The Osceola times., 1880-03-20
ITALIAN IR0NCLADS.
Thuaderboits of Wharf.-The Most Formida-
BILE Fighting Vessels In the World.

Thunderboits of Wharf.-The Most Formida-
BILE Fighting Vessels In the World.
n. Y. World
In the Duilio, whose speed trial on
Saturday was gratifying success, Italy
may claim to have the most formidable
fighting vessel in the world. Begun at
Castelamara in 1872, set atloat in 1876,
steamed TO Spezzia in 1873, and now
complete. the Duilio, though constructed
on prodigous scale as to size, equip
ment, armor and armament, has slngu-
larly fulfilled, at every stage, the predic-
tions of her designers and builders, her
draught, speed and battery power closely
tallying in practice with the calculated
results Her sister ship, the Dandolo,
a year or more behind her in progress OF
construction and prospective completion,
will no doubt repeat her success, SO thvt
whatever is said OF the Duilio as war
ship must be doubled in every detail i'll
considering the new fighting strength
put at the disposal of the Italian navy.
Built OF iron and steel, the Duilio has a
double bottom for over two-thirds OF her
length, divided into many watertight
compartments, any one OF which can be
quickly filed or drained. She is $50
feet inches long. "a feet inches broad,
has draught aft of about 26 feet, and u
displacement at deep load line OF l0,55O
tons. The weight of her hull alone Is
about 5000 tons; on this is girt % inches
of steel armor, continued more than five
feet below the water line, the armor
weighing upward of $500 tons. Two re-
yolving turrets contain each two Arm
strong l00-ton guns, as they are called,
their actual weight being little greater;
the total weight of tie four-guns, with
their machinery and ammunition, is
nearly 1000 tons. From the bow pro-
| jects heavy ram 8 feet long, immersed
feet below the load line; hidden in
the stern, ready to be driven out at once
against an enemy's ship, is Thorney-
croft torpedo-boat, about 70 feet long,
and claiming q speed of q knots; the
Duilio also has machinery for discharg-
ing torpedoes. This big mastless ship is
driven by twin screws. The engines,
which are those of John Penn q Sons,
have 1850 indicated horsepower; the
Dandolo's engines are Maudslay's, and
develop the same power. The maxi
mum speed OF each was estimated at IA
knots; thecable mentions the speed at
tanned by the Duilio as IA miles, with
six-seventh power. Assuming this to
mean nautical miles, the contract speed
is surpassed; but if it should not mean
nautical miles, there is some margin for
reaching the highest estimate in the use
of maximum engne-power.
Such is the wonderful battle-ship that
Italy exhibits to the worlds applause.
The effect of the Duilio and the Dendolo
steaming with hostile intent into some
harbor on our coast whose channels are
deep enough TO allow their entrance
saw Portland or Boston-may be i'm
agined. They would be accompanied by
creepers and other appliances for cutting
or exploding defensive torpedoes. They
would themselves carry torpedo-boats
and torpedoes for offensive operations.
Their eight l00-ton guns throw bolts
each one of which weighs 1000 pounds,
they have thrown proof-shots weighing
2,500 pounds, but for practical purposes
the lighter missile will be found heavy
enough. Their proiectiles can be hurled
distance of nine miles; so that these
huge ships could establish themselves
out of range OF the heaviest guns in the
harbors spoken of, and destroy the cities
beyond.
Not satisfied even with these Twin
thunderbolts Of war;" Italy is engaged on
two monsters surprising the Duilio and
the Dandolo.
What is the moral for us? That we
must begin to build Duilios and Dando-
los? Not at all. 1t yet remains TO b.
seen whether, in her audacious naval
ambition, Italy has not gone beyond the
line Of safety and use in constructing
these monsters. Exclusive of armament
and outfit, the Duilo cost little more
than 100000. Her consumption of
coal is enormous. while every gun fired
costs $500 for the powder and projectlle.
With the money expended on the Duilio
fleet of fast, light-armored, heavily
armed cruisers, less costly to maintain
and far more useful, could be built.
Should we go to the Italian dock-yards
for hints. we should find them rather in
the swift corvettes Italy is providing,
designed to give extraordinary speed,
and abandoning the hopeless strain at
impregnabjlity. In these, and IN her
tremendous ordnance, useful for harbor
defense, and in her attention to torpedo
vessels. we might better discover exam
pies to follow, or, rather, results to sur
pass,