EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS TO THE ENGLISH NAVY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 137, 10 June 1881, Page 4

EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS TO THE ENGLISH NAVY.

As a result of the panic which was recently created at home in consequence of tbe extensive purchase by tbe Russian Government of fast steamers in

America, apparently for the purpose of harassiog British merchantmen at a time when the outbreak of hostilities appeared imminent between: the two countries, the English Government will shortly be enabled to formidably augment their naval power by the addition of thirty vessels of various tonnage and power, ranging from the useful little gunboat to the unwieldy turret ship, of a tonnage slightly under 10 000 tons A due proportion of these vessels, several of which are now afloat, are especially adapted for the convoy of merchantmen,* and the partial or total suppreseion of those pests of naval warfare — privateers. They are of a tonnage ranging from 400 to over 1000 tons, composite built, acd furnished with engines capable of enabling a high rate of speed to be attained, and as they would be heavily armed would be more than equal to the class of vessels which is at present available by any other Power for privateering purposes. The most noticeable features in the construction of the heavier of these late additions to the Royal Navy will be the substitution of steel for iron in the armor-plaating, and the immense engine-power in proportion to tonnage. From official returns whioh appeared in the " Times," we have gleaned the following particulars : Eight vessels were launched during the last six months, and are at present being fitted for service. These include two composite screw sloops of 1137 tons, and 900 horse power, lo carry six gunp, named the EspiegJe and Mutine, built at Davenport ; five composite Berew gunboats — the Banterer, Grap» pier, Wasp, and Wrangler, each of 461 tons, and 360 horse-power, to oarry four guns, built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Comp»Dy ; the Espoir, of similar construction, built at Pembroke dockyard ; and a sorew composite vessel, tbe Algerioe, of 774 tone, with engines of 750 borsa power, to oarry three gu&s, by Messrs Harland and Wolff, of Belfast. Tbe vessels now ordered or under construction are — The Hero and Hyacinth, at Davenport, and tbe Satellite at Sbeerness, composite screw sloops of 1420 tons, and 950 horse-power, and to carry six guns, at Messrs Samads Bros, of Poplar ; there are tbe Raven, Starling, and Stork, of 461 toDs and 360 horse-power, of composite build, and to oarry four guns ; also, a composite paddle steamer, tbe Triton, of 400 tons and 350 horsepower. The remaining vessels, which are now in a forward slate, comprise a double-screw steel armor-plated barbette ship twin screw, of 9,150 tons, with engines of 7000 horse-power, to be furnished with ten gone, to be named the ColHngwood, and building at Pembroke ; three doable-screw steel second-class steam cruisers, to carry each 10 guvs, of 3748 tons, and engines of 5000 horse-power, to be named the Arethusa, Leander, and Phaeton, under construction at Glasgow by Messrs Napier and Sons; two steel double-Borew gunboats of 254 tons each, and engines of 168 horse-power, to be armed with only gun eacb, and bnilding at Pembroke Dockyard, to be named the Bouncer and Insolent; two screw corvettes of steel and irbo, cased with wood, each of 2280 tone, with engines of 2300 horae-power, to carry 14 guns each, building at Portsmouths, to be named the Canada and Cordelis; two double screw steel armourpl&ted turret ships, of 9146 tons burden, to be fitted with engines of 6000 horse-power —one building at Pembroke, to be named the Majestic, and tbe other at Portsmouth, to be named the Colossus, each designed to carry six guns; two screw composite gunboats, ol 455 tons, .each to carry four gnns, with 360 horse power engine?, sister ships to the Eepoir recently launched, to be named: tbe Bullfrog and Cockobafer, under construction at Pembroke Dockyard; b double screw steel armour-plate turret ibip and ram, of 6200 tons, to be supplied with engines of 4500 horse- power, to be named the Conqueror, and under construction at Chatham. This vessel, wbioh will be entirely coated with steel armour, will carry four heavy guns; in the wake of ber turret guns and in Other exposed positions tbe thickness of ber armour will be 12in. She ie being built on tbe Hoes of tbe Rupert, and will probably be ready for launch- ' ing this year. The last, and one of tbe most formidable on tbe list, is a double ■grew steel armour-plated torpedo ram, with a displacement of 2610 tons, and to; be fitted with engines of 5500 horse power, to be named tbe Polyphemus, tad under construction at Chatham Dockyard. This vessel, when finished, will be totally different from any other teasel at present belonging to tbe Royal Navy. She is being built somewhat on tbe plan of the cig*r-sbip, and will be foroisbed with a ram of a formidable description, coming to a point and projecting several feet from her stem. As ■be is being built upon & slip, it will be necessary to have the majority of her plates put on after she is launched. Her cigar-sbape form, which in ordinary oircumatancei will be submerged, will not be heavily plated, but ber top or tortoise-like back will be adequately protected with steel plates.