The Hector class battleships, and , laid down in 1861, were the class which immediately followed the Defence class

Defence class battleship

The Defence class of ironclad battleships were the class which historically immediately followed the first two British ironclads, and HMS Black Prince. The class consisted of two ships, and .-Background:...

 into service with the Royal Navy.

These two ships were classified at the time of their building as armoured frigates, and were essentially a repeat of the Defence class with somewhat greater speed, armament and armour protection. At the time of their design the Warrior class

Warrior class battleship

The Warrior class ironclads were a class of two warships built for the Royal Navy between 1859 and 1862, the first ocean-going ironclads with iron hulls ever constructed. The ships were designed as armoured frigates in response to an invasion scare sparked by the launch of the and her three...

 were still building, and the concept of the iron hull as opposed to the wooden had not been as yet universally accepted as necessary; or, indeed, as practical. The Board of Admiralty went so far as to issue a directive requesting a report on the suitability of the ships for use as transports with their armour stripped away.

Both ships on completion were found to be seriously overweight, with a draught a foot greater than had been anticipated. It was therefore found necessary to limit their supply of coal, which in turn limited their effective range under engine power, and confined them to service in home waters. Because of this extra weight they were the only broadside ironclads not to be equipped with either a forecastle or a poop.

Construction

Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate	Cost
	Robert Napier Robert Napier (engineer) Robert Napier was a Scottish engineer, and is often called "The Father of Clyde Shipbuilding."-Early life:Robert Napier was born in Dumbarton at the height of the Industrial Revolution, to James and Jean Napier... , Govan Govan Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....	March 1861	26 September 1862	22 February 1864	Sold 1905	£294,000
	Westwood & Baillie, Cubitt Town Cubitt Town Cubitt Town is an area on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets in London, England. It is on the east of the Isle, facing Greenwich across the River Thames. To the west is Millwall, to the northwest Canary Wharf and to the north, across the Blue Bridge, Blackwall...  and Thames Ironworks Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Limited was a shipyard and iron works straddling the mouth of Bow Creek at its confluence with the River Thames, at Leamouth Wharf on the west side and at Canning Town on the east side... , Blackwall, London Blackwall, London Blackwall is an area of the East End of London, situated in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the north bank of the River Thames.The district around Blackwall Stairs was known as Blackwall by at least the 14th century. This presumably derives from the colour of the river wall, constructed in...	February 1861	14 October 1863	15 September 1868	Scrapped 1957	£325,000