The Conqueror-class ships were designed to be improved versions of Rupert with a ram as their main armament.

Six tubes for the launching of 14 in (360 mm) torpedoes were mounted; they were carried in the after part of the superstructure and were intended to supplement the ram.

The smaller guns were for defence against small craft, against whom the main armament could not be easily or economically employed.

By the time she was launched, ramming had been discarded, leaving her and her sister exposed as perhaps the two most useless turret-armed battleships ever built.

Player's Navy Cut cigarette packages used an illustration of a sailor with a warship in the background.