IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMORED VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
county of Middlesex Gentleman for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARMORED VESSELS A communication from abroad by Nathan Beach Clark
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1882.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMORED VESSELS" A communication from
abroad by Nathan Beach Clark of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States
of America
This Invention relates to Improvements in armored vessels and consists in
details of construction as hereinafter pointed out and claimed, the same being
generally intended for use with such an armored vessel as is described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No 655 dated February 15 1881 but the present
improvements may be used with vessels of other constructions or with fortifications
to which they are applicable.
I will describe the Invention as applied to a cruising vessel armored on Clark's
deflecting system having broadside guns of small calibre, capable of rapid and
continuous fire, and heavy armor-piercing guns, all the guns being protected either
in whole or in part by deflecting shields hereafter described. .
A deflecting shield such as is described in the Specification of the Patent herein-
before referred to is provided to cover the engines boilers, magazines, and other
vital parts of the ship:
Turrets or rotating gun shields are supported on hollow columns strong enough
to resist the heaviest shot between the shield and the bottoms of the turrets which
they support but are made lighter below the said shield.
:
The columns form a means of communication between the turrets and that part
of the vessel below the shield by means of openings which it is proposed to supply

page_text: with hydraulic or steam lifts so that men or ammunition may be readily conveyed
to or from the turrets:
Power for operating the guns in the turrets may also be supplied by means of
water pipes for conveying hydraulic pressure or by other similar means.
The columns are supported on journals resting in bearings and may be rotated
by toothed gear or otherwise as found desirable, the turrets being attached to and
rotating with the columns. The columns rest against antifriction bearings in or
attached to the decks of the vessel. A hydraulic lift may be placed under the
pivot of the column to raise the turret and its supporting column clear of
obstruction should the turret or bearings become jammed; which might occur from
the blows of heavy projectiles striking the shield or column near the bearings:
A turret for two guns may be circular in plan and have the side at the rear of
the guns cylindrical but the front side through which the guns pass inclined.
The trunnions of the guns may be supported just beneath the inclined armour, but
may of course be supported from below. The bottom of the turret rests in a
circular depression in a plate about flush with the spar deck and may be supported
in said plate on wheels or rollers, the thickness of the said plate being sufficient to
protect from shot deflected upwards by the shield as well as those that might
strike when the vessel rolls. The top of the turret in rear of the guns may be open
or covered by a grating. The turret may be rounded in the rear of the gun but
tapering or V shaped towards the front, the sides being slightly curved.
turret or shields presents acute-angled deflecting surfaces towards an enemy when
the gun is trained in his direction. The muzzle of the gun always projects in front
of the shield and near the top thereof. The top of the shield or turret may be
turned in partly over the gun.
The
A shot striking this form of turret from the front will be deflected sidewise
while a shot striking the other form of turret will be thrown upwards:
The perpendicular V or wedge shield is preferred for single guns, as giving most
available space in proportion to the weight
In either of the turrets described only the breech portion of the gun is enclosed
so that the weight of the shield inay be reduced to a minimum: The guns may be
trunnioned to the turrets, or mounted in such a way as to permit a slight recoil
as found best in practice
The heavy guns in the turrets may be turned completely round the circle and all
the turret guns may be trained to bear on a single object in almost any position
within range save as the turrets interfere with each other should the hurricane
deck be omitted:
Light guns, for example those on the hurricane deck may be mounted in shields.-
These hurricane deck shields are however principally intended to protect men
working machine guns to be used against torpedo boats:
These shields are made in the form of a V or wedge somewhat rounded, as
hereinbefore explained, and are preferably only large enough to protect one man
The rear of the shield is open. The gun passes through the sharp edge of the V
. These guns are intended to be light rifled guns, or machine guns as the Hotchkiss
revolving cannon. The trunnions of the gun rest in a projection from the front of
'the shield which projection may have deflecting sides partly overlapping the main
shield The sauc form of shield may be used with some of the broadside guns.
The shields carrying their guns swing on pivots so as to train the guns sharp fore
or aft when desirable.
The muzzles of the broadside guns pass through slots or portholes in the vessel's
sides. The said pivots have a bearing in the deck or beams overhead :-The lower
pivot is a pipe or tube extending down through the shield between the upper and
lower parts of the vessel and through this tube the ammunition may be passed up
for the use of the gun As the tube forins the pivot on which the shield turns,
a passage is always open through it to the shield, no matter how the gun may be
trained.
The small shields may be turned from below by causing the tubes to rotate, but

page_text: preferably the tubes are fixed and the shields are turned by means of a worm on a
shaft engaging with a fixed cogged pinion or segment made in the armored deck,
The shaft has its bearings in the sides of the shield and is rotated by a lever
engaging with pinion or ratchet by means of a dog or pawl. Of course these shields
may be turned by levers or other suitable mechanism and rest on antifriction
rollers if found desirable.
