Post
by Terje Langoy » Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:24 pm
Quoted from Wiki...
Inflexible took part in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War, bombarding the port of Alexandria as part of Admiral Seymour's fleet. Fisher was placed in charge of a landing party which was quartered in the Khedive's palace. Lacking means of reconnaissance he devised a plan to armour a train with iron plates, machine gun and cannon. This became celebrated and widely reported by correspondents, so that its inventor, Fisher, came to the attention of the public for the first time as a hero. Shore duty had the unfortunate effect that Fisher became seriously ill with dysentery and malaria. He refused to take sick leave, but eventually was ordered home by Lord Northbrook who commented, 'the Admiralty could build another Inflexible, but not another Fisher'.
Sorry to spoil the puzzle but that being said I did honestly suspect the railroad gun before I decided to check Wiki...