Improvements in Battle Ships.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Battle Ships.
I, Sir NATHANIEL BARNABY, K.C.B., of Conishead Priory, Ulverston, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The term "Battle Ship" is commonly used to signify a vessel of war so armed and
protected as to be ablo to take part with fair chances of success in an engagement
with the most powerful ships of war in existence.
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A "Battle Ship must be capable of inflicting fatal wounds upon the most com-
pletely protected ships, and must be capable of receiving, without necessarily fatal
results, heavy blows from the weapons of such ships.
The ships now bearing this designation are usually from about 8,000 to 14,000 tons
in displacement.
The object of my invention is to render it possible to build a "Battle Ship" of
about one fourth the usual size.
It has usually been considered to be objectionable to have only one armoured
emplacement for the armour-piercing guns in a Battle Ship because no way has been
discovered for securing an allround fire from the complete armoured battery however
placed in the ship.
My invention secures this allround fire from a single position the guns being
armour piercing, and the armour defending them being as thick as that usually
employed for. the defence of the emplacements of heavy guns in large Battle
Ships.
For this purpose I provide a revolving platform on the centre line or thereabouts
of the ship, upon which the principal armament is mounted.
The funnel passes up through the centre of this platform and the davits for the
boats and anchors are or may be carried by and revolved with it so that there need
be nothing to obstruct the fire of the guns.
With this arrangement it is impossible to provide a central hoist for the ammuni-
tion, as is now usual, with revolving platforms because the centre is occupied by the

page_text: funnel, I therefore surround the revolving platform with a fixed annular platform,
on to which the ammunition hoists (of which there are preferably two) deliver. The
fixed platform may be provided with means for conveying the ammunition to the
guns, or the guns can be brought to one or other of the hoists by turning the
movable platform. The whole is surrounded by a fixed breast work to protect the crew
and working parts, and the revolving platform is covered by a protecting roof, through
which the guns, which are mounted en barbette, project.
Two annular platforms fixed to the funnel casing are provided from which the
ship is worked. One of these is above the domed top or protecting roof and is used
when out of action-the second is below the domed top and is used when the ship is
in action.

page_text: I, Sir NATHANIEL BARNABY, K.C.B., now residing at Morray House, Belmont
Hill, Lewisham in the County of Kent, 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:-
The term "Battle Ship" is commonly used to signify a vessel of war so armed
and protected as to be able to take part with fair chances of success in an engage-
ment with the most powerful ships of war in existence.
33
A "Battle Ship
must be capable of inflicting fatal wounds upon the most com-
pletely protected ships, and must be capable of receiving without necessarily fatal
results, heavy blows from the weapons of such ships.
The ships now bearing this designation are usually from about 8,000 to 14,000
tons in displacement.
The object of my invention is to render it possible to build a "Battle Ship" of
about one fourth the usual size.
It has usually been considered to be objectionable to have only one armoured
emplacement for the armour piercing guns in a Battle Ship because no way has been
discovered for securing an allround fire from the complete armoured battery however
placed in the ship.
My invention secures this allround fire from a single position, the guns being
armour piercing and the armour defending them being as thick as that usually
employed for the defence of the emplacements of heavy guns in large Battle Ships.
For this purpose I provide a revolving platform on the centre line or thereabouts
of the ship, upon which the principal armament is mounted.
The funnel passes up through the centre of this platform and the derrick or
davits for the boats and anchors may be carried by and revolved with it so that the re
need be nothing to obstruct the fire of the guns.
I surround the revolving platform with a fixed annular platform, on to which the
ammunition hoists (of which there are preferably two) deliver. The fixed platform
may be provided with means for conveying the ammunition to the guns or the
guns can be brought to one or other of the hoists by turning the moveable platform.
Provision is also made for carrying projectiles upon the moveable platform. The
whole is surrounded by a fixed breast work to protect the crew and working
parts, and the revolving platform carries a protecting roof or armoured turret
through which the guns project. In either case the openings for the guns may be
closed by port lids against the sea.
Two annular platforms fixed to the funnel casing are provided from which the
ship worked. One of these is above the domed top or protecting cover and is
used when out of action the second is below the doined top or turret roof and

page_text: is used when the ship is in action. The second position may be defended by
armour on the inner wall of the revolving platform, and by an armoured screen in
a chamber between the guns.
In order that ny said invention may be more fully understood and readily.
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a central section of the battery as it will be situated in a ship con-
structed according to my invention--the guns being shewn as two in number mounted
en barbette.
Figure 2 is a plan of the battery as seen from above when the guns are two in
number, and are mounted en barbette.
In these figures A is the hull of the ship which may be of any suitable dimensions,
and either armoured or unarmoured at the water line.
If the water line is unarmoured, then B will be a portion of the under water
protecting deck. C is the funnel or uptake from the furnaces. D is a strong cylinder
surrounding the funnel and its casings, and forming part of the main structure of
the ship.
E is the conning platform under ordinary circumstances.
F. is the conning platform when the ship is in action with an enemy. It may be
made by suitable arrangements the best protected position in the ship.
The derrick or davits, which are not shewn, may revolve with the turret and over-
hang the side of the ship, when turned in that direction, sufficiently to hoist up the
largest boats clear of the side. They may also overhang the deck sufficiently,
when turned inboard, to deposit the boats below the upper deck and under its
cover.
.
G is the annular revolving platform carried on two live roller rings R and provided
with a third vertical ring revolving around the funnel casing D-on a set of sup-
porting rollers the arrangement being similar to that described in Specification
No. 11,732 of 1888. The platform is revolved by a suitable engine H which may
either be carried on the platform or on a deck beneath or in other convenient position.
The turning engine is controlled by officers on the platform F, which is provided with
several starting handles M-in connection-through-P with the starting lever-Q-of-the-
engine so that it can be operated from various positions.
The platform G carries the guns which are mounted in any suitable or convenient
manner for the purposes of checking recoil running in or out or elevating.
Figure 2 shows two 22 ton guns mounted on recoil slides S of well known
construction.
The brake apparatus T is preferably that described in Specification 912587 in
combination with the compensating cylinder described in 96888.
The elevating mechanism is preferably of the type described in 937387 but any
other suitable devices for controlling the movements of the guns may be employed.
The loading of the guns is intended in this case to be performed by hand, suitable
runner ways for guiding the shot (which is suspended in tackles) being arranged in
the rear of each gun.
The ammunition is passed from the magazines to the barbette at I by hoists, it is
then picked up by tackles O running around the barbette and placed on the annular
platform G. Racks V on the platform will carry a certain quantity to save passing
during action.
If the guns are to be operated by hydraulic power a pivot box would be fitted to
the funnel casing and the circular platform serving for the passage of the water for
the various operations of elevating running in and out ramming and supplying turning
engines fixed on the platform.
The platform is divided into compartments by bulkheads or partitions fitted with
sliding doors U so that the service of each gun may be carried out independently of
the other in the event of accident by the explosion of a shell or from other cause.

page_text: The guns can be fired by electric gear controlled from the platform F.
If required more guns may be carried on the platform G, according to the diameter
of the platform and size of the guns. They may be placed radially, or at right
angles to each other, or in pairs, or in any suitable position.
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 :-
1. A Battle ship having the principal armament upon a platform revolving about
the funnel substantially as described.
2. A Battle ship having the principal armament upon a platform revolving
about the funnel and enclosed within a fixed armoured structure substantially as
described.
.
3. The platform revolving about the funnel and provided with a domed roof or
armoured cover and surrounded by a fixed breast work and carrying two or more
guns substantially as described.
4. My improved Battle Ships substantially as described.