THE ENGLISH NAVY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1104, 14 April 1880, Page 4

THE ENGLISH NAVY.

Official returns lately prepared and issued show that within the past halfyear eight vessels of various tonnage and power have been launched, and that at the present moment there are 26 others under construction at the various Government dockyards or by private shipbuilders. The vessels now beiDg fitted or just ready for the pennant include the second two of four double-screw iron gunboats of 264 tons, with engines of 164 horse power, to be armed with one gun each, built at Pembroke, and named the Griper and Tickler; a sailing brig of eight guns, and 510 tons burden, named the Pilot, built at Pembroke, a sister ship to the Nautilus; the first three of four composite screw sloops, each of 1124 tons burden, with engines of 900-horse power, to carry six guna, named the Kingfisher, Phoenix, and Miranda, the first named built at Sheerness, and the other two at Devonport; a double-screw composite gun vessel of 770 tons and 870horse power engines, named the Swift, and constructed by the Thames Shipbuilding company at Blackwall j this vessel, which is 165 ft in length, with a breadth of beam of 26ft, is of very light draught, and of particular rig ; and a double screw iron armour-plated turret ship of 8492 tons, with engines of 6000 horse power to be armed with four heavy guns, constructed at Chatham, and named the Agamemnon. The vessels now in hand some of which are in forward state for launching, comprise a double screw steel armorplated turret ship of 2150 tons burden, to be supplied with engines of 6000 horse power, under construction at Portsmouth, and to be named the Colossus; five composite screw gunboats, of 455 tons burden, each to be armed with four guns, and to be fitted with engines of 360 horse power, to be named the Banterer, Grappler, Redwing, Wasp, and Wrangler (the Redwing is being built at Pembroke Dockyard, and is to be fitted for Coastguard service ; the other four are under construction by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company at Barrow-in-Furness); three screw composite gun vessels, each of 774 tons, with engines of 750 horse-power, to carry three guns each, and to be named the Algerine, Rambler, and Ranger (the first named is building at Belfast by Messrs Harland and Wolff, and the other two by Messrs J. Elder and Co., of Govan, Glasgow,) two steel double-screw gunboats of 253 tons each, and engines of 168 horse-power, to be armed with only one gun each, and building at Pembroke Dockyard, to be named Bouncer and Insolent; three screw composite gunboats of 455 tons, to carry four guns each, and to be fitted with 350 horse-power engines, to be named the Bullfrog, Cockchafer and Espior, all under construction at Pembroke; a composite screw sloop of 3124 tons, to be supplied with engines of 900 horse power, to cary six guns, building at Chatham and named the Doterel; a double-screw composite gun vessel of 770 tons, and 870 horse-power engines, sister ship to the Swift, recently launched, to be named, and building by the Thames Shipbuilding Company; screw corvette of steel and iron cased with wood of 2383 tons to be fitted with engines of 2300 horse-power, designed to carry 14 guns, to be named the Constance, and under construction at the Chatham Dockyard ; a double-screw steel armour-plated turret ship of ship of 9150 tons, to be fitted with engines of 6000 horse-power, building at Pembroke, and to be named the Majestic; armor-plated torpedo ram with displacement of 2640 tons, and to be furnished with engines of 5500 horse-power, building at Chatham Dockyard, and to be named the Polyphemus (when completed this vessel will be very different to any other ship in the Royal Navy, being constructed somewhat on the plan of the cigar ship ; she is to be provided with a ram of a very formidable description, coming to a sharp point and projecting several feet from her stem ; she is being built upon a slip, so that the majority of her plates will have to be put on after she is launched); two steel and iron screw corvettes to be casqd in wood, of 2362 tons burden each, to be fitted with engines ef 2300 horse-power, designed to carry 14 guns each, bailding at Portsmouth, and to be named the Canada and Cordelia; two composite screw sloops, of 1324 tons, to carry six guns each, and to be furnished with engines of 900 horse-power, building at Devonport, and to be named the Espiegle and Mutine; a paddle steam vessel of 540 tons, to carry six guns, and to be fitted with 600 horse-power engines, to be called the Niger, and building by Messrs J Elder and Co., of Govan, Glasgow ; a double screw steel armor-plated turret. ship, of 6200 tons, to have engines of 4;500-horse power, building at Chatham, to be called the Conqueror. This vessel is to be entirely coated with ateel armor, and she will carry only two heavey guns. In the wake of her turret guns and in exposed positions her armor will be 12in in thickness.