THE DREADNOUGHT.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 185, 17 January 1877, Page 2

THE DREADNOUGHT.

lOI.S. Dkkadxouoht, 4, double-screw iron turret ship armour-plated, in charge of Staff-Cammander Thomas 11. Hayman, will leave Pembroke this day, weather permitting, under convoy of the Valorous, to be prepared for the pendant. With the exception of the Inflexiole, which is far from complete, the Dreadnought is the most powerful ironclad in the world. She was designed and ordered to be built at Pembroke in 1869, her name being originally the Fury, which was afterwards changed to her present one. Her displacement when ready for sea will be 10,886 tons, which is 1,700 lons more than the Thunderer. Messrs Humphreys and Tennant, who constructed the engines of the Thunderer, are also the makers of those on board the Dreadnought. They work up to 8000 horse-power, and cost upwards of £■ 107,000. Her armament will consist of four 38-ton guns, to be mounted in two turrets, and throwing 32001b5. weight of metal, to add to her offensive power she is armed with a ram. Nearly 3500 tons of armour plate are used in the endeavor to make the various vital parts of the ship impervious to shot. The plating on her sides varies from 10 inches to 14 inches in thickness, that on her turrets is 11 inches, and On her decks 2 inches to 3 inches. The teak backing is 18 inches thick, with an inner skin of armour of Ji-inch plates. The greater part of the armour-plate is placed about the centre of the ship, and the water-line is protected throughout the whole length, and for live or six feet below. The total cost of the Dreadnought, when fully equipped, will be close to three-quarters of a million.— United Service Gaiette.