The floor of these light shields is formed of a light plate secured to the deck,
or it may have a light Hoor to move with the shield. The top is covered by light
plating.
The shields may be arranged to be capable of rotation entirely around the circle
by means of a worm engaging a pinion on the beforementioned pipe or by turning
the pipe as before described. The shields may be mounted on sponsons projecting
over the sides of the vessel so that the guns may be made to bear directly forward
or aft:
'
Watertight compartments are formed by the vessels double bottom, into which
water is to be admitted, as coal and stores are consumed in order to immerse the
shield between the upper and lower parts of the vessel, to the proper point before
going into action:
As the armor of this improved vessel is of less weight than that of ordinary
armor clad vessels it can attain greater speed:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1882.
}
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARMOURED VESSELS A communication from
abroad by Nathan Beach Clark of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
This Invention relates to improvements in armored vessels, and consists in
details of construction as hereinafter pointed out and claimed the same being
generally intended for use with such an armored vessel as is described in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No 655, dated February 15th 1831, but the present
improvements may be used with vessels of other constructions, or with fortifications
to which they are or may be applicable
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is the plan of the deck of the vessel (broken in two parts for convenience
of illustration) showing the outlines of the gun shields
Figure 2 is a cross section on line x-x
Figure 3 is a similar section on line y-y
Figure 4 is a plan of one of the hurricane deck guns and shield
Figure 5 is a similar plan of one of the broadside guns and shield, and
Figure 6 is a plan of gun and shield shown in Figure 3
Figures 2 to 6, inclusive are on a larger scale than Figure 1
Figure 1 represents a cruising vessel armored on Clarks deflecting system having
broadside guns of small calibre capable of rapid and continuous fire and heavy
armor piercing guns, all the guns being protected either in whole or in part by
deflecting shields hereinafter described
A represents the deflecting shield such as is described in the Specification of the
patent hereinbefore referred to. This shield is provided to cover the engines
boilers, magazines and other vital parts of the ship
B represents the gun deck for the broadside battery
C represents the spar deck on which the heavy armour piercing guns are
mounted
C¹ represents the hurricane deck covering only a portion of the ship and carrying
lighter guns capable of being trained in any direction
D represents the frame of the vessel below the mainshield A
E represents the side of the vessel above the main shield, which side should be
filled in with cotton cork or similar material, as described in the Specification of
the hereinbefore named Patent.
The turrets or rotating gun shields F and F are supported on hollow columns,
G strong enough to resist the heaviest shot between the shield A, and the bottoms
of the turrets which they support, but are made lighter below the said shield.
The columns form a means of communication between the turrets and that part of
the vessel below the shield A, by means of openings at H. It is purposed to
supply these tubular passages with hydraulic or steam lifts, so that men or
ammunition may be readily conveyed to or from the turrets.
Power for operating the guns in the turrets may also be supplied by means of
water pipes, for conveying hydraulic pressure, or by other similar means.
The columns G are supported on journals I, resting in bearings L and may be
rotated by pinions operating on the gears K or otherwise, as found desirable, the
turrets being attached to and rotating with the columns. The columns rest against

page_text: antifriction bearings G¹ in or attached to the decks of the vessel. A hydraulic lift
may be placed under the pivot I to raise the turret and its supporting column clear
of obstruction should the turret or bearings become jammed, which might occur
from the blows of heavy projectiles striking the shield or column near the
bearings
I have shown at F1 a turret for two guns circular in plan, and having the side
at the rear of the guns cylindrical, but the front side through which the guns pass,
inclined as shown. The trunnions of the guns are shown as supported just beneath
the inclined armour, but may of course be supported from below. The bottom of
the turret rests in a circular depression in the plate, M, which is about flush with
the deck C and may be supported in said plate on wheels or rollers as shown, the
thickness of the plate M being sufficient to protect from shot deflected upward, by
the shield A, as well as those that might strike when the vessel rolls. The top of
the turret F in the rear of the guns may be open or covered by a grating.
F represents a turret for a single gun, supported on a tubular standard G. This
turret is rounded in the rear of the gun, as shown but tapering or V-shaped
towards the front, the sides being slightly curved as shown. The turret or shield
presents acute-angled deflecting surfaces towards an enemy when the gun is trained
in his direction, The muzzle of the gun always projects in front of the shield, and
near the top thereof, as shown clearly in Figure 3. The top of the shield or
turret may be turned in partly over the gun, as shown by dotted lines in
Figure 6.
A shot striking the turret F from the front, will be deflected sideways while a
shot striking the turret F" will be thrown upwards
The perpendicular V or wedge shield is preferred for single guns as giving most
available space, in proportion to the weight
In either of the turrets described only the breech portion of the gun is enclosed,
so that the weight of the shield may be reduced to a minimum
The gun will be loaded by machinery, so that two or three men only will be
required, in the turret with the gun. The guns may be trunnioned to the
turrets or mounted in such a way as to permit a slight recoil as found best in
practice.
