Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS FREDERICK BLAKENEY of 14 Fitzwilliam Square, in. the
City of Dublin Major late 3rd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, do bereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto ships or vessels designed for purposes of war have been built either of
comparatively small breadth of beam and great draught or of shallow draught and
of very great breadth. In order to obtain greater fighting space than usual
together with sufficient buoyancy and seaworthiness, I combine in my improved
warship the two elements of great draught and great breadth of beam but at
different portions of the length of the ship. The forward part of the vessel I form
like an ordinary iron-clad or armoured ram of considerable draught but the after
part of the keel and hold from about midships is cut away and the upper part
increased in breadth or formed of saucer shape. At the point where the keel ends
amidships I fit the screws or propellers, the propeller shafts being carried forward
into the deeper portion of the ship where the engines are placed and are protected
by being considerably under the water line.
The propellers are by preference three in number, twin screws being fitted as
low, down as possible and a single large screw being fitted to work above and aft
of the twin screws in the line of the keel, but a greater or less number of propellers
may be used, and the same or separate engines, which may be of the compound or
multiple expansion type may be employed. The rudder consists of a series of fans
or blades which work in grooves or channels formed in the after part of the ship at
suitable angles to the longitudinal centre line. The rudder blades may all be
drawn into the grooves or channels formed for them in which case the ship will
keep straight on its course, and they may be projected one or more at a time from
the bottom of the ship the amount of helm to port or starboard being the amount
of resisting surface of the fans projected from the bottom of the ship at the port or
starboard side of the keel.
The vessel is provided with coal bunkers round the sides to protect the life of the
ship from shot, torpedoes or .collision. The main bunker runs down the centre at
an angle of depression from aft to the boilers which are placed in the forward part
of the ship. The side bunkers slope from the sides down to the main feed in the
centre or after hold. The mouth of each bunker on the fighting deck is stopped

page_text: with a tompion of rope coiled round a spindle, and this has to be removed on
coaling.
A belt of armour protects the sides of the ship at the water line and this is
carried up to protect the sides of a fixed turret which is fitted over the saucer
shaped portion of the ship and is in part protected by the tompions closing the side
bunkers at this point. An iron shield deck rising from the forehold to the fighting
deck serves to protect the machinery and other parts. In the fixed turret are
broadside and bow and stern guns, and in its fore part there can be fitted a
revolving turret or barbette containing a stern chasing gun of heavy calibre.
A revolving turret can also be fitted over the forehold in front of the stoke hole,
conning towers, and smoke stack.
In the stern of the ship a well or dock is formed in which is housed a surprise
boat or torpedo boat at about the level of the water line. This boat may be
readily launched unseen in the event of the ship being attacked. The side boats
are swung between the ports of the fixed turret and below its upper deck.
The design of vessel herein before described is also applicable to passenger and
cargo boats more especially cattle boats where deck space is of so much value.
Deted this Twenty-eighth day of October 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS FREDERICK BLAKENEY of 14 Fitzwilliam Square, in the
City of Dublin Major 3rd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Hitherto, ships or vessels designed for purposes of war have been built either of
comparatively small breadth of beam and great draught or, of shallow draught
and of very great breadth. In order to obtain greater fighting space than usual
together with sufficient buoyancy and seaworthiness I combine in my improved
war ship as seen in side elevation at figure 1, in plan at figure 2, and in bow end
elevation at figure 3, the two elements of great draught and great breadth of beam
but at different portions of the length of the ship the forward part A. of the hull
being formed like an ordinary ironclad or armoured ram of considerable draught
but the after part of the keel and hold from about midships is cut away and the
upper part B increased in breadth or formed somewhat of a saucer shape as
indicated. At or near the point where the ordinary keel ends midships I place
the screws or propellers C, the propeller shafts being carried forward into the
deeper portion of the ship where the engines are situated and protected by being
considerably under the water line.
The propellers C are by preference three in number, twin screws being fitted as
low down as possible and a single larger screw arranged to work above and aft of
the twin screws amidships. The twin screws are each worked by high pressure
engines and the stern screw by low pressure engines, the cylinders of which are
preferably placed beneath the screw shaft and have an upward stroke from the
keel line. The twin screws may work from the centre of the ship and have an
outward "set" of the shafting, the "set" being also slightly downwards so as to
give a lifting thrust. In lieu of the arrangement shown a greater or less number
of propellers actuated by the same or seperate engines, which may be of the
compound or multiple expansion type, may be employed.
From the bottom of the ship aft of the saucer shaped part B, a groove or
grooves D extends or extend upwards as indicated at figures 1 and 4 and in these
grooves the rudders E, which consist of a series of fans or blades, work these blades
being each actuated by a rod or rods so that they may be independently projected
through the groove or channel in the bottom, or be all drawn to within the hull of
the ship in which case the ship will keep straight on its course, deviation to port or
starboard being effected by projecting one or more of the rudder blades at a time
in the groove or channel on the starboard or port side of the bull, the amount of
helm being the amount of resisting surface so projected.
The vessel is provided with coal bunkers F, F¹ so placed round the sides as to
protect the life of the ship from shot, torpedoes or collision and to act as
strengthening frames. The main bunker F, runs down the centre at an angle of
inclination from aft to the boilers, which are placed in the forward part of the
ship at or about the position G. The side bunkers F¹ slope from the sides down to
the main feed in the centre or after hold and the mouth of each bunker on the

page_text: fighting deck is stopped with a tompion of rope coiled round a spindle which is
removed on coaling. Each of the side bunkers has also a stop or door H, below
the water line which serves the double purpose of keeping a supply of coal in the
upper part of the bunker and also of keeping the water out of the lower part of the
ship should the upper part become damaged. These stops may be watertight doors
sliding horizontally and operated from the inside of the vessel so as to let the
upper supply down to the lower feed when fuel is wanted or the trim of the ship is
changed. By this arrangement of bunkers the coaling of the ship when necessary
to be effected is considerably expedited.
A belt of armour protects the sides of the ship at the water line and this is
carried up to protect the sides of a fixed turret I, which is fitted over the saucer
shaped portion B, of the ship and an iron shield deck J, rising from the fore hold
to the fighting deck serves to protect the machinery and other parts. In the fixed
turret I, are broadside and bow and stern guns and in its fore part there may be
fitted a revolving turret or "barbette" containing a stern chasing gun of heavy
calibre. A revolving turret K, can also be placed over the fore hold in front of the
stokehole, conning tower M, and smoke stack N.
The upper deck O, above the fixed turret or battery I, is devoted to quick firing
guns.
As seen at figure 5 a well or dock is made in the stern of the ship in which a
surprise or torpedo boat P, is housed at about the water line. This boat may be
readily launched unseen in the event of the ship being attacked, and it is launched
and drawn up over rollers situated in the inclined bottom of the dock by means of
a chain or tackle. When drawn up the boat may be raised to a horizontal position
by means of chocks working on eccentrics these being actuated in any suitable
manner.
The side boats Q, are swung between the ports of the fixed turret and below its
upper deck and they may be lowered and hoisted up the inclined sides of the
battery by parbuckling on a sliding crutch or otherwise.
The design of vessel herein before described besides being applicable to war ships
is also applicable to passenger and cargo boats and more especially to cattle boats
where deck space is of so much value.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
A ship or vessel having the after part from about amidships cut away or
diminished in depth and the upper part amidships increased in breadth the said
widened part, in the case of war ships, carrying a turret or battery substantially as
berein before described with reference to the appended drawings.
2. A war ship or vessel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this twenty ninth day of Tulu 1906
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Agents.