「战列舰」此一稱呼源自帆船时代的风帆战列舰(全稱ship of the line of battle,簡稱ship of the line或line-of-battle ship),因为当时有引擎动力和旋转炮塔的舰船尚未出现,17世紀中葉至19世紀中葉期间的海战主要是舰队排成戰列線進行側舷齐射轰击同样摆出战列线的对方舰阵的炮戰[1]。隨著蒸汽機、爆破彈和鋼鐵裝甲的發展,19世紀後期出現了稱為鐵甲艦(Ironclads)的蒸汽裝甲艦,即是後來铁甲战列舰和装甲巡洋舰的前身。1906年英国皇家海军服役的無畏號(HMS Dreadnought)標誌著戰艦“全裝重型火炮”[a]的革命,後來所有按這個概念設計的戰艦均稱為無畏艦;與之相對,之前的戰艦稱為前無畏艦。不久后出現了比無畏號更強大的戰艦,稱為超無畏艦。
然而木质军舰不容易被实心弹击沉。在1866年利萨海战(Battle of Lissa)中,奥地利帝国的皇帝号(Kaiser)无装甲风帆战列舰穿过混乱的战场,冲撞一艘意大利铁甲舰。同时被意大利铁甲舰击中80次,[11]其中大多是实心弹,[12]但至少一发是300磅炮弹。尽管失去了前桅和船首斜桅并起火,这艘战舰还是很快做好了再次参战的准备。[13]
1892年,英國建成世界首艘全金屬戰艦君權號(HMS Royal Sovereign)。其將主砲塔設置於中軸線上的設計令君權號成為世界上首艘前無畏艦,成為隨後各國彷照的樣板。此後戰艦的設計建造進入前無畏時代,即以全金屬建造艦體,口徑可達305毫米(12英吋)的主砲設置於中軸線,200-300毫米的防護裝甲和12,000噸的滿載排水量,航速可達16-18節。戰艦的主砲口徑、裝甲厚度、航速和排水量成為各國公認的四大要素指標。
此時期的戰艦大多裝設兩種倍徑的主砲,動力多為燃煤往複式蒸汽機。直至1906年英國無畏號戰艦出現前,世界各國的海軍紛紛建造或進口大批前無畏艦,前無畏艦也成為此時期各國海軍的主力艦船。
^Mahan, A.T., The Influence of Sea Power Upon History 1660-1783, p. 116
^"Hastened to completion Le Napoleon was launched on 16 May 1850, to become the world's first true steam battleship", Steam, Steel and Shellfire, Conway's History of the Ship (p39)
^"The canon-obusier [shell gun] originally constructed by Colonel Paixhans for the French Naval Service... was subsequently designated the canon-obusier of 80, No 1 of 1841... the diameter of the bore is 22 centimetres (8.65 inches)." See: Douglas, Sir Howard, A Treatise on Naval Gunnery 1855, 4th Edition 1855, republished Conway Maritime Press, 1982, ISBN 0-85177-275-7 page 201.
The British undertook trials with shell guns trials at HMS Excellent starting in 1832. A Treatise on Naval Gunnery 1855 page 198.
For the US introduction of 8-inch shell guns into the armament of line-of-battle ships in 1841, see: Tucker, Spencer, Arming the Fleet, US Navy Ordnance in the Muzzle-Loading Era, pub US Naval Institute, 1989,ISBN 0-87021-007-6 page 149.
^Lambert, Andrew D, The Crimean War, British Grand Strategy Against Russia, 1853-56, pub Manchester University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-7190-3564-3, pages 60-61.
^Lambert, Andrew: Battleships in Transition, pp. 92–96
^Clowes, William Laird, Four Modern Naval Campaigns, pub Unit Library, 1902, republished Cornmarket Press, 1970, ISBN 0-7191-2020-9 page 68.
^Clowes, William Laird, Four Modern Naval Campaignspages 54-55 and 63.
^Wilson, H. W.: Ironclads in Action - Vol 1, London, 1898, p. 240