The heavy guns in the turrets may be turned completely round the circle as
shown, and all the turret guns may be trained to bear on a single object, in almost
any position within range, save as the turrets interfere with each other should
the hurricane deck C¹ be omitted..
I have shown however a hurricane deck Con which four light guns are
mounted in shields, a¹ of the character shown in Figure 4. The same, form of
shield may be used with some of the broadside guns as at all These hurricane
deck shields are however principally intended to protect men working machine
guns to be used against torpedo boats
These shields are made in the form of a V or wedge somewhat rounded as
hereinbefore explained, and are preferably only large enough to protect one man.
The rear of the shield is open. The gun passes through the sharp edge of the V.
These guns are intended to be light rifled guns or machine guus as the Hotchkiss
revolving cannon. The trunnions of the gun rest in a projection b from the front
of the shield, which projection may have deflecting sides partly overlapping the
main shield as shown at 6' The same form of shield may be used with some of
the broadside guns.
The shields a carrying their guns swing on.pivots, c, c³ so as to train the guns
sharp fore or aft when desirable.
The muzzles of the broadside guns pass through slots or port holes in the vessel's
sides. The pivot c' finds a bearing in the deck or beams overhead. The pivot c
is a pipe or tube extending down through the armour A and through this tube the
ammunition may be passed up for the use of the gun. As the tube forms the
pivot on which the shield turns, a passage is always. open through it to the shield
no matter how the gun may be trained

page_text: The small shields may be turned from below by causing the tubes to rotate, but
preferably the tubes are fixed, and the shields are turned by means of a worm d
on a shaft e engaging with a fixed cogged pinion or segment f made in the armored
deck. The shafte has its bearings in the sides of the shield, and is rotated by a
lever g engaging with a pinion or ratchet by means of a dog or pawl. Of course
these shields may be turned by levers or other suitable mechanism and rest on
antifriction rollers if found desirable.
The floor of these light shields is formed of a light plate i secured to the deck,
or it may have a light floor to move with the shield. The top is covered by light
plating.
The shields a¹ are like those last described, being wedgeshaped in front and open
in the rear, and are pivotted on tubes c but are capable of rotation entirely around
the circle by means of a worm & engaging a pinion f on the pipe c or by turning
the pipe as before described. The shields may be mounted on sponsons projecting
over the sides of the vessel, as at c² so that the guns a² may be made to bear
directly forward or aft.
P, P', (Figures 2 and 3) are water tight compartments formed by the vessels
double bottom, into which water is to be admitted, as coal and stores are
consumed, in order to immerse the shield to the proper point before going into
action.
As the armour of this improved vessel is of less weight than that of ordinary
armourclad vessels, it can attain greater speed and can therefore choose its own
position in. combat
In an engagement with an armoured vessel, no attempt would be made to use
the light broadside guns in the small V shields, unless it might be the machine
guns to fire through the enemy's portholes, or into the muzzles of his heavy guns
which would effectually disable him, The gun deck in action would be generally
deserted, and the whole upper works might be shot away without materially
injuring the buoyancy or stability of the vessel; the crew being safely housed
beneath the shield A, except the few men engaged working the heavy guns who
would be protected in the turrets
In an engagement with an unarmored ship, or with shore batteries of field
artillery, the broadside guns would come into play, the calibre of the guns being
sufficient to pierce unarinoured ships, and the shields being sufficient to protect the
gunners from projectiles of considerable weight.
The heavy turret guns may be used at the same time to search for the vitals of
the enemy's ship or to bombard distant objects over the heads of shore batteries
with which the broadside and hurricane deck guns may be engaged.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is
1. A rotating turret for guns, having the side in the rear of the guns of a
semi cylindrical form, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the front
portion through which the muzzles of the guns pass sloping or curving
downward, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. A rotating shield for a gun, having its front portion through which the gun
passes of the rounded wedge shape, hereinbefore described, its rear open, and
being pivotted to swing about a fixed point as also hereinbefore described.
3. The. V shaped shield of substantially the form hereinbefore described, in
combination with the pipe c, through which ammunition may be passed when said
shield is made to pivot on said pipe, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The pivotted V shaped shield carrying a gun as hereinbefore described in
combination with the side of the vessel pierced with portholes, through which the
muzzles of the guns may pass as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 5. The V shaped shield hereinbefore described, pivotted below on a tube passing
downwards through the deck, and having its upper pivot in the deck or framing
above substantially as herein before described.
6. The V shaped shield hereinbefore described, combined with the pinion f fixed
to the tube c for rotating the shield by means of the shaft e and worm d, as
hereinbefore set forth.
7. The V shield herein before described in combination with the shaft e having
its bearings in the sides of the shield, the worm d, pinion f tube c and operating
lever g substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
8 The combination of the light broadside guns having deflecting shields
with the elevated deflecting turrets carrying the heavy guns, as hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof I, the said John Henry Johnson have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the thirtieth day of September One
thousand, eight hundred and eighty two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON (L.S.)