New-York tribune., 1878-02-16
THE BRITISH SQUADRON.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SIX IRONCLADs IN THE SEA
OF MARMORA.


DESCRIPTION OF THE SIX IRONCLADs IN THE SEA
OF MARMORA.
In view of the possibility that the British
roncads now in the Sea Of Marmora may be called
into action under conditions which will demonstrate
their qualities the following description OF the six YES
sells OF the squadron under Admiral Hornby will be
found interesting
The Alexandra Admiral Hornby's flagship the largest
mastcd ironclad hitherto designed is cenra-batery
ship IN the best She is the first broadsde ar
mored masted ship built with satisfactory al-round
fire. for out of twelve guns, four including the heaviest
can fire straight ahead and two straight asern. On
each broadside from four to six guns can be used,
according the bearing OF the enemy. SO far
as the lighting portion OF the vessel is concerned,
size is q two-decker, unlike the six armored
vessels of the Audacous class The battery consists OF
two Woowich rifle muzzIe loading guns OF twenty-five
tons each and of the same kind OF eighteen tons eac
the former being size previously attempted TO be
carried brOadside ship. To localize the effect OF
shells exploding decks the main deck battery is
divided into two parts by an arnored bulkhead. Tho
water line is protected by belt OF OF n maximum
thickness of twelve inches, and the armOr forward
Is carried down over the ram 10 strengthen
lie latter and to guard the vital parts Of
The shin from injury by IA raking fire from ahead at
times when waves or pitching may expose the DOW
aganst rakne lire from abaft, by an armed bukhead
The batteries protected by armOr only eght ches
armed vessels in European nayles addition to the
"trono and safety lue 10 numerous water ght cells be-
twcc the two bottoms great increased strength is gained
ny the employment OF heavy Iongi"dinai
Nv The bnlkheads the twelve boilers subdlvded into
four separate sots OF three eacn ana the engines or INC
twin screws into two sets These several watrr-tigh
bukcaGs are arranged that any set OF boilers can
be worked Independently OF the others and all comnuni
cation he shut off from either set OF engines Inc
total weight OF arnior and backingis 1880 tons The
vessels PRINCIPAL dmencns are: length between per
a. hole lse draft forward 20 feet draft aft 262 feet
Her tonnage $3.50 tons: her horsepower indicated on
trial trip 600 speed, 15l3 knots an hour The ship
has three masts, is bark rigsed aad Is designed as
cruiser.
The Temerare is designed as q sea-gong vessel. Her
most important feature is that she carries the upper
deck armament in 80 fixed opentopped turrets instead
OF central battery AT each end OF the upper deck
pear-shaped battery, standing about six feet
deck and measuring about 33 feet on its largest
axis by 2I y feet This contains turn-tabe, on
which Is mounted twenty-five ton gum which is raised
TO be fired over the edge OF the tower and Immediately
after fling sinks under cover to be reloaded.
The guns the open battery fired en- bdrbete, just
as guns in Moncrie gnpits are but are not en- oarbee
at any other time. The foremost turret is protected
with inch armor the after one with eght!nch Ihe
guns have clean sweep around the respective ends OF
the ship to some distance APART or forward OF the nem
as the ease may be- In order not TO obstruct the fire.
the buwarks are kept low-about four feet above the
deck. From the upper deck 25-tOn gun fires right
ahead or right astern The forward part contains TWO
2j-ton guns, placed as TO secure convergng hre at
battery contains four 1ston guns, f0r blOadslle nre
only. The guns OF this vessel are better defended
n1ard against exposure to raking fire In pitching, the
nrnor Is carried down the point of the RAM and
ornorcd bukhead across the hold ave inches thick The
hu has the usual double bottom and Is divided into
hmIhbead projects The machinery Following are de-
tails OF measurement and capacity Length between
perueudiculars, 80 feet; extreme breadth 62 leet;
dram aft y feet draft forward 26ia feet; dlsplace-
ment, s,i12 tons; indicated horse power 1000 speed,
weight of bow r soo pounds % yst 6d6 ol s stern u as e
GOO pounds Ihs yae eost ornaoc beneah thc
water through hole IN the broadside.
The Famingo one OF the sloops OF modern date of
composite build, completed last year. She has dis
placement Of IA tons; her length is $50 feet; BREADTH
30 feet draft forward IL feet att ID feet indicated
horsepower 75O The cost Of hull and machinery was
$40 3so I'm gold She Is fully rlgged as a cruiser
Intended sail mosi OF the time III going from port
70 port The armament consists of two 6l and two 20
FOUNDER Iiies
The Achilles is vessel OF the fifth class with 4i2nch
armor Her tonnage is 9137. She Is armed with ten
l2-tOn AMI SIX Ol2-t0n guns.
The Ruby is a comparatively small iroDclad OF l,S6i
tons She carries ten CLIFTON and two l2-;0n guns
The salamis is smaller still. Her tonnage is oS5. She
has two Is-tOn guns.
PASSAGES OF THE DARDANELLES.
The passage of the Dardanelles by the
British Squadron under Admiral Hornby recalls other
strait IN of without serious damage. In l77O,
during the war between Russia and Turkey which fol-
lowed the peace OF Nssa the feat was accomplished by
the Russian Squadron under Elphinsone, an English
commander then in the Russian service, who destroyed
the Turkish fleet in the Bay of Tchesme The next pas
sage OF the Dardanees made under conditions very
different those which now exist In the eght wars
between Russia and Turkey since the year lIoo Russia
bas had the alliance OF England only once. This
was in the short struggle OF 1867, brought
on by the intrgues Of Napoleon for his own
oavontace The brilliant advance Of the Russian Army
with which the war opened checked by the success
NJ the French arms in west for tho Emperor Alex
opder could no longer maintain efficient force on the
Danube when Napoleons victories threatened his III
terests elsewhere England seized this occasion 10 au
Russia An English army sent to Egypt, ana Adi'
raj Duckworh with the British fleet passed through the
Darlanclles. The Admiral, who had been cruising OH
Ferrol with four ships OF the hhe' unleo "ith
three others and four frgates stationed in Besika
Bay. without serious injury 10 TINS iornhiuaoie
souadrop. he sailed through the Strait The good
fortune which attended the passage was in d
rect contrast TO the humiating circumstances
which compelled return English yaior was turned
to nought by French =, nce Ss
and prolong the war. The appearance OF tue Blitsh
fleet before the city and the ultmatum which the Aa
mra sent the Sutan's Government created panic
The sea batteries were unarmed aud the city was s
fenceless such the rage OF the Turks tnat n1 o
81 the French Ambassador In danger but his auro
meas saved the Capital well his own head nc sue
ceeded IN Inducing Admiral Duckwortn 10 ueiny h h,
ecuiion OF his threats for few days Mea.lu Az N ~
V and stems were taken to cut Oh the retreat OF the
English leet At length the Admiral discovera lne .rap
info which he had fallen and with nothhg 70 snoW or
hs gallant exploit but score Of the diplomatic notes BY
which ne had been beguiled, he witndrew ne suecesu
G r Sbattsres we're more effective than before,
and he escaped only after serious ioss'