THE CERBERUS MONITOR.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 809, 4 May 1871, Page 2

THE CERBERUS MONITOR.

The arrival in Hobson's Bay on Sunday, the 14th, of the Cerberus monitor will be generally accepted as extremely welcome news. It is now over four years since we got the first intimation that we should have her for our protection, and at last she lies at anchor in our waters, one of the most powerful vessels for harbour defence in the world. The eminent authorities on the subject in the Imperial naval servico have unanimously agreed that she represents the latest and best achievements in science as directed to such a subject; and that even without any other harbour defence whatever, she would be in herself a match for the strongest expeditionary attacking force which it is reasonable to look for here. The following is the construction and armament of the Cerberus:—> Her keel was laid down in October, ISG7, but without further preface we give her dimensions as follows : Length between the perpendiculars, 225 feet; Length of keel for tonnage, 195 ft 7fin j Breadth, extreme, and for tonnage, 45 feet; Depth in hold, 16ft 6in; Burden in tons, 0.M., No. 2,107 23-94. She has for her twin propellers two pairs of horizontal double-piston-rod low-pressure marine steam-engines. Their collective force is 250 h.p. nominal, but working up to 1369 h.p. Her propellers are made to make 100 revolutions iu a minute which is equal to a speed of 9f kuots an hour. The guns are of the latest Woolwich pattern, lOin in bore, are muzzle loading, carry 4001b shot and shell, and weigh each 28 tons. The turret will revolve once in a minute, and thus the guns can be fired as fast as they are loaded. Every aid ingenuity can suggest te ease the work of loading, &c, has been supplied. Provision is made for the recoil of the guns when fired to bo broken by india rubber. The common charge of powder is 451b, the full battering charge is GOlb, and when 12 rounds were fired out of them on trial everything was found to work easily. They will hit at four miles' distance, but are calculated to do good execution at three and a-half uiiies. The stores for them consist of 3GO common shells, 24 shrapnel shells, and 3G were shot, being 100 rouud rounds for each gun. The weight of the broadside of the Cerberus may bo therefore stated at the enormous amount of 16,0001b. In the pilothouse are voice pipes and telegraphs, leading to every part of the vessel, and thus in time of action the ship can be covered, and the whole ship's company directed, without a single person showing himself to the enemy ; except that one or two men are needed to come out when the anchor is lifted. The Cerberus can from first to last present to an enemy a surface impregnable to any but the best class of artillery in the world, and while her own guns are firing with the utmost rapidity supposing even she were boarded by 100 men, they wou dbe utterly powerless to do the vessel aly harm, or even to check her firing for one moment. In conclusion, we may state that, according to rough calculation, the entire cost of the Cerberus from end to end may be reckoned at £150,000.