The New York herald., 1862-03-23
THE iRoN.PlATEe NAVY or ENGLAND.

The iR0N'PlATEB NAVY OF ENGLAND
The Frigates Royal Oak, Resistance
Black Prince, Warrior, Ind Defence.
(Fr' m the London Times March 81
All the hands at Chatham dockyard not required upor
the Royal Oak. 50 aud the other urgent works
that establishment have been transferred to the iron
rrigate Resistance, 49, 900 horse power, which
undergoing completion in No Dock in order that every
thing be prepared for the unlocking Of that vesse
~ the dats ordered by the Admiralty-the 10th inst.
Owing the unor difficulties which occurred in
petng the Resistance BY Messrs. Westwood Baltic
Csm bell, tho contractors the vessel arriving at
made however during tho past few months by the dock
yard hands have onsbled the general attng and compile
ton Of the ship be pushed forward with much vgor
thai in the course of few weeks this ans iron steamer,
which exactly resembles the Defence n size and tonnage.
VIII be tit either for the pennant the steam reserve,
| Whichever the Admiralty may decide upon. Like the
sister ship Defence, her buwarks form straight limo
bow to enable her TO be used as steam ram although
il is the generally received opinion among nautical mon
that with the great weight OF the boilers and machinery
placed along their keelsons combined with tho heavy
iron masts both the Defence and the Resistance are alto
gcther untitled for employment as steam rams the
dam &c they might inic in running down an opposing
ship being little likely to supply an equivalent for tho
injury they would themselves receive in the conflict
The Resistance will be bark rigged like the Defence,
| and she will also be fitted with Cunninsham's
| patent topsail yards. She will be provided
with four Of the 11opounder, llate loopounder)
| Armstrong;, aud ten 63-poundor twenty-five cwt.
bore guns her main deck and on her
two 1lo FOUNDER Armstrong pivot guns two FOUNDER
IL
supply of shot and shell will be unusually large for that
class Of vessel will consist Of 240 common and 240
y Of segment 20 poander shells I2S cases Of poundsr
Armstrong shells 800 IS pounder shells, twenty cases OF
32potnder Shells and 100 boxes Of 4pounder shells for
the pinacs and launches Her proportion Of solid shot
will be 220 1lOpoundsrs 4so Spounders 140 80 pound
e and 100 20 and II pound0rs The amount Of powder
| she will require win bs 345 cases.
The Lords OF the Admiralty have decided on having
the armor-plated screw frigate Royal Oak, d. under
Lower and boWSDrt. which will bo
factured for her At one OF the private estab-
ishments The Royal Oak Is expected 70 be the nrst
hasten her completion efforts spared By the dock
yard officials at Chatham. As many az 600 hands are
may be during the approaching summer the work
will shortly commence working overtime. The main
h in readiness xingt upper deck beams which ara
OF ron soon as they have been received from the con-
from the London Times March 81 -
The casing and extension OF the ruddsr OF the Black
Prince (ron frigate being carried out at Portsmouth
viii bs increased from twenty feet drausht Of water
downwards. The ships bulwarks and main decks have
since she has been at Portsmouth. Her hammock net
tings and supper deck portds ars'now complete Her
fish heads however, are not yet out OF tho black
ing apparatus bson commenced by the contractor.
The iron steamship Warrior, Captain the Hon.
"wednesday morning from Plymouth Sound into Ha-
moaze where she will reht and have defects nads good
II eXpected that the Kevonge and ST. George Ply
mouth Sound, will shortly be removed to HamOaze.
The iron plates for the Royal Oak 81 to
dergo the process Of anneang at Chatham, on their
delivery by the contractors In the construction Of the
upper deck OF the vessel arrangements be made
for the distribution cf the no. sunder Armstrong guns
which in this class OF ship will be placed on rear chosk
carriages, without directing bars.
