Dates: 1861 - 1931
Defiance was a development of the Renown class. The second pair of the Renown class (Atlas and Anson) had a modified, finer stern run. Defiance was originally laid down as to the same plan as Atlas, but a new plan dated 8 Oct 1858 was prepared giving Defiance a lengthened bow.
Defiance was the last ship to use the midsection design that Isaac Watts created for HMS James Watt.
Her trials off Plymouth on 5 Feb 1862 were conducted when she was neither masted nor stored. The trial speed of 11.886 kts was worse than the similar trials of Atlas (13.022 kts) and Anson (12.984 kts). However Defiance’s lack of sea service means that there can be no certainty as to whether her design was an improvement on Atlas.
On 26 Nov 1884 Defiance became the Devonport torpedo and mining schoolship. A special railway station to serve personnel travelling to and from the school, known as "Defiance Platform", was situated just west of Saltash railway station from 1905 until 1930.
She was sold on 26 Jun 1931 to S. Castle for breaking up at Millbay, Plymouth
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Defiance
" Quoting: keith miller Does anyone remember HMS Defiance that used to sit alongside 9 Wharf in Devonport? Or the Building inside the SRC complex its has been demolished,the biggest crane in Europe is being dismantled soon in 2 weeks time i believe. How things change type 22 ..."
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" Quoting: George griffiths When I joined Defiance in 1970 the Tyne held the name, in Feb 72 HMS Forth took over. So the ship you saw was one of these. In my hall, at home, I have the Tyne ships badge which was fixed to the Officer Onboard/ashore board kept on the gangway. Does anyone remember ..."
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" Thanks Colin,bloody amazing to see all those names but I didn’t immediately recognise any.It was really strange the way I got my draft to Comet - I was in Reserve Fleet all through 1953 and was attached to a small team who used to be taken out every day from HMS Defiance, where we all ..."
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" Quoting: robert wells[/B] i/ll tell you one of my scariest incidents nigel and that took place in malta// we were heading back to ship three of us // one of the lads decided he knew a shortcut through an abandonned part of dockyard// there were old buildings that looked like they/d stored flour ..."
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"HM Submarines 1969 to 1976. Resolution (Stbd) HMS Defiance (Spare crew), HMSm Cachalot (6 weeks), HMSm Valiant 1974 to1976. LRO Taff Davies. "
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