A NOVEL MAN-OF-WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 932, 23 October 1879, Page 2

A NOVEL MAN-OF-WAR.

The most extraordinary vessel of war ever constructed will shortly be launched from Chatham Dockyard. Her length is 240 ft, with a breadth of beam 40ft., a size which will enable her to be manoeuvred with promptness. She has a displacement of only 2,650 tons, which is exceedingly moderate as compared with most of our large ironclads. The vessel, which we may. say is named the Pholyphemus, is not intended to mount a single gun for fighting purposes, but for offensive i operations will depend on the ram she |is intended to carry at her prow, and torpedoes she will have the power of discharging — these, m fact, constituting the only offensive weapons she will" possess. The ram with which the Polyphemus is to be fitted will without doubt prove a terribly destructive weapon attacking an enemy's vessel. The ramspur will project about 12ft. m advance of the stem, and, being kept well down beneath the water, will inflict deadly injury on any vessel against which it may operate by striking it below the armour belt of plating — the most vulnerable part of a vessel of war. As the vessel will not be armed with heavy guns for inoffensive j operations, the usual arrangements connected with a war ship's armament are dispensed^with, and instead a couple of ports will be placed on each broadside, from which the torpedoes will be discharged. A novel feature will also be introduced by placing a torpedo port under the ram, thus enabling torpedoes to be discharged right ahead when pursuing ' a hostile vessel. The shape of the Polyhemus, as she at present appears m the dock where she is building, is very much m appearance like an enormous pontoon — similar to those m use by the Royal Engineers, but tapered at the head and stern. With all her storeß, weights, etc., on boaid, her deck will be only about 4ft. above water, but above her cylindrical concave deck she will carry a light but strong hurricane deck, upon which will be placed all the necessary fitting and appliances for working the ship. The deck above the water-line will be protected by steel armour-plating of several inches m thickness, bo as to deflect any shot striking it, which the convex shape of the deck surface will enable it to do. When equipped for sea, the eleotrio light, which has been found of such incalculable value m the ironoladea to which it has been supplied, will form-a-prominent feature m her sittings. .-