ACHILLES.

Armored broadside frigate with straight bow strengthened for ramming. The armor of this ship consists of a water-line belt the height of the gun-deck beams and a casemate for the battery. Full sail-power. No bow-fire except from an unprotected forecastle gun. (See Warrior.)

NORTHUMBERLAND. MINOTAUR. AGINCOURT.

Armored broadside frigates, swan-breasted bow for ramming. The armor in these ships may be called complete, forming a belt rising to the height of the spar-deck beams fore and aft. Full sail-power (5 masts).

BELLEROPHON. REPULSE. LORD WARDEN.

Armored broadside frigates with ram bows. The armor in these ships is complete, rising to the height of the spar-deck beams, and in addition having a casemated forecastle. The Lord Warden and Repulse have wooden hulls, having been originally laid down for wooden line-of-battle ships. The Bellerophon carries heavier armor and more effective backing atthe water-line than any of the foregoing ships. These ships have full sail-power. The Bellerophon is a good sailer.

PALLAS. RESEARCH.

Armored belt and redoubt, the side being cut back just forward and abaft the redoubt to permit the broadside guns to fire well forward and aft through adjacent ports. These ships have wooden hulls, having been originally laid down for wooden frigates. The Pallas is a remarkably fine sailing ship.[1]

HERCULES. SUPERB. PENELOPE.

Armored belt and long armored redoubt, the sides being cut back for bow-fire. The Hercules has armored breastworks at the bow and stern on the battery-deck for heavy bow and stern-guns. The Superb is the late Memdouhieh (Turkish).

SULTAN.

Armored belt and long armored redoubt. The side forward of the redoubt is cut back for forward fire, but instead of the forward and after breastworks of the Hercules, an upper redoubt is built at the after-end of the main one, projecting clear of the side, and from which clear bow and stern fire is available.

SWIFTSURE. TRIUMPH. AUDACIOUS. INVINCIBLE. IRON DUKE.

Armored belt and short casemate, on which is mounted an upper-deck redoubt. The gun-deck casemate does not permit of bow-fire, as the lines of the ship are not broken forward or abaft it. The upper redoubt projects clear of the side over the lower casemate, and has its corners cut off to permit of angular ports being cut that give fore-and-aft and beam fire. This redoubt has no athwartship bulkhead. The magazines are directly under the casemates. The boat-davits are near the amidship line, so that the boats are kept well inboard. (The Vanguard, sunk by collision with the Iron Duke, belonged to this type.)

ALEXANDRA.

Armored belt and double-decked casemate, ram bow, and overhanging stern. The forward part of the belt is carried down in a curve over the ram. The side forward from the gun-deck beams up is carried well back parallel to the keel to give fore-and-aft fire. There is no stern-fire from the main-deck casemate. The after bulkhead rises straight from the belt to the top of the upper casemate. This casemate is, however, shorter than the lower one, and its forward bulkhead being carried down separates the main-deck casemate into two chambers, forming a double protection for the after-guns. The corners of both casemates are cut off for angular ports to give fore-and-aft and beam fire. The hull is divided longitudinally by an armored bulkhead rising to the height of the main-deck beams, one set of engines and boilers being in each compartment. Twin screws and full sail-power.

TEMERAIRE.

Armored belt, redoubt, and two barbette turrets. Ram bow. The armored belt is carried down in a curve over the ram. No stern-fire from the casemate, the forward corners being cut for angular ports, and the side forward being carried back for bow-fire. The casemate is cut in two chambers similar to the main-deck casemate of the Alexandra. The barbette turrets forward and abaft the casemate are oval in shape, and the guns are mounted on Moncrieff carriages. The armor of the body of the turrets does not come below the spar-deck beams, but an armored shaft is carried down to the level of the belt, through which ammunition is passed and communication given. The hull is divided longitudinally by an armored bulkhead similar to the Alexandra. Twin screws and auxiliary sail-power. (Brig rigged.)

SHANNON.

Partial armored belt and partial spar-deck breastwork. The belt is carried around the stern as a protection to the steering-gear, but ends just abaft the fore-mast in an armored bulkhead, which rises sheer to the height of the spar-deck rail. From the foot of this bulkhead an iron deck is carried forward to the stem, ending as a support to the ram. A breastwork on the spar-deck forward forms a protection for the bow-guns, the topgallant forecastle being carried to its after-edge. The corners of the breastwork are cut for angular ports, and the rail forward is carried back parallel to the keel. The rail aft is recessed and cut back for after angular ports, but the guns are not protected by armor. An armored conning tower is placed at the forward part of the breastwork. A single gun is used aft, working on a turn-table for shifting from one port to the other.

