 At the time of their inception and design, it appeared to naval architects that armour plate could be made resistant enough to protect the essential areas of warships from incoming artillery fire, and that therefore an alternative method of offence was needed in order to achieve a decisive outcome in any future naval combat.The answer appeared to be to use the whole ship as a projectile with which to ram an enemy.These ships were of only moderate size, and were intended to be adequately fast, and manoevrable enough to be able to catch and strike a fleeing or manoeuvering enemy.