IRON-CLADS.

Southland Times, Issue 1009, 24 August 1868, Page 3

IRON-CLADS.

An important addition has been made to our iron-clad fleet by the floating on May 25th of the Monarch, turret-ship, 5100 tons, 1100 horse-power. This was the first turret-ship built at Chatham. The Monarch will be a formidable vessel, and, it is expected, of high speed. This ship, built from the designs of Mr E. J. Reed, chief constructer of the navy, was commenced on October 22nd, 1866, so that she has been about one year and seven months in being brought forward sufficiently to allow of her jeiog floated 1 out of dock. The total weight of the ; armour on her sides will be upwards of • 1100 tons; the two turrets will have plates weighing in all 177 tons, in ten- • inch and eight-inch plates, the thicker • plates being placed round the ports of 5 the guns. The ten-inch plates will be laid on a backing of teak timber eight inches thick, while the thinner plates will have a backing of teak of ten inches ; behind this will be an iron plating of •§ of an inch in thickness, fastened to seven- , inch girders, with an inner plating of f 3 of an inch in thichness : the total thick--3 ness of iron and wood in the turrets will s be 2 feet 2| inches. The plates on the l. broadside of the vessel are five tiers 7 i inches thick. -The following are the o principal dimensions of the ship : — Length ;. over all, 338 feet ; length between the o perpendiculars, 330 feet; extreme breadth if 57 feet 6 inches ; depth in hold, 18 feel 8 inches ; burden in tons, 5098 70-94 i- The guns, few in number, will be o q heavy calibre. There will be two guns of 25 tons in each turret, and three o o 6^ tons, two at the bow, and one at thf r- stern. The task of floating out wai p most successfully performed, without i mishap. The christening of the vesse h was performed by Lady Cecilia Bingham »s — • English Paper.'