NELSON. NORTHAMPTON.

Partial armored belt and partial forward and after spar-deck breastworks. The armored belt extends for three fifths of the length of the ship amidships, ending in armored athwartship bulkheads, which rise to the height of the spar-deck beams. A heavy iron deck prolongs the lower edge of the belt to the bow and stern, protecting the steering-gear aft and forming a support for the ram forward. The guns are all carried on a covered deck, giving a flush spar-deck. The breastworks on the main-deck at the bulkheads form a side protection for the forward and after guns, the corners being cut for angular ports and the side recessed for fore-and-aft fire. These ships have twin screws and an armored longitudinal bulkhead similar to the Alexandra.

MONARCH. NEPTUNE.

Armored belt and revolving Coles turrets on the spar-deck. The belt rises to the height of the main-deck beams, and amidships is carried up to the spar-deck beams to cover the lower part of the turrets and machinery. An armored bulkhead rises well forward, forming on the spar-deck a forecastle breastwork for the bow-guns. The spar-deck rail in wake of the turrets may be dropped to open their fire. The Neptune has no protected stern-fire. The belt of the Monarch is carried up aft to the height of the spar-deck beams, forming a breastwork for the stern-guns. (See Hercules.) The Neptune is the late Independenzia.

INFLEXIBLE. AJAX. AGAMEMNON. CONQUEROR.

Casemated, double-turreted, mastless, sea-going iron-clads. Ram bows. The armored casemate is rectangular and encloses the middle third of the vessel. The lower edge of the casemate is prolonged fore and aft in a heavy iron deck, which forward curves down below the point of the ram. Short unarmored forecastle and poop structures, carried along in line with the keel to the smoke-stacks. The turrets are placed diagonally to open the full fore-and-aft fire. Forward and abaft the casemate is a cork belt of the thickness of the armor, to give the ship floating power in case the unprotected sections are pierced. The ship is divided in two by a longitudinal bulkhead. Twin screws.

DREADNOUGHT. ORION. BELLEISLE.

Armored belt and breastwork, sea-going monitors. The armor is complete fore and aft, and is carried down in a curve forward below the point of the ram. Throughout the middle third a casemate rises to protect the bottom of the turrets and give them a good elevation above the water-line. Forward and abaft this casemate, and in line with it, an unarmored superstructure is carried, stopping short of the bow and stern. This forms roomy quarters and gives the ship an increased freeboard and stability. The turrets are amidships and in line with the keel. Between them is a musket-proof superstructure, expanding into a flying deck having at its forward end an armored pilot-house. Longitudinal armored bulkhead, similar to the Alexandra.

DEVASTATION. THUNDERER.

Armored belt and breastwork, double-turreted, sea-going monitors. The armored belt from forward to the forward turret comes only to the height of the water-line. The breastwork differs from that of the Dreadnought in not coming out to the side, but the freeboard necessary is obtained by carrying around it and well forward and aft a musket-proof superstructure. A musket-proof superstructure also rises between the turrets, expanding into a flying deck with an armored pilot-house at its forward end.

GLATTON.

Armored belt and breastwork, single-turreted, coast-defence monitor. The armored belt rises to the upper-deck level, and is of the same thickness from stem to counter. It has an overhang beyond the hull of 2½ feet amidships. The breastwork surrounds the turret and smoke-stack and does not come out to the side. Forward and abaft a narrow superstructure carries along the line of the breastwork. Abaft the turret, which is situated well forward, a musket-proof superstructure rises, expanding into a flying deck, with an armored pilot-house at its forward extremity.

CYCLOPS. GORGON. HECATE. HYDRA. ABYSSINIA. MAGDALA. CERBERUS.

Armored belt and breastwork, double-turreted, coast-defence monitors. The breastwork occupying somewhat more than the middle third of these vessels surrounds the turrets and smoke-stack, but does not come out to the side. Musket-proof passages or tubes and ventilators, together with an armored pilot-house, extend above a light flying deck. The Cerberus is stationed permanently at Melbourne, having had a temporary rail and upper deck built on her for her passage out. The Abyssinia and Magdala are permanently stationed at Bombay.

HOTSPUR. RUPERT.

