Symonds became Admiral Superintendent at Devonport Dockyard and then Commander-in-Chief, Channel Squadron. In that capacity he invented the scalene triangle naval formation, replacing the older isosceles triangle naval formation, and earned himself a reputation as a tactician. He also carried out an investigation into the design of the turret ships HMS Monarch and HMS Captain and concluded that the turret ships were "formidable" and would, by superior armament, destroy any opposing broadside ships. He went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.
Symonds led an active retirement, writing letters and pamphlets to The Times arguing in favour of changes to ship design and a stronger navy. He also wrote an open letter to the British press regarding the naval armour tests by the United States Navy at Annapolis arguing that the compound-armour used in the design of the British Trafalgar-class battleships was defective. He then issued a nine-column, eleven-point statement as a Christmas supplement to all the service papers entitled "The Truly Perilous State of Great Britain Should War Occur between France and Ourselves".
Symonds was promoted to commander on 21 October 1837, just before returning home, and then became commanding officer of the sloopHMS Rover on the North America and West Indies Station in August 1838.[6] He was promoted to captain on 22 February 1841, benefiting from his father's Whig friends in the Admiralty repaying favours for services they had received from his father in the past.[5] He became commanding officer of the sixth-rate HMS Spartan in the Mediterranean Fleet in May 1846 and then commanding officer of the fourth-rate HMS Arethusa, which he commissioned and then delivered to the Mediterranean Fleet, in January 1850.[7]
In 1870 Symonds carried out an investigation into the design of the turret ships HMS Monarch and HMS Captain and concluded that the turret ships were "formidable" and would, by superior armament, destroy any opposing broadside ships.[14] HMS Captaincapsized in September 1870 with the loss of nearly 500 lives because of design and construction errors that led to inadequate stability.[15]
Symonds criticised the design of the battleship HMS Trafalgar, which he said sat far too low in the water.
Symonds retired in July 1883: he led an active retirement, writing letters and pamphlets to The Times arguing in favour of changes to ship design and a stronger navy. On 20 October 1890, he wrote an open letter to the British press regarding the naval armour tests by the United States Navy at Annapolis.[19] His point was that the tests showed that the compound-armour used in the design of the British Trafalgar-class battleships, HMS Trafalgar and HMS Nile was defective. He also argued that these battleships had "untrustworthy monster guns" fitted on "enormously heavy turrets" and consequently sat far too low in the water.[19]
In 1892, Symonds issued a nine-column, eleven-point statement as a Christmas supplement to all the service papers entitled "The Truly Perilous State of Great Britain Should War Occur between France and Ourselves".[20] He died at his home, Sunny Hill at Higher Warberry in Torquay, on 14 November 1894.[7]
Family
In September 1845 Symonds married Anna Maria, daughter of Captain Edmund Heywood RN.[5] Following the death of his first wife in June 1847, he married Prestwood Mary, daughter of Captain Thomas Wolrige[21] RN, in February 1856.[5]
United Kingdom
Royal Navy
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