ARRIVAL OF THE SQUADRON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1906, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF THE SQUADRON.

(By Teleeraph.:4-Pree Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

The flagship : Powerful (Admiral Fawkes) and H*M-.s. Cambria, Psyche, Pegasus and Challenger, arrived at Wellington from Hobart this morning. The warships remain at Wellington for a few daye, and then leave for 'Auckland. H.M.S. Powerful was launched in 1805. She is a protected cruiser of the first class, and lik one or the emergency and reserve vessels at Portsmouth. She .has a displacement of 14,200 tons, her armament comprises 18 guns, and her speed is 22.1 knots.

The distribution of -the armament of HJVLs. Powerful is one .of the features of the ship. It includes itwo 9.2 gunsf 16 6in., 14 12-pounders: and eight', threepounders, two and nine machine guns. The 9.2 guns are mounted on the forecastle and pcop in barbettes, the gun itself bein ;gproteeted b ya hood. Eight of the 6in. guns are mounted on the main deck, and four t>n the upper deck. The sides trf -the :sliip have been recessed, so that the forward guns may be pointed' well ahead, and the aft guns well astern. The armour for these casemates is in two parts, the divisions being vertical, in plane with. the 'axis of the gun. Each of the two plates is about 13 feet long and 7 feet to 8 feet high, the height varying with the position of the ship. The plates are, however, not only bent tea considerable curve, but the : part which would formerly have been cut out to .form the gun port has not been entirely removed, bat has been bent -inwards, thus forming very efficient protection to the .gun'sscrew. The .broadside casemates, of which there are four in all, form shallow sponsons, standing out from the ship's side, -thug increasing the range of fire, which, amounts to BO degrees. The four remaining 6in. guns are mounted in casemates placed rimme'diatelv above, the fojs. and ,aft. casemates on the main deck.' All these casemates have 2in. armaur at the, back to protect + he crews from splinters df shell or.debris. The ammunition is brought up through armoured trunks, the for the upper deck guns being brought up through f he back of the main deck casemates.

Dismounting rails are fixed to the deck, and by the aid of these the guns can be slung and traversed back, so that they may be housed well inboard outside the casemates. Eour is£pounders arc mounted on each broadside on the Tipper deck, between the casemates of the 6in. giuie* j«is in the Renown and the Majestic class. The sides of the upper deck battery are earriedup so as to completely conceal, if not protect, the puimers from the enemas fire—another feature which these cruisers and the Majestic class have in common.