Editing HMS Scorpion (1863) (section)

==Design and description==
''North Carolina'' and her sister were intended, together with other warships, to break the Federal [[blockade]] of Confederate coastal cities and to hold some Northern cities for ransom.<ref name=s4>Scharf, p. 784</ref> The ships had a [[length between perpendiculars]] of {{convert|224|ft|6|in|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|42|ft|4|in|m|1}},<ref name=g0>Gardiner, p. 20</ref> and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|17|ft|m}} at [[deep load]]. They displaced {{convert|2751|LT|MT}}. The hull was divided by 12 watertight [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]]s and the ships had a [[double bottom]] beneath the [[engine room|engine]] and [[Boiler room (ship)|boiler rooms]]. Their crew consisted of 152 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=p8>Parkes, p. 78</ref>

The ''Scorpion''-class ships had two horizontal [[Marine steam engine#Direct acting|direct-acting steam engines]], built by Lairds, each driving a single [[propeller shaft]], using steam provided by four tubular [[boiler (steam generator)|boiler]]s. The engines produced a total of {{convert|1450|ihp|lk=in}} which gave the ships a maximum speed of {{convert|10.5|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=p8/> The ships carried {{convert|336|LT|t}} of coal, enough to steam {{convert|1210|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|knots}}.<ref name=p8/> They were [[barque]]-rigged with three masts. The [[funnel (ship)|funnel]] was made semi-retractable to reduce wind resistance while under sail.<ref name=p9>Parkes, p. 79</ref>

No ordnance had been ordered by the Confederates before the ships were seized in 1863, but in British service they mounted a pair of [[RML 9 inch 12 ton gun|9-inch]] [[rifled muzzle loader|rifled muzzle-loading guns]] in each turret. The guns could fire both [[Round shot|solid shot]] and [[Shell (projectile)|explosive shells]].<ref>Gardiner, p. 6</ref> According to Parkes, going from full depression to full elevation supposedly took one hour in smooth water and with an even keel!<ref name=p9/>

The ''Scorpion''-class ships had a complete waterline [[Belt armor|belt]] of wrought iron that was {{convert|4.5|in|mm|0}} thick amidships and thinned to {{convert|3|in|mm}} at the bow and {{convert|2.5|in|mm}} at the stern. It completely covered the hull from the upper deck to {{convert|3|ft|3|in|m}} below the [[waterline]].<ref name=g0/> The armour protection of the turrets was quite elaborate. The inside of the turret was lined with {{convert|.5|in|1}} of iron boiler plate to which T-shaped beams were bolted. The space between the beams was filled with {{convert|10|in|0}} of [[teak]]. This was covered by an iron [[latticework|lattice]] {{convert|.75|in|1}} thick that was covered in turn by {{convert|8|in|0}} of teak. The {{convert|5.5|in|0|adj=on}} iron plates were bolted to the outside using bolts that ran through to the interior iron "skin". The area around the [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#gunport|gun ports]] was reinforced by 4.5-inch plates to give a total thickness of 10 inches. The turret roof consisted of T-shaped beams covered by {{convert|1|in|adj=on}} iron plates.<ref name=p11>Putnam, p. 11</ref>