OUR NEXT FLAGSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 93, 10 September 1896, Page 6

OUR NEXT FLAGSHIP.

H.M.S. Eclipse, according to the Service Journal, is likely to be our next flagship on tho Australian station. A contemporary which announced that H.M.S. Tribune, which is being fitted .out for the station, was to replace the Orlando, seems (says the Age) uuaware that the Tribune is not fitted as a flagship. She is only 3400 tons, and is not sheathed and coppered, and therefore unsuitable for distant 'commissions. Even in the case of the Bonaventure, now flagship on the East India station, there are complaints of overcrowding and inconvenience from want of sufficient accommodation for the Admiral and his staff, though she is 4360 tons. Also, the Tribune is not more formidably armed than the ships of the Ringarooma class. Designed for a natural draught speed of 18.5 knots, she did 19.2; while the designed forced draught speed of 20 knots was slightly exceeded. The Eclipse is of the same displacement as the Orlando, but has no vertical armour, only having a protection deck varying in thickness from 3 inches to 1.5 inch. Her designed speeds are: — Natural draught 185 knots, forced draught 196 knots ; but when tried in June last, better results than anticipated were obtained ; the eight hours' natural draft trial giving 19*2 knots, while the four hours' forced draught trial gave 201 knots; the 30 hours' trial for sea speed gave the exceedingly satisfactory result of 168 knots on 4838 i.h.p. Though not so heavily armed as the Orlando 1 , her speed would enable her to accept or decline battle at her pleasure. Forward in the forecastle, on the keel line, is a 6-inch Q.F., while two similar guns-, one on either beam, are sponsoned, and can fire right ahead. • On the poop are mounted two guns of the same class. Besides these, on each broadside are mounted three 47-inch Q.F. and three 12pounder Q.F., as well as lighter pieces. There are two pole masts, each with a military top. The complement is 450. In general .appearance the Eclipse is an enlarged Rin?(arooma. ' Again, the Orlando is not a first class armour-dad ship, which would mean a first class battleship, but is only a first class armoured cruiser, and her two heavy guns are 9-2 in and 9£in.