The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-26 00:00:00

SEA-GOING SHIELD SHIPS.

Capt. Cowper P. Coles,R.N., yesterday delivered
a lecture at the Royal United Service Institution, in
which he explained the principles and construction
of the cupola or shield ships of which he is the inven-
tor, and some of which are now building as part of
the iron-clad fleet of this country. The chair was
taken by Sir John Pakington, and among the audi-
dience was a large number of naval officers and pro-
fessional men who have devoted themselves to the
study of the reconstruction of the navy.
Capt. COLES commenced his observations by re-
ference to the fact that on the 29th June, 1860, he
had first explained his views at the United Service
Institution with respect to armour-clad ships, views
which the progress of events had since that time
done much to confirm. The construction of line-of-
battle ships, and indeed of all timber built men of
war might be said to have ceased since that time iu
almost all the maritime nations of the world, and
the necessity of providing armour-clad ships to re-
sist the greatly increased weight of shot had been
so far recognised in this country that ships of that
description from 700 to 7,000 tons had been con-
structed. It was, he said, however, still an open
question what was the best form in which these
armour-plated ships should be constructed. The
lecturer very naturally was of opinion that the
shield ships were those which ought to be adopted,
and the improvements which had been made in
their construction were of such a nature as to show
they possessed advantages peculiarly adapted for
sea-going ships of all sizes. When he first proposed
the cupola ship, it was objected to then that it could
not be masted. By the invention of rigid iron tripod
masts this objection had now been entirely ob-
viated. By this plan, combined with his system of
rigging, a ship would be able to spread half as much
more.than a vessel with the ordinary masts and rig.
Referring to a model which was before him, the lec-
turer pointed out how the topgallant masts and
yards could be quickly struck and placed on deck,
and nothing but the tripod masts be left above deck
on going into action. These masts were filled
with Cunningham's patent reefing apparatus, so that
the sails could be taken in from below, or reefed fore
and aft. There was no lower rigging to interfere with
the training power of the shield or deck. The yards
and lower stays could be braced fore and aft, and in
a line with the keel, or the square sail could be set
when under steam. On going into action the topsail
could be furled or taken in without exposing the
men to the fire of the enemy. In the event
of the masts being slot away in action, they and
the yards being of iron, would sink at once, and
thus diminish the risk of fouling the screw. The
iron masts were stronger and more durable than
those of wood, and they were secured in their posi-
tion by being " keyed" to the decks as well as the
bottom and bilge of the ship. The breaking strain
of the Valiant's lower rigging was 400 tons, while
that of the iron tripods was as much as 700 tons.
These masts, too, being constructed hollow, would
afford additional means of ventilation and thus la- n-
der the ship more useful for blockading or other
service in any part of the world. He also proposed
to construct platforms, protected by the lashed ham-
mocks, between the legs of the tripod, which would
afford accommodation for riflemen, who would pick
off boarding parties, and thus render more diffi-
cult the operation of boarding by an enemy.
This description of masts would, from their rigidity,
also withstand much better than ordinary ones the
shock when going stem on to the enemy, or when
striking the shore. In addition to giving an addi-
tional spread of canvas, the sails would be so well
balanced as to give increased facilities in the steer-
ing and working of the ship, while the distance at
which he proposed to place the main and mizen and
foremasts would divide more equally the length of the
deck than was the case in the Warrior and other of
our iron-plated ships. The centre of effort in his ship
he would place as nearly as possible to the centre of
flotation. By the use of iron he would also consider-
ably reduce the length of the yards, and would em-
ploy none of greater length than 90ft. as compared
with some of 105 or 110 ft. in other ships afloat.
Ships of the class which Captain Coles advocated
would have the advantage of being always ready for
sea. Nothing would be exposed to the mercy of the
weather that would take any harm. The sails would
be stowed away when the ship was in the harbour,
and the iron masts only would be exposed. These
tripodical masts would not be less valuable for the
mercantile than for the royal navy. They would be
rigid, receiving as they did support from all sides.
Each portion of the structure would, in fact, be
doing its portion of work towards resisting any
strain brought against it, for while one side would
be in a state of tension, the other would be in com-
pression. Clipper ships that made a voyage out to
China and home often required on their return new
sets of masts and rigging, owing to the influence of
change of climate. This, however,would not be the case
if iron masts were to be substituted for wooden ones.
Assuming that the adoption of his system of iron
tripod masts would effectually remove objections
urged against his shield ships on the ground of the
difficulty of meeting them, the gallant captain next
proceeded to institute a series of comparisons be-
tween his cupola ships and those of the old broadside
class, and claimed for the former greater powers of
offence, defence, greater speed, better sea-going
qualities, and lighter draught of water. Taking in
the first instance the offensive powers of the two
classesof ships, he compared the Prince Albert shield
ship, now in course of building atßlackwall, with the
Defence, a broadside iron-clad. The Prince Albert
with a tonnage of only
2,529 tons, threw a broadside
of 1,1201 b., while the Defence, of 3,700 tons, only
threw a broadside of 5601 b., so that with less
tonnage the broadside of the cupola ship
was twice as great as that of the

