<DIV>The late 19th century saw an unparalleled revolution in warship development as the Victorian navy found itself grappling with intense technical change to ensure its survival in the modern theater. From the wooden battleships of the 1800s, naval architecture underwent great change to produce a very different form of capital ship, which would have a huge impact and change naval design forever. The dreadnought was constructed of steel, wholly driven by steam power, and carried its rifled ordnance in armored turrets operated by hydraulics. Electrics, mechanical computers, mines, and torpedo weapons were also utilized to create an immensely powerful fighting ship the likes of which had never been seen before. This illustrated history reveals the process involved in that most rapid development, which in such a short time totally altered the naval forces of Britain and by degree all of the world’s navies as well.</DIV>