The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-24 00:00:00

ADMIRAL SARTORIUS ON STEAM

RAMS.

The real question now occupying so much the

attention of the naval world—indeed, of the nation

—is whether the whole ancient system of naval
construction and of naval warfare is to become ob-
solete, and the new, radically opposed to the old,
to be adopted. There can be no compromise be-
tween the two. Whether Sir W. Armstrong's or
Mr. Whitworth's shot may or may not be driven
through a 41in. or 51in. steel plate, or whether the
concentrated broadsides of a line-of-battle ship of
68 or even 32 pounders may not crush in the side
of an iron-plated vessel, is but a secondary ques-
tion. I believe both results can be successfully ac-
complished. under given circumstances—the first in
practice, and the second when, as Captain Hal-
sted very well observed, both parties are in
fixed rests, and the 40 or 50 broadside guns can
be fired by a voltaic battery. It is well known
there are a variety of projectiles which are in-
fallibly destructive to the wooden vessel, but one
kind alone may injure the iron-cased vessel—that
is, a peculiar shot not yet in general use. The
timber-built ship is combustible from truck to

water-lines—vulnerable from stem to stern. The
iron-cased vessel may be occasionally vulnerable to
shot, but is incombustible. The concentrated broad-
side of a line-of-battle ship may stave in the side of
the iron-cased vessel, if the latter would be civil
enough to cease all firing, and place herself exactly
in the position desired by the liner. It is more pro-
bable that the iron-cased vessel will commence its
fire the moment she can strike, and half a dozen
only of molten iron shells, or liquid fire, hitting (we
know one alone has been sufficient), the wooden
vessel must be in flames long before she could close
upon her antagonist. At 300 or 400 yards the shot
would drop off harmless from the iron sides, but
every shot and shell would easily penetrate the
wooden vessel at 3,000 yards.
As it is clear the iron walls must supersede
wooden ones, let us examine which of the two actual
arrangements of the former is the most efficient—
the steam frigate iron-cased, with the usual mast,
yards, and sails, of a line-of-battle ship, only using
her guns ; or the modification of the steam frigate,
which also uses artillery, and is expressly built for
speed and strength, and weight sufficient to sink
by concussion, and with a rig subordinate to that
important quality. I give my reasons in the follow-
ing observations to show why I think the latter
(steam ram) is infinitely superior for service, less
expensive in construction, and much less in main-
tenance.

The iron-plated steam ram can make use of guns
as the steam frigate, equal in calibre, and, if re-
quired, equal in number. She can use more guns
from each extremity than the steam frigate from
her bow or stern ; therefore, whether retreating or
pursuing, the steam ram is more formidable, even
when she trusts to her guns alone.
A single steam ram can effect with her beak
an amount of destruction in a few minutes
which would take many steam frigates to effect
very imperfectly in as many days, if at all. She
could get in among a fleet at night, sink two or three
ships and disperse tho rest. She could run into a
harbour, such, fir example, as Cherbourg, by one
entrance and out by the other, sink some of the
ships at anchor in the outer road by her beak, and
set fire to others by her incendiary projectiles.
The steam rams should have both extremities the
same (I proposed a screw and rudder at each end,
and also paddle wheels for Channel service) ; she
could run in or out among the enemy's vessels, and
advance or back with the same velocity and quick-
ness. If attacking at night, with masts lowered,
she could not be seen until felt, could launch out
her incendiary projectiles into the town and har-
bour, and there would be no masts, sails, or rigging
to obstruct their flight in every direction. Guarded
by loopholed and bullet-proof towers to afford re-
fuge to her people when boarded, and boiling water
made to be ejected from them, it would be impos-
sible to take the steam ram.
No steam frigate could do all this. A steam ram,
when prepared for action (she has, of course, no
bowsprit), with her masts lowered, the rigging, the
little she has, frapped in amidships, and without
any kind of outside projection, can clear instantly
any vessel she may fall alongside of, or that she has
run into. If boarded the boarders must be killed
or scalded. As no wreck can hang overboard, her
screw cannot be foaled. The steam-frigate falling
alongside of her enemy, and either vessel losing masts
and yards, they must get entangled, and their screws
fouled by their wreck ; there would then be nothing
to prevent a fresh ship from running alongside and
effecting an easy conquest of the steam frigate.
If the steam ram is constructed with both ends
as sterns she will never require turning in action ;
she can, therefore, run up or back in passages or
rivers as narrow as the breadth of her own beam,
and engage batteries at the closest distance. She has
two screws to rely upon (she may in addition have
paddlewheels), and her screws cannot be fouled
from her own wreck. It' a steam frigate of the rig
and dimensions of the Warrior were to run up a
narrow channel or river to engage a battery at
close quarters, any wreck from her own guns
would infallibly foul her screw ; so circumstanced,
her great length would prevent her from having
sufficient space to wear in, as she would require at
least half a mile for the purpose, and the embar-
rassed screw would prevent her from tacking. The
velocity of a steam ram can only be slightly affected
by the wind, her schtioner rig and lowering masts
presenting no comparative resistance when bring-
ing the wind ahead. This position to a steam fri-
gate, with her heavy masts and yards, might make
a difference of several knots an hour, besides much
impeding the quickness of her movements.
I have hitherto spoken of the " iron-protected
shot-proof steam ram." Now, it must be evident to
every man acquainted with maritime matters, that
when a steam ram hes the superiority in speed and
quickness of movement over her enemy sho can
make herself equally formidable without shot-proof
protection. She can then choose the time and mode
of attack most advantageous to her. Such a steam
rain could carry six weeks' or two months' fuel (the
screw ships of the day do not carry more than from
seven to ten days') ; hesides, as the aggressive
party, she can more easily economize her fuel.- She
would probably keep out of gunshot during the
day, and making frequent feints at night, obliging
the slips to keep up full steam, the time would
soon arrive when their fuel would be expended, and
they would soon become mere sailing vessels. In
a dark night when the steam ram has all her masts
lowered, she uses fuel that emits little or no smoke,
and, turning her beak towards her enemy, she
becomes ihvisible to them at 200 yards ; but every
movement of the ships, with their high broad
hulls, tall masts, and square sails, is easily
visible to the steam ram. She selects her vic-
tim
100k-out man"
on
; GO or
usieactthdes
,a,feteeremt3h,eisfirrsutnncriyngofdotw,l,ine
upon us,"
the five
iron-shellsor six
d liquid
fireare
either
pour-
ingthe;
into the ship attacked
or the one ahead or astern of
her, and she crushes in • either bow, beam, or quar-
ter of the enemy. Ever • y sailor knows that in so
short a time it would
be impossible to get large
ship a
ship to avoid the blow, still less to man, point, and
lire her guns at so rapidly-moVincr
an object as the
steam rain; going Sor 10 knots. What must be
the moral effect, also, upon the crew attacked,
knowing that no earthly courage or skill can save
them from the inevitable destruction awaiting them
u
'n a few seconds .
As the two vessels have different movements (the.
beak of the steam ram is made only to penetrate to
and the latter immediately
a certain 'distance),
disengages herself, disappears
iu backing, she quickly di e,a
re eat the same
the darkness, and returns to p