthed during her restoration, out towards the sea.
More detail »The HMS Warrior lies at Hartlepool in a dilapadated condition. c1979.
More detail »Here the Warrior's refurbishment is almost complete. The ship to the left is the Egton.
More detail »HMS Warrior during renovation in Hartlepool docks.
More detail »Newly restored & floodlit.
More detail »Newly restored & showing off her figurehead under the floodlights.
More detail »Canon & related items on the upper gun deck.
More detail »HMS Warrior leaving Hartlepool after being renovated in the docks.
More detail »Crowds of people on board during a religious service as she is about to leave Hartlepool after restoration
More detail »Note the television cameras recording the service on board.
More detail »The bow of HMS Warrior shortly after her arrival at Hartlepool for restoration.
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