IRON-PLATED SHIPS AT SEA

West Coast Times, Issue 340, 25 October 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

IRON-PLATED SHIPS AT SEA

Messrs Laird Brothers Avrite to " The Times^ giving particulars of the voyage from England to Peru of the Huascar, a vessel built by them for the Peruvian Government. The voyage is remarkable, as showing what a small iron-plated turret ship can do in heaA'y seas. Messrs Laird state :—": — " The Huascar is a sea-going vessell of 1100 tons and 300-horse power, and attained on her trial at the measured mile a speed of twelve and a quarter knots ap hour, and draws only sixteen feet of water with her full complement of coals, stores, and armament on board.' She ia a fiillyrigged sea-going vessel (her foremast being fitted with tripods on Capt. C. Coles' plan). Her armament consists of two 300 -pounder Armstrong guns in one turret, throwing a broadside of COOIK. The Huascar left Liverpool for Brest on the 17th January, calling at Holyhead, and encountered severe weather on the passage, but behaved remarkably well. She left Brest on the 27th February, in company with the Peruvian ironclad Independencia, of 2000 tons and 600 horse power,, a"nd proceeded to her destination by way of Cape Verde and Rio Janeiro, and then through the Straits of Magellan, encountering occasionally Aery bad weather. After coaling in the straits, the Huascar and ludependenoia started in company with the United States war steamer Dacotah, and another vessel called the America, that was sent to meet therm After leaving Punts Arenas, on the 28th of June, they encountered a severe gale, which is fully described in the report of Admiral Salcedo, published in the Valparaiso paper, which is confirmed by a private; letter we have received, as follows: — 'We sailed together from Punta Arenas on the 28th, in company with the Independencia and the America, that came to meet us. At half-past nine a.m. we doubled the Cape Pillar, and entered the Pacific with a light south-west Avind, tout at midnight a strong north-west wind sprang up, which, on the 30th, increased to a most fearful storm, that lasted, up to the Ist instant ; and even after it had abated, the same contrary and strong gales continued to blow, with an enormously high sea, that, to all appearance, was to swallow the four vessels, of which the Huascar was ip the worst plight, being the smallest and of the heaviest armament. In fact, we were dispersed, and only thought of- avoiding" being dismasted and indunated by seas that might submerge us, by Keeping head to sea, Avithout daring to make way. For that rea«on I expected to find here before, Aye arrived the other three vessels, they infinitely more buoyant ; but I arrived in 1 nine days altogether, and up to twenty-four hours after nvy arrival the America ' and Independencia had not yet cast -anchor, while the Dacotah has not yet ' appeared. What Avill now say those Avho asserted »that the Huascar with her mere armour-plating would founder ? Besides the plating she carried the turret, and in it the two guns of 3001 b. each, and twelve tons and a half weight each ; for I told to the constructors and to everybody that I should take them out fully mounted and in -fighting trim.' Admiral Salcedo concludes his remarks -on the Hnascar by saying, ' I neA*er saw a vessel of better sea-going qualities.? This, it is said, puts an end to an idea that has prevailed about small turret ships with heavy guns heing unfit for sea-going service." The Huasear, it is added, was designed some two years ago, with armourplating four and a half inches thick, and the ideas of the present day on the subject of armour-plating may, perhaps, render it desirable to increase the thickness to six inches. These advantages may be obtained in a class o* vessels of about 1400 tons and 350-liorse power, carrying two twelve and a half ton guns in one turret, on Captain Coles's system, with a speed of twelve to thirteen knots, and adapted for service on any of our foreign stations.