The Gefsnco 49, screw iron frigats Capt r. A. Powell,
c. b. steamed out Of Portsmouth harbor shortly before
high water yesterday, and anchored at Spithead in
readiness her second trial Of speed at the measured
mile, or her cruise in the channel the Admiralty
may direct. The trial had been arranged to take place
on Tuesday last but raising the to examine it
consequence Of the ships getting the ground In
turning toher harbor from her former trial. found
have sustained such damage that became necessary
replace OF its blades. which had been damaged
by another before the ship again put under
This accomplished on Tuesday but too late for the
trial take place. and in consequence postponed
| until yesterday: A strong southwest gale, however
again m aa' ~ s s5seaa ssa 'ns sS as already
structions from the Admiralty In leaving the harbor
the Defence yesterday again manifested great wam Of
versed part oher to her from getting
upon the beach The Defence Is fitted with bent iron
tller similar to that OF the Warrior, which ought
have great power over her helm The barrel Of her
wheel however, appears to be OF too great diameter.
What tho cause may be, it would appear to be
diable II the fact or her quickness OF movement when
she gives sign Of obeyng her helm is to be trusted
to- The eight al h1r wheI to erpend great deal
Of nu cldr force u.oM producing alteration IN me
SHIPS course in hs time usually a0wed This certainly
indicates loss of power somewhere between the wheel
and the rudder head The fault however win without
doubt, be discovered and, If possible rocaed before
| ths ship again gets under weigh.
| TEST FIRING FROM An IRON PLATED cuPoLA-AN
| IRON SHIELD SHIP.
| From the London Times. March 81
| The experimental firing from Capt Cowper P. Coles
cupoa was resumed at Portsmouth on Saturday under
ths direction Of Capt. r. S. Hewlett G. B., commanding
hsf Mlesty's ship Excellent, and again attended
with highly satisfactory results Everything was car
ried ia action, even to the hanging the fighting
lanterns Lit up their places inside the cupoa The
target was placed $500 yards distance and the prac
tco made was exceedingly good the second shot fred
passing through IT, Tao two l0o.pounders we're fired
sngy and together ard in quick firing rounds were
nre in many minutes. Tho conclusion from the dis
charge Of the guns was but trifng and was in fact
found to be greater outside the shield than within H.
| The smoke cleared of effect lay tho last day
experiments aud the guns with their carriages worked
| with tho greatest facility.
Ths held ship which il is proposed to build on this
plan " III have mass, and when aoat will show to
the above her dec, merely her funnel and the tops
OF her shields Cleared for action the ships buwarks
are thrown down all round her level with the upper deck
ong the Of which ranged her cupola shields
resembling gigantic inverted teas2cers each containing
two hundred pounder Armstrong; OF eighty eight
huLdredveigh These shields rest upon towers, which
are sunk through the upper deck aud fixed turn.
taoe on the deck below, which reyolves with the gums
shield and men as may bo required. Tho height OF the
shed from the upper deck will be about five feet which
will be but q small object for enemy to nre at; shot
can only strike angle OF forty i've degrees The
mazzs OF the guns will be nine feet six inches from the
sides OF the vessel viii oscovered with armor
probably be sub ect for future consideration, as
the experiments that will be commenced at snoeDurynsss
1 iOfnOTfOW Otusfs that WIN pe UOtn n
Portsmouth and sh0eburynes5, with cellular and other
plates will bo certain 10 effect great change in our
mode OF attaching tho arnor plates 10 our
| shTs.
The shield ship will be $500 tons measurement and
he's estimated cost s, as far as can be estimated
present, Els0000 Her draught OF water s 70 DO only
twenty feet and her speed twelve and half knots The
Defence selecting hor by way ofcomparson eos ons
draws twenty five feet four inches Of water ma
speed OF IL 357 knots (sho will probably add another
hall knot her next trial. which Is arranged TO take
place within few days) and hor cost has been nearly
| twice that estimated for the shield ship Many
other important advantages will also be possessed
BY The shield ship the Defence cass On broad.
side the latter only fight guns protected by
her iron plates whsros nc shield ship bring her oois
ccire be1r a, time plon any point desired with yr-
tualy no limit their trainings whereas the Defence ia
connuod with her seven guns TO twenty nine dc.
srses Of training In closing, tho shield ship,
| hy taking slightly obiqle course, Can bring
tho whole Of hef guns 70 bgar gpon the enc
NY while the latter can only reply with two or
irSe gs from the bow or storm as tho case nay he