TEE GLATTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3197, 12 May 1871, Page 2

THE GLATTON.

The launch of the Glatton, on the 7th of March, markß a decided advance in the character and construction of our ships of war. She jo a turret vessel of the Monitor type, and Is the first; of the kind built for service in the Royal Nary. It ie, perhaps, hardly creditable that nearly ten years have elapsed since the monitor form of construction waß in existence before our navy possessed a Bingle vessel of the iind ; but it is satisfactory now to know that the Glatton is complete, and that since the Board of Admiralty determined upon her conetruction, several low freeboard vessels of a similar type to the Glatton, but much more powerful, have been ordered, and are now being built. The Glatton was commenced in 1868, at Chatham Dockyard, from designs by Mr Eeed, under the authority of Mr Corry. She was founded on the American model, but with this difference, that the errors which were found to exist in the monitors of the United States S&vy have been rectified in the Glatton. Although the daring invention of Ericsson gave his country a novel and powerful class of teasels in the numerous monitors which he constructed, yet experience has brought to light many defects which detract from their capabilities both as sea-going and fighting vessels, and which are too often lost sight of by enthusiastic admirers of the monitor system. In the Kalamazoo, which is about the most powerful type of turret ship in the United States Navy, and in the Dictator, protection by armor-plating has been sacrificed to a serious extent to gain speed and to reduce size. Not only under water is this armor-plating reduced to a minimum, but the deck is exposed to injury from vertical fire, and the turrets are liable to be completely disabled by a chance shot. To remedy theße defects was Mr Reed's view in designing the Glatton, and was his reason for departing from the conventional form of monitor. By increasing the armorplating above the water line by means of a large breastwork for the protection of the turret, and by protecting the hull below the water line with armor-plates of considerable thickness, he has given the Glatton a more efficient protection than the ordinary monitors, but at the expense of her speed. In addition to this, an unusual step has been taken in plating the upper deck with three-inch iron plating. The object for this is to avoid danger from shells falling vertically upon the deck ; bub this protection is gained at the expense of increasing the armor of fche ship by about 600 tons, or, as Mr Reed says, by adding armor sufficient to plate the sideß of the vessel all round with nine-inch iron, and add seven feet to the free board. Mr Reed's view was, as he has shown practically ia the construction of the Devastation, Rupert, and Thunderer, that the speed lost by this additional armor should be regained by increasing the size of these vessels. In the construction of tho Glatton the Board of Admiralty refused to consent to this, and Sir Spencer Robinson, in a memorandum drawn up to show the position of iron shipbuilding for the Navy in 1869, while admitting that the permission by the Board to construct the Glatton was a " valuable concefsion," protests that she was "compromised by her eize."

It is yet early to speak with any confidence about this vessel, for it jet remains to be proved that her stability will not bo affected by the heaty breaatwork which rises on each side of the bull, and that considering how email she ia for the armor she carries, she really possesses a speed of nine knots an hour. But, taking her ac she stands, Bhe is unquestionably a most powerful vessel. Her freeboard is only three feet in height, and, if necessary, this can be reduced to two feet by the uae of water ballast. Her hull, above the water line, is plated with 12-inch armor, fastened on to 20-inch teak backing, and with an inner skin plating of 1-inch iron. Below the water line the armor is reduced to ten and 8-inch iron. There is only one turret, which is revolving, and contains two 600-paimder 25-ton guns. For the protection of this turret, which is plated with iron fourteen and twelve inches thick, and of the funnel, a breastwork rises on each side six feet above the hull. It is covered with armor-plating twelve inches thick, fastened on to 18-inch teak backing. Thus the guns and gunners are doubly protected from accident. The turret rieea seven feet above the breastwork, which allows of the guns being need with ease and freedom. The breastwork gives them the advantage of being used at almost the same height as in a broadside vessel, but with the advantage also of lonvincr a smaller surface exposed. One of tW inos' important features is that the gunH havf a deur

range in the fore part of tho vessel. Thio gives tho Q-lttttoa a superior advantnge to tho Monarch and Captain, and to any of tho broadside vessels ; for, although she will carry masts, they will not obstruct the range of the guns towards the bow. She is double-bot-tomed, like moßt of the ships designed by Mr Reed, and tho bulkheads between the inner and outer sides of the ship can be used for water ballast. In addition to her guns she carries an enormous ram, which protrudes eight feet from the stem, and could be used on an emergency with great effect. These are the principal features of this remarkable sbip, which is the first of a aeries of low freeboard turret ships tow being constructed for the Navy. That she is one of tho most powerfully designed ships we have there can be no doubt, but that she will bo successful and efficient remains to be proved. The exertions at Chatbam Dockyard during the Autmn and Winter have been unceasing, and the immediate result ie not only the launch of the Grlatton, but of the Woodlark, a small wooden vessel, which will also bo launched from the yard this woek. The efforts made to complete these vessels reflect great credit on Mr Thornton, the master shipwright.