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The "central-citadel" system was introduced into British battleship design in 1873 as a consequence of the recommendations of Lord Dufferin's 1871 Committee on Designs. "It was first embodied in the Inflexible and subsequently adopted in many other vessels. The thick armour was concentrated on a citadel of moderate longitudinal extent in relation to the total length of the ship.  Before and abaft the citadel the defence consisted of a strong under-water armoured deck, above which the 'unarmoured ends' were minutely sub-divided and reinforced by cork-packing, designed to assist the maintenance of buoyancy and stability should the ends be seriously injured by shot or shell (or 'riddled') in action."

When the Royal Navy undertook trials of the Imperieusé (which had similar characteristics to recent contemporary French battleships) and "a turret ship of moderate freeboard, armoured on the central system – with turrets placed en echélon to give greater horizontal command – it was shown that, in comparatively moderate weather, when the Imperieusé could fight her high-placed guns with perfect efficiency the ship of moderate freeboard with her guns near the water was practically unable to make an effective reply."