The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-03


Like the frga.es they fall into several clssses-some OF
them carry guns but heavy ones; others, many guns
but of lighter cabe and metal Tor the broadside, and all
of them one or two long range Srst guns.
The Conflict and Desperate, guns EACH were the first
built, in ls46 ana ls4o improvements on the Rather
hut were probably overloaded with machinery and did
no, meet expectatons, entirely Abon 100 tons they
had 400 horse power engines-they steam, fast Tgo Of
the pivot guns long range SIS polnders. Another
cass like The Alert Of 1852 tons and to carry L. guns fol-
lowed-rbe fret built in 1861, and the last in 1858
These remarkable vessels in one respect aud may be
broadsde battery OF 80 Founders and long range pivot
gun, and small steam power, but full sailing ability like
eighty eight feet long, hirtytwo feet beam, with 100
horse power engine, is reported to sail well and steam
eeh, knots.
Another of this Glass; the Brisk of LOLA TONS has $50
horse power and like the Alert sails and well;
whilst the Cruiser, Of only 60 horse power S52) sails
fas. and steams Ave knots The Hornet which is like the
Alert has been found very useful vessel in the late
Chinese war. The Chameleon Greyhound, Mutne, Peli
can and Rnaldo are building this plan-wh 200 horse
power each; and the Perseus Reindeer and Shear
are ordered 10 be built These vessels vary in their
dimensions somen feet length by 80 beamothers
100 by $3.50 by "a, &c.
There is another class of which the Cordela IL guns
may be taken as the type Of $50 tons ISL length by 20
feet BEAM and l6 feet depth of hold 1850 horse power
These vessels fail and steam fast. They cheaply
sailed, having only 100 men, and like the other classes
only steam when the emergency requires IT, For general
SERVICE they be taken the useful class Of
cruisers put afoat.
still inferior class OF steam ships but no. Less
useful may be named such the ARIEL grns the Cur.
power engine, and 9s men. They Sail and steam we'll
The screw steam sshooners have only lately intro
duced as as class Of menofwar, and are highly ap,
proved for general service they have been assigned for
service on the Coast Of Africa.
II may be as we'll TO remark here, for domes.icc use
that the high steam power given the Conflict and Despe
rate, with heavy ornaments improvements on the Rather
were considered TO hare the failure of these yea
sells TO meet the high expectations of their designers
whst their original the Rather, proved herae through
service of nearly twelve years in distant seas most
useiu and effective ship. The other shps were found
aSut TO manage under SAIL and TO draw too much water
for the work expected Of them whilst the other hand
me Hornet Harrer Cruiser, &C., found to be very
effective ships.
SCREW STRAIN GUN VESSELS AND GUN BOATS
There are one hundred and ninety of these steam
vessels OF which 6S in commission A. for active ser
vice. p employed for harbor SERVICE and 100 in ord
calico gun vessels and 100 gun boats.
Tnere are several classes Of gun vessels 10 witths
Fly Fish Intrepid Nimrod, Pioneer Roebuck, Victor
Blk guns each The dimensions Of the Flying Fish are 200
feet long by 30 feet BEAM hold Is feet and $50 horse
power engine she draws nine feet water carries two IS
FOUNDER pivot guns and four 32s The Roebuck in other
respects like the Flying Fish, has $50 horse power only
and she 10 reported W sa well and nine KNOTS
another class as the Aacrty four euns-representng
BEAM depth Of hold IA feet and draws eight feet steam
power 200 horses carries two IS poun pivot guns and
sells steam eleven knots
still Inferior class screw gun vessels is cxempliaed
by the Arrow Beagle &c The Arrow is 165 feet long By
rs feet beam and 416 tons burthen with 100 horse
engine She Is armed with two 90 Founders and two 40
poundcr howzers She draws eight feet water and has
65 The general opinion is anon yst those who bav
served IN these vessels that reduction Of the steam
power Is judicious. The Ninro1 and Roebuck which
were reduced one half confirm it,
SCREW STEAM GUyBOATs.
The screw steam gunboat s modern class of shinr oe
war; which out Of the necessities Of the late Rusan
war. When de,ernlined upon q large number were or
dered, on plans furnished by Admiral Sir BALDWIN Wak
er, Surveyor OF the British Navy. As they differ from
each other in several PARTICULARS they will be cassed as
cordingly
First ClassLke the Algerine of which there are six
The Aeerne was built in 1857 and her dimensions are on
follows ;-MDpth, 40 feet by "a feet beam; draught
eet ana zeo tons burhen 80 horse power high pressure
enene topea schooner rig and one 6S FOUNDER
pivot gun and one 32 pounder d. with two ~ FOUNDER
nowtzers -Four OF the six are in China and two the
coast OF Ameroa-he jasper, the notorious annoyer Of
our Southern commerce lately, being one Of them
second oiss-noudes about ll6 Of these vicious little
ves,els--sucb as the Bantercr, Bter Boxer Inselent
Lark and Naughty The force these predatory craft
may be known from their Dimensions as follows .-lOs
fee. ong =. iset beam feet hold OK feet draugh Of
power high pressure engines. They carry one heavy
ong range pivot gum generally 6s FOUNDER ana two how
tiers, and crew Of from thirty to thirty nine men only
These vessels found wherever there ia hostile e n
be done by the British fleet No less than ten of them
are in Chine.
Third Class-Six in number, comprise those first con-
sructed and only 100 feet long by % feet beam az
feet draBgbt, aud go tons each These also have 60
horse power high pressure engines
Fourth Class-Twelve in number, and later built nass,
Of the TONNAGE are 104 by % feet width 5H feet
draugh Of WATER and 40 horse high pressure en-
gnes They armed with two 80 FOUNDER pivot gins
and two howitzers, and crew Of thirty five men, SIX
Of them ere at work In China.
Fin Cass2o in number, me 100 feet long, q X feet
beam, 6s feet hold and AZ draught Of water and 1i2
tors Durtben. They have 20 borse power engines high
PRESSURE and carry ono 80 FOUNDER pivot gun and two
howizerswi crew Of 80 men. Two Of them are sta
toned OF Bermuda.
These gum boats were foundn says the an
thoriy quoted, Of great use in the Baltic Black sea-
Sea Of Azof and China They excellent sea boats II
wen managed" crossing the Atlantic and Indian seas
alone They often require new boilers but being for tho