Valiant. The advantage, however, was pratically
still greater than this, for with all the large crews
at present on board our men of war, they could,
when fighting both broadsides, only use every alter-
nate gun, so that the actual broadside of the De-
fence was only 2801 b., assuming both aides to be
engaged; while the shield ship, working the guns
by mechanical appliances, could continue to throw
two broadsides, each of 5601 b. Add to this, the
shield ship draws sft. Bin. less water, and she is
completely covered with 51in. armour prates, while
the Defence is only partially covered with 41in.
iron plates. Compared with the Valiant, the Prince
Albert, shield ship, threw 261 b. less in her broad-
side, but her tonnage was 1,380 tons less, she drew
sft. 2in. less water, was wholly covered with armour
plates, while the Valiant was but partially pro-
tected. Compared with the Warrior, the shield-
ship was 3,430 tons less in tonnage, and threw
2461 b. less broadside, hut drew 6ft. 2in. less water,
and was wholly protected, as against the partial
plating of the Warrior. Compared with the Favourite,
the Prince Albert threw 7641 b. more, was 340 tons
large, but drew 11 feet less water, was covered with
51 inch plates, as against partial protection afforded
by 41 inch plates. Finally, comparing the shield
ship with the Royal Sovereign, it was shown that
the latter threw a broadside of five 300 pounders,
equal to 1,5001 b. This ship was one which had
been converted from a wooden three-decker ; she
was 1,400 tons smaller than the Warrior, and
drew 2 feet 6 inches less water. Summing up the
positive and relative merits of the two classes
of ships, Captain Coles claimed for the cupolas
greater power of broadside in proportion to ton-
nage, lighter draught of water, thus admitting
the ships to docks at present available ; greater re-
sisting power, great saving of weight. in conse-
quence of the exposed portion of the ship's side
above water necessary to be protected in action being
reduced to a minimum; while in the case of broad-
side ships the sides had to be carried some feet
above the guns. In the shield ships, on the con-
trary, the guns were on the top of the deck. Pro-
ceeding to point out more in detail the merits of
the shield ships, the gallant captain next took one
of the ships of his class, which he called " The
Naughty Child," and compared it with the Fa-
vourite, the pet ship of Mr. Reed, the newly-
appointed naval constructor. He assumed that the
two should be of equal size and tonnage, and he
pointed out first that when the Favourite would be
compelled to close her ports, and would be unable
to bring her guns to bear, the Naughty
Chili could fight hers with comparative ease
and with good effect. The Naughty Child, if it
had no greater speed, would at all events have much
more complete ventilation; and when the Favourite
was battened down her rival would have abundance
of air through her masts and turrets. In action the
Naughty Child would have a clear deck for working
her guns, while the Favourite would be cut in two
by the immense iron box in which her guns were
stored. He indignantly denied that his shield ship
could be properly compared to the Monitor, which
a short time since created some excitement in Ame-
rican waters. The one could no more be compared to
the other than could the old battered Trusty with
the magnificent Warrior. Renewing his comparison
between the Favourite and the Naughty Child, he
pointed out that, whereas the former could
only have a range from her guns of from
20 to 25 degrees, its rival could have a range of
from 40 to 60 degrees; the one could not bring
its guns in line with the keel within nine degrees,
while the other could command stem and stern,
with a range of training of from 50 to 60 degrees.
The powers of resistance of the shield ship was
illustrated by reference to the results of the firing
at the Trusty by the best gunners of the Excellent.
In point of rapidity of firing, as well as precision,
he also claimed the superiority for the shield ship.
The chances of hitting the shield were very small
as compared with the broadside of an ordinary ship,
while if a shell were by chance to enter one of the
cupolas, it would only disable that particular one,
