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The Hydra class of ironclads composed three ships , , , and .. ironclads. ironclad warship. The ships were ordered from France in 1885 during the premiership of Charilaos Trikoupis , as part of a wider reorganization and modernization of the Greek armed forces , which had proved themselves inadequate during the Cretan uprising of 1866 .. Charilaos Trikoupis. Charilaos Trikoupis. Cretan uprising. Cretan uprising. Launched in 1889 and 1890 , the ships were ready for service with the Greek Navy by 1892 .. Greek Navy. Greek Navy. They were armed with a main battery of three 10.8 in guns and five 5.9 in guns , and had a top speed of 17 kn .. The ships frequently served together throughout their careers .. Their participation in the Greco -- Turkish War in 1897 was limited due to intervention by the Great Powers .. Great Powers. Concert of Europe. Modernizations in the 1890s and 1900s upgraded the ships ' armament , but by the First Balkan War , they were too slow to keep up with newer vessels in the Greek fleet , particularly the armored cruiser .. First Balkan War. First Balkan War. armored cruiser. armored cruiser. They saw action at the Battle of Elli but were left behind due to their slow speed at the Battle of Lemnos .. Battle of Elli. Naval Battle of Elli. Battle of Lemnos. Naval Battle of Lemnos. Thoroughly obsolete , the ships were reduced to secondary duties after the war and did not see active duty during World War I .. World War I. World War I. The ships were intended to be sold in 1919 , but were retained out of active service until 1929 .