Armored rams. The armor-belt completely encircles the hull and is carried down in a curve forward below the point of the ram. Each vessel is provided with a breastwork and single turret. That of the Hotspur is fixed and has four ports, the gun being worked on a turn-table. That of the Rupert is of the Coles type of revolving turret. The breastwork surrounds the foot of the turret and the smoke-stack. Both vessels have a high superstructure from abaft the turret to the stern, rising two thirds the height of the turret, and each carries a stern-gun, the side being recessed at each counter for stern-fire. The Hotspur carries an armored pilot-house on top of her turret; the Rupert has two, one on each side, abaft the turret in the dead-angle. At present the turret of the Hotspur is being changed to a revolving one like the Rupert’s.

PRINCE ALBERT.

Four-turreted monitor. This ship has a wooden hull, having been cut down from a line-of-battle ship. Her armor-belt encircles her hull and she has no breastwork; her Coles turrets being protected about their lower parts by the armored deck. This vessel is only fit for harbor defence.

SCORPION. WYVERN.

Armored belt, double-turreted iron-clads with full sail-power. These vessels are high sided, the high rail between the fore and mizzen masts dropping to unmask the turrets. The armor-belt encircles them. They have strengthened ram bows, a long, high forecastle extending to the fore-mast and making a dead-angle for the forward turret, and a high poop to the mizzen-mast, making a dead-angle for the after turret. The fore and main masts are tripod masts. These vessels are bark rigged, with full sail-power, and when their side rails are up they have the appearance of ordinary corvettes. They were built for the Confederates during the war of the American Rebellion.

VIPER. VIXEN. WATERWITCH.

Casemated gun-boats. These vessels have rectangular casemates about the boilers and engines (see Inflexible), the forward bulkhead rising above the spar-deck level, and being provided with two ports for bow-fire. They are only intended for bow-fire and end-on attack. The Waterwitch is a double-ender, having steering-gear at each end, and at present, instead of steam boilers and engines, she has a hydraulic motor.

POLYPHEMUS.

Armored ram The transverse section of this ship is top-shaped, showing above water a convex upper deck surmounted by a light musket-proof superstructure. In addition to her heavy ram, she is provided with apparatus for firing the Whitehead torpedo, ahead and from each beam.

EREBUS.

Old-type casemated floating battery, completely armored.

ENGLISH UNARMORED FLEET.

(New Cruisers.)

• A = Length between Perpendiculars.
• B = Breadth of Beam.
• C = Mean Draft.
• D = Displacement.
• E = Construction Material.

• F = Indicated Horse-power.
• G = Maximum Speed.
• H = Date of Launch.

• A = Displacement.
• B = Construction Material.
• C = Indicated Horse-power.
• D = Maximum Speed.

INCONSTANT.

Iron frigate sheathed with wood and coppered. Straight bow, round stern. Rail cut back on each side of the bow-sprit to permit bow-fire. Gun-deck battery composed of ten 9-inch rifles in broadside, the ports being very widely spaced. Long topgallant forecastle and flush aft. Spar-deck battery composed of six 7-inch rifles. One bow-gun under the forecastle working in four ports (one each side ahead and one each side abeam), the gun being transported from one to another by turn-tables. One stern-gun working on turn-tables in three ports (one astern and one on each quarter). The remaining four guns are arranged as pivots, so that all may be used on one side if desirable. They secure in pairs amidships. The ports for these guns are cut in pairs forward and abaft the gun-deck ports. The strength of fire of this ship is: ahead, one 7-inch; abeam, six 7-inch, five 9-inch; astern, one 7-inch. The stability of this ship being originally deficient, part of her double bottom was filled with 180 tons of cement, thus reducing her estimated speed nearly one knot. Her coal supply permits steaming 2160 miles at a speed of ten knots. Greatest speed attained at sea for twenty-four consecutive hours, 15½ knots.

SHAH. RALEIGH.

Iron frigates sheathed with wood and coppered. General type similar to the Inconstant. The gun-deck battery of the Shah is a broadside one of sixteen 7-inch rifles and two 64-pdrs., the latter being just forward of the cabin bulkhead (separated from the main battery). The spar-deck battery consists of one 10-inch rifle under the topgallant forecastle, working in the same manner as the Inconstant’s; one 10-inch rifle stern-gun working in two ports, the quarter-rail being recessed for the purpose, so as to get stern and beam fire; six 64-pdrs. in broadside (two forward and two abaft the gun-deck battery, and two abreast the after smoke-stack). The Raleigh’s battery is similar to the Shah’s in arrangement, but is smaller in number. (Fourteen guns on gun-deck; six on spar-deck.)