New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-10
THE MONARCH.

M scRIpTION OF TIE GREAT BRITISH IRON-CLhp'
The arrival of the British iron-clad Monarch
In American waters has created the lveiiest heie "
naval and engineering circles. as enc IS oohe" po
superior type Of modern armored vessels com'nns 'y
many of the best qualifications OF nghtihR cr"i" "
CAPABLE at the Same time of being used as cruiser III ~
literal sense. The naval authorizes nave n"u H
tborouohlv inspected and look favoraby upon her gen
eral features; perhaps In time they may attempt VI"
construction OF q similar class OF vessels "nio o'
monitor system proved OF great service during tno
pehoIIion and would again IN event OF
war vet they would only serve for coast deiehse'
s they could not cope with the improved armored vessels
buit by France and England since the war; which are
actually ocean cruisers carrying either heavy broad
sides ponderOus guns mounted IN tnrre III Ia uSecSs
TO deny the fact that war-worn nrrct vessels aIo
nearly useless by OF decay and are not III TOT
continued active service the hard usage they might
naturally expect in case Of foreign war; therefore
behooves our naval authorities to watch with great care
all the improvements made by other maritime Powers IN
armOred vessels.
The Monarch is q vessel of commanding appearance
of 5O9s tuns She rs $50 feet In length, 81 feet inches
BEAM Her battery is carried In two OF Capt CoWper
Coles tuiret wh three chase guns OF less caiiDer
mounted at exremtcs and protected by an arnored
cascmate The weight OF the hull, with sSinpang ana
extra Orders included 1914 tuns the other weights
boilers machinery spars &c. amount 10 1852 tuns Inc
hull which is Of iron, Is protected by finch IRON arinor
OF important parts, ana Glhcii ol
parts the plating being supported by u ihros oi eR
backing with II inch thickness or skpihung anu an
arrangement OF longitudinal Orders which are WorkeH
intervals Of about two feet mus FORMING &
OF framing In conjunction vim tho strong Nriea lIaus
inside the plating which are about the same dls.
tance apart THIS device has proved satisfactory as
regards the efficient support gives TO tho arored sde
hmt since the famous Beierophon The turrets Of the
Monarch feet inches In diameter and are on,
ron plating on the tnrrct eight inches in thickness laid
nna teak hacking Of ~ inches with an iron skin Of
ono atIa half iuplfe
guns aud the portfolios the plating Is increased 10
ten inches The turret bed rests upon the main deck.
additional support being given To the deck immediately
beneath by combination OF iron pillars ana supports;
On the main deck armor-pated bukheads are placed
athwart the ship inside Of which the urrets engine
funnel, and steering apparatus tue latter po
used when the ship Is in action Ihese 9uiAnrnus uo
similar in their construction TO her sides WIN me
exception that tho arnor only five inches IN thick
the usual skinrsting stifened and supported by the
ordinary longitudinal Orders ana iraes ine due d
protected by shot-proof sides and bnkheads which
are inns derived OF their primary and supreme ad-
yanage-that OF providing an alround nre Tor Tue guns
builder SAYS consequent upon the determination pr the
Admiralty 10 adopt foreeHstes which are intended 10
keep the ship dry In steamng against head sea- ana 10
enable the head sails to lie worked. IL TO make mp
somewhat this loss OF headire from the turrets that
main deck The forward ruret are capable only OF
firing at angle OF not less than 10 degrees with the yes
sels keel The after turret lunettes are the same and
The 20 degrees lost made up by placing u tun gun IN
an armored casemae similar to the forward one which
rather weight OF metal. The guns IN the nrres are an
unusual hight above the water the Monarch having
frec-bOard" upward OF - feet which enables the
guns fought ut hight OF 16 feet above the water
Tie bu warks within the range Of the turret guns are
hinged AID when the vessel Is cleared for
action, they are allowed to hang ALONGSIDE OF
her are known 25tun guns aud are rhed, throwing
compound shot These guns are u inches in diameter OI
bore and are charged with 10 pounds OF gunpOwder Civ
ing to the when fired initial velocity Of Lap feet
per second the total energy Of the prjecIe at lOOO
wards being 5lG5 foottuns. The three 81 tun guns
nloyed at the exrem.ties rihed. The diameter OF
bore u inches Tie proiece used weighs lis pounds.
and ~ pounds OF powder used In obtaining an initial
velocity of 1890 feet per second the total energy Of the
pruiectie at 900 yards being 1,lI3 fOOt-tuns.
The speed OF the Monarch has attracted much atten-
tiOn aud has several occasions exceeded Ia knots.
Her highest rate OF speed officially recorded is 1887
knots The highest attained by any OF the British arnOr
clad ships at load draught From table recently pub
lshed by the cDie constructor of the Royal Navy, f. D.
Reed c. b., some idea be gained OF the time and
distances Of the principal English ironcads can
steam before the coal Is exhausted