Pre-Dreadnought refers to a class of battleships built before the launch of the HMS Dreadnought in 1906. These ships typically featured a mixed armament of large-caliber guns and smaller secondary weapons, allowing them to engage various types of naval threats. They were the dominant warships of their time, reflecting the naval arms race of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The design of Pre-Dreadnought battleships emphasized speed and firepower, with many nations, including Britain, Germany, and France, constructing their own versions. However, the introduction of the Dreadnought rendered these ships largely obsolete, as it featured an all-big-gun armament and steam turbine propulsion, revolutionizing naval warfare.