The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-30 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF A TURKISH IRONCLAD.

An armour-clad ship for the Turkish Govern-
ment was launched yesterday from the Thames
Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company's yard at
Blackwal. Though only a small vessel there are
peculiarities in her construction which, prima facie,
appear to solve the difficult problem of the best
mode of fighting the heavy ordnance which will he
used in future naval warfare. She is designed by
Mr. Geo. C. Mackrow, naval architect to the com-
pany, who may claim the credit of originating a
system combining the best points both of the
turret and broad,ide batteries. His thoroughly
practical ilea was first developed in a small
ironclad of 1,000 tons, built last year for
the Greek Government, which carried two
12-ton guns in a fixed midship battery, capabl of
firing-fore and aft, or at an angle on the broadside.
In the ship launched yesterday, which is only 400
tons larger than the Greek, his first plan has been
improved upon, so that four 12-ton guns are car-
ried. It is difficult to convey a correct ilea of the
simple and effective means by which these four guns
are arranged to fire either all ahead, all astern, or
all on either broadside, converging, in the latter
case, on an object at 110 yards' distance. Perhaps
it may best be done, however, by stating that fore
and aft of this central battery the ship tumbles home
above the water line, so as to diminish the spar
deck space in such a way that the guns can be
pointed from the batttery in the way described.
The central batteries or towers are nearly hexago-
nal, with four ports placed in each angle, so that
the guns can be trained to fire either in line with
the keel or on the broadside. In fact, the fire of
the foremost guns slightly converge. '.lhe two after
guns can fire forward with 10 deg. of the keel line,
so that if the ship was engaging an enemy directly
ahead, a single spoke of the wheel would bring
them to bear upon the enemy without affecting the
ship's speed. In like manner, if engaging an
enemy astern, the two after guns would fire
nearly in line with the keel, while the two for-
ward guns would come within 20 degrees, so that
very little interference with the ship's course
would bring them to bear directly. It will be
seen from this imperfect description that Mr.
Mackrow has, for all practical purposes, obtaine I
the all-round fire, which makes the turret system
so valuable, without the drawbacks of the opening
in the deck in which the turret revolves, and of the
necessity of having bulwarks to fall down in order
to fight the guns. In his system the bulwarks are
all iron, fixed inside the lines of fire, and being
decked over there is comfortable accommodation
for the crew. The free-board in the ship launched
yesterday is 11 feet 6 inches, the height of the port-
sills being 6 feet 6 inches. She bids fair to be a
thoroughly seaworthy craft, comfortable even in the
worst weather, so that in this respect a practical com-
parison of her merits against those of the cupola or
turret class will be watched with much interest. The
Turks appear to have considerable faith in this new
system, for they have a sister ship Low under con-
struction by Mr. Samuda, and a somewhat larger
vessel by the Thames Shipbuilding Company. The
dimensions of the one just launched are as follows :
Length, 8.P., 225 ft. ; breadth, 35ft. 6in.; depth,
20ft.; draft when fully equipped, 16ft. ; engines,
400-horse power; armament, four 12-ton guns, or
300-pounders ; armour-plated Gin., on 10-inch teak
backing. The engines are single screw, of 40 no-
minal horse power, by Messrs. Ravenhill, Hodgson,
and Co., who anticipate being able to drive the ship
from 13i to 14 knots.
The ceremony of christening was performed by
Miss Musurus, the daughter of his Excellency the
Turkish Ambassador, who was present, together
with the Turkish Consul, and a goodly party of
ladies and gentlemen. Miss Musurus performed
her sponsorial duty with charming grace and
naiveté, naming the good ship Avni-Illah, or
the Divine Assistance. Nothing could be
more successful than the launch, for the mo-
ment the ship's weight came upon the cradles
she glided smoothly and swiftly into the
muddy water of Bow Creek, and thence was
towed at once to the yard of Messrs. Raveubill
to have her engines fitted. At a luncheon, which
took place after the Lunch, Mr. Peter Rolt, the
chairman of the comi any, occupied the chair.
After the usual congratulatory toasts, the health
of Mr. Watts, the late Constructor of the Navy,
was drunk. That gentleman, who had superin-
tended the building of the ship for the I utkish
Government, in returning thanks, paid a very
high compliment to the Thames Ironworks and
Ship Building Company for the integrity they
had always displayed in the execution of their
contracts.

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