Mad Naval Architecture.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6292, 12 August 1890, Page 3

Mad Naval Architecture.

The Barham is an experimental twin screw cruiser of the third class, 1830 tons displacement, but possessing engines of no less than 6000 indicated horsepower. Thisjis the way the experiment, as regards the trial trip, is commented upon by a naval critic!—“The Barham went out for a preliminary trial of her machinery, and the result was just what was expected and foretold, “If you were to harness a hippopotamus to a pony-can inge you would na'urally look out for splinters. To attempt to cram 6000-horse power into a flimsy craft of 1830 tons is just as foolish a proceeding! The Barham is quite unable to withstand the strain of such powerful engines, and was quickly taken back into harbor, where the carriages of her main shaft are to be stiffened. The Barham is an example of lightness of construction carried to an an absurd and dangerous limit. Her plates are so thin that very great difficulty was experienced in, rivetting them, and the framings of her engines are actually bolted to the skin of the ship, which has no double bottom. She has one sister, the“Bellona, and taxpayers are to be congratulated on the smallne?B of the family.”