1894.] on the Making of a Modem Fleet. 211 



supplies and rate of coal consumption. By the use of higher steam- 

 pressures and greater expansion the rate of coal consumption has 

 been greatly reduced in the last thirty years. A first-class battle- 

 ship of 1860 required to burn about 5 to 5 J lbs. of coal per indicated 

 horse-power per hour, whereas a ship of similar class in the Naval 

 Defence fleet burns 2 to 2J lbs. only. 



On the other hand, in recent ships great demands are made on coal 

 for various auxiliary purposes formerly non-existent. Large quantities 

 of sea water have to be distilled for use in the boilers. Internal 

 electric lighting makes considerable inroads on the coal. The multi- 

 plication of auxiliary machinery for all purposes does the same, whereas 

 in earlier ships most of the operations now done by such machinery 

 were performed by manual power. 



Taking a broad view of the situation, it may be said that modern 

 ships have much larger coal endurance, and can steam over longer 

 distances. When cruising at sea or making passages under ordinary 

 conditions war-ships proceed at moderate speeds. Comparisons of 

 coal-endurances are, therefore, commonly made at the speed of 10 

 knots. A battle-ship of the first class built in 1861 carried 750 

 tons of coal, and could keep the sea steaming continuously at 10 

 knots for six days. She had auxiliary sail-power also, and could 

 economise coal under favourable circumstances of wind and weather. 

 A first class battleship of the Naval Defence fleet leaves port with 

 nearly twice as much coal on board, and can steam continuously at 

 10 knots for twenty to twenty-one days before her coal is exhausted. 

 She has no sail power ; her machinery and propellers are duplicated 

 for the sake'of greater safety against disablement and better utilisation 

 of the engine-power at high speeds. 



The armaments of modern ships have been made proportionately 

 heavier, not so much in