THE NEW COLONIAL DEFENCE SHIP.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 491, 9 March 1869, Page 2

THE NEW COLONIAL DEFENCE SHIP.

The first monitor constructed under the auspices of our Admiralty has been built in Messrs*Piilmer's yard, and Jarrow-on-Tyne. This vessel, the Cerberus, is intended for the defence of the city of Melbourne. The colonial authorities have agreed to pay onefifth of the first cost of the vessel, to furnish her armament, and to get" her navigated to Melbourne at their own expense. Wise ia their generation, they stipulated for a monitor, and the people qf this country are somewhat indebted to them for doing so, since she is likely to be followed by several others of similar design for home sendee, as well as for the defence of our various colonies. The vessel in question is an example of the breastwork principle to which we recently called attention, and which we believe was first publicly propounded by the Chief Constructor of the Navy in 1867, at the. Institution of Civil Engineers. The reason for adopting this plan is to protect all the principal openings in the decks to a height of 10 or 12 feet above the water, thus adding greatly to the security of these low-decked vowels. The dimensions of the Cerberus are as follow :— Length, 225 f t; breadth, 45ft ; draught of water, 15ft Gin ; and burden in tons, 2107 (builder's measurement). She carries two turrets, one at each end of the breastwork, each turret furnished with a couple of 18-ton guns. These turrets stand about sft Gin above the breastwork, and can be turned either by manual or steam power. They are protected with 10-inch solid armor in wake of the ports, and with 9-inch elsewhere. Next to the armor comes the usual teak backing, and inside all are two thicknesses of half-inch plating. The tops of the turrets are covered with half -inch plating worked upon beams. The breastwork stands upon the midship portion of the upper deck, and is 112 ft long, 34ft wide, and 6ft deep. Its ends, which are circular, are protected with 9-io. armor, and the remainder with 6-iu., the top being covered with two thicknesses of half -inch plating. Within the breastwork are the funnel, air-shaft, turret, machinery, steering-wheel?, cooking ranges, antl the hatchways leading directly to the ammunition store and the, lower deck. The upper deck, outside" the breastwork, is covered with two thicknesses of plating, and is pierced for three skylights. Each of these skylights is surrounded with armor, and is provided with an armor-plated cover for use in action. The amount of free-board given to the Cerberus is 3ft, the side being covered with armor from stem to stern to about 4ft below the water-line. This armor is in two strakes, the upper one being Sin thick, and the lower one Gin, both tapering towards the extremities of the vessel. Behind the armor comes the usual teak backing and skin plating. The armor and backing are worked upon a recessed armor shelf, so as to make the line of the side a continuous curve,' as iv broadside vessels, ano* contrary to the practice adopted in the American monitors aud theGlatton. Above the turrets is a hurricane deck, extending the whole length of the breastwork, with the interior of which it communicates by water-tight iron trunks. All openings in this and the other decks are protected by iron gratings from vertical fire. A pilot-house is erected on the top of the breastwork, and extends 4ft above the hurricane deck ; its sides are protected with 9-in. armor, and its ends with 8-in. The frames of the vessel are of the combined longitudinal and bracket description now usually adopted in the Royal Navy. She has also a' complete double bottom, and numerous transverse watertight bulkheads. The Cerberus will be propelled by twin screws, driven by engines of 250-horse power nominal, constructed by Messrs Maudslay. She is expected to attain a speed of about eight knots, high speed not being considered essential in a vessel intended for such duties as she wiil have to perform. The turret guns will have an uninterrupted arc "f fire, since the vessel is entirely devoid of rigging of any description, and even the boa*, davits can be lowered out of the way. The arrangemt nts for ventilation are very perfect. . Fresh air is admitted by means of the aif -shaft and of the openings in the deck over the stockpile. There k a fau at the bottom of the air-shaft, ai.d another at the fore end of ■; he stoke-hole, b >th worked by steam. These will drive the air through main pipes running fore and aft, from which branches are led wherever required. One peculiarity- of this vessel nowadays is that she is not a ram, properly speaking, hut still, as she has a perfectly upright stem, she could be used for ramming. The absence of the projecting prow ought to be an advantage, 80 far as speed is concerned, since there can be no doubt that the enormous wave which it raises somewhat impedes a vessel's progresp. We must not forget to add that the Cerberus is fitted with that valuable invention the balanced rudder. — Pall Mall Gazette.