A NEW WAR-SHIP.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 915, 31 May 1877, Page 3

A NEW WAR-SHIP.

Mv E. Griffiths, C.E., lately read a paper at the Royal United Service Institution, "On a New Form of Vessel for War Purposes." Mr Griffiths said that when circular war-vessels came to he tried practically it was found that they required four times more steam power than ordinary vessels, and he had therefore endeavoured to design a ship to combine advantages of a circular vessel, and at the same time avoid the loss of speed. He had nearly arrived at the desired effect by making the immersed surface of an elongated form, and by fitting it with twin screws internally. The advantages gained by his improvements were protection against sinking, from leakage, ramming, and torpedo attacks,' powerful guns, speed, and protection to the propelling power. In ramming, the power of turning quickly was of great importance, and he proposed fitting his vessel with two sets of double engines and screws, each screw to be independent of the other, so as to enable the ship to turn rapidly. To provide against torpedoes, the outer parts of the vessel were divided into sevei'al watertight compartments, and, being used for coal bunkers, they would protect the centre part, where _ the engines and boilers were placed, from injury. ; Powerful guns could be placed in the circular ;part of the ship, which would occupy the centre of the vessel. The main deck would be plated with iron to resist the effects of bursting shells, and above the waterline he proposed to make the ship of wood like the old Une-of-battle ships,

so that shots from heavy guns would pass through her. He thought that in future naval actions guns would be found to be of veiy little use; but one tiling was certain, that, provided 80 and 100 ton guns could be used effectively, the armour-plating of ships of war all round was perfectly useless; but it might be desirable, in ships fitted with screws at each end in tunnels, to protect the bow with armour, as such ships could always keep the bow towards the enemy, whether advancing or retiring. As regarded speed, so much depended on the facility with which the ship could manoeuvre, that every attention should be paid to having the most powerful engines. The advantage of having four separate screws was that, unless required in cases of emergency, only one or two need be used at once, while, when required, four screws would enable the vessel to move with greater speed and with greater facility. The necessity of protecting the propelling power was obvious, although it had been up to the present unaccountably neglected. His proposal was to place the screws in tunnels. The screw was the most vital part of the ship, and shoidd be protected in every way, for should it be disabled in action, it would be admitted by every naval officer that he would then have no choice but to strike his flag or sink. The authorities would have to take upon themselves the responsibility for neglecting to apply the simple protection here proposed, should any of our costly ships be lost through the want of it; for most certainly that would happen, and the question would have to be answered at some future day.