Coastal defence ships were warships built for the purpose of coastal defence, mostly during the period from 1860 to 1920. They were small, often cruiser-sized warships that sacrificed speed and range for armour and armament. They were usually attractive to nations that either could not afford full-sized battleships or could be satisfied by specially designed shallow-draft vessels capable of littoral operations close to their own shores. The Nordic countries and Thailand found them particularly appropriate for their island-dotted coastal waters. Some vessels had limited blue-water capabilities; others operated in rivers.
The Finnish coastal defence ship Väinämöinen, one of the last examples of the type.
Side and top views of ARA Independencia in Brassey's 1899 edition
Right elevation and plan of the Monarch class; the shaded area is armored
HDMS Niels Juel in 1939
Armour or armor is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or from a potentially dangerous environment or activity. Personal armour is used to protect soldiers and war animals. Vehicle armour is used on warships, armoured fighting vehicles, and some combat aircraft, mostly ground attack aircraft.
Western Xia mail armour
Portrait of a Gentleman in Armour with Two Pages by Paris Bordone
The Dendra panoply, Mycenaean Greek armour, c. 1400 BC
Wooden statue of Guan Yu in mountain pattern armour, 16th c. Ming dynasty