STEEL CORVETTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4298, 5 December 1876, Page 4

STEEL CORVETTES.

Half-a-dozen steel corvettes (the ‘Daily News ’ says) are forthwith to be added to the na.y—swift, well-armed vessels—to serve as cruisers. For some time past steel has been regarded by shipwrights with a favorable eye, being tougher and altogether far less liable to fracture than iron, and’now the Admiralty has taken the bold step or concluding a contract for building six war ships of this material without delay, i hey are be budt on the Clyde, and to be ready for service with their engines on board within two years, so we may expect that for some time at least we shall hear no more about the shipbuilding industry in that district being in a depressed condition. These corvettes will not serve in any fleet along with big ironclads, but arc designed espc° dally for fonign service in China and the Pacific, as also for cruising in the vicinity of ourcoloniesandforeign possessions. They will be remarkably fleet sailers, and. it is anticipated, will be able to make 20 miles an hour without difficulty. Their armame nt is to consist of fourteen guns of different calibres, and besides the steel casing their bulwarks are to be covered with two thicknesses of teak. They will tfOtT, of course, be in a positon to withstand heavy battering charges from big naval guns, but still ordidinary sbot and shell will be unable to penetrate their sides. As their great speed will always enable them to show their sterns and prevent hostile craft from approaching, these steel _ corvettes should prove most useful additions to our navy; and it may safely be taken for granted that where they are likely to cruise ti ere will be little chance of falling in with heavy ironclads, which, by reason of the small amount of coal they carry, are unable to trust themselves very far from land. The corvett. a are to measure 230 tons, and in every respect are to be built alike. The engines will naturally be of a most powerful character to enable so high a soeed to he attained, and a stiong armored deck running round the vessels will servo as a protection to the machinery. iSuch vessels as these will be able to perform~tlm specially important service of pursuing and destroying the swdft torpedo boats, of which a large number, it is said, are to be introduced into the navies of Europe. Vessels as fleet as these torpedo outriggers, as they are called, will be absolutely necessary if we are to have any protection against such troublesome and deadly craft.”