In the decades after the civil war ghosts lucky raiders — armed ships of the southerners was a constant headache to the lords of the British Admiralty. In the event of war with such countries as all the same, the United States, or France, or, for example, Russia, have become a real threat to be found in the seas already dozens of enemy auxiliary cruisers. Besides, over the years, the characteristics of possible candidates in the raiders kept on rising. The best ships had a very decent speed and the shipowners the government specifically pay extra for a more durable design, allowing, if necessary, to set them on a very solid rifled guns of a caliber of 6 inches In such circumstances, numerous corvettes and sloops “mistress of the seas” lost technical superiority over makeshift opponents. Of course, the military remained the advantage of a ship with a disciplined and trained team, but it might not be enough for a confident victory in battle one on one. Needed a solution that allowed staff of cruisers once again regain its dominant force.
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