The First Class protected cruisers Powerful and Terrible were, for all practical purposes, the largest warships in the world when they were launched in 1895. Built in response to a perceived threat from a pair of huge Russian cruisers, they were excellent seaboats capable of steaming at high speed (22 knots) for long periods. Each heavily armed and displacing 14,200 tons, the sisters measured 538 feet in length and carried crews of 894 men. The two cruisers were detached from the China Station when the Boer War broke out in 1899 but, since there was no seaborne role for the navy in that conflict, the sailors from both ships were rapidly formed into naval brigades for service ashore. Their most famous encounter on land was the celebrated siege of Ladysmith (Nov. 1899 - Feb. 1900) when 275 men from Powerful found themselves seconded to the defending force whilst 292 men from Terrible took part in the relief operations. When, after the siege was raised, Powerful was sent home for a refit, her crew were accorded a memorable heroes' welcome when they arrived in Portsmouth that April.