leaving the others still free to act ; while if a shell
were to enter the great square box of the Favourite,
in which all the eight guns were placed, like eggs
in a basket, the effect would be completely to dis-
able the [hip. The broadside of the Favourite was
limited to four guns, two of 68 and two of 1101 b.,
together 3561 b., and those could only damage the
Naughty Child by repeated blows at short ranges.
The shield ship, on the other hand, would carry
three guns of 3001 b. shot, together 9001 b., which
would easily penetrate the square box of the Fa-
vourite at 800 yards with a shell carrying a bursting
charge of 401 b. of powder. In addition to this the
Naughty Child could easily place herself in a posi-
tion where the guns of the Favourite could not
touch her, but where her guns would be brought
to bear with the greatest force upon her rival.
These important advantages he claimed for the
shield ship, and he believed that at no distant day
it would be found he had not exaggerated their
value to the nation. Four ships of this class were
now being constructed for foreign Governments,
and one for our own Government. He was at a loss to
understand in what consisted the great improve-
ments of the iron-clads of the Favourite and Enter-
prise class designed by Mr. Reed. The belt of iron
of which that gentleman claimed to be the inventor
had been submitted by himself (Capt. Coles) to the
Admiralty three years since, as a means of additional
protection for armour-clad ships. But the ships just
mentioned, although protected below the water-
line by iron belts, still had the wooden decks ex-
posed, and liable to be set on fire by shells. The last
point to which the lecturer referred was that of
economy, and on this point, too, he claimed that
the advantage lay with his ships as compared with
the iron broadsides. The Defence had cost £177,478;
the cost of the Prince Aibert would be only
£127,587 ; and he estimated that if our iron-clad
fleet had been constructed entirely of shield ships
instead of being made up as it was of the Warrior,
Black Prince, Defence, and others, ships carrying
the same weight of broadside could have been pro-
duced for nearly two and a half millions less than
the sum which had already been expended in this
reconstruction of the navy. He stated that he had
had great difficulties to contend against in bringing
his invention under the notice of the Government,
but he had now so far succeeded as to be able to
spread more sail, without danger of being brought
lee gun wale under, and he was resolved not to
desist until he had weathered successfully the storm
and brought up at a safe anchorage. Throughout
the lecture Captain Coles was warmly cheered, and
at its close,
Sir J. PAKINGTON proposed a vote of thanks, and
in doing so said that they could not regard the exer-
tions of Captain Coles upon this subject without
feelings of respect for the zeal, ability, and persever-
ance which he had devoted to a question which day
by day was becoming one of increasing national
importance. It had been arranged that the discus-
sion on the subject of the lecture should take place
on a subsequent evening, and it would not therefore
be advisable to offer any remarks upon the various
points referred to by Captain Coles.
With the vote of thanks cordially given, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

"Those who crossed the Simplon last summer,"
says the Atheneum, " will probably remember bri-
gades of workmen, under the command of engineers, clus-
tered in various places, many of which appeared almoet in-
accessible, while others were waving flags or shouting to
those above or below them. The result of their labours has
been submitted to the Emperor of the French, at the Tuile-
ries, in the form of a plan for a railway, which is proposed
to be carried across the celebrated Pass, It is estimated to
be 80 kilometres long, 44 of which will be covered over, 23
carried through tunnels, and 21 in galleries. The execu-
tion of the railway, according to the projectors, who belong
to the " Italian line," would occupy about five years, and
the cost, including the fixed and rolling material, is put
down at 72,000,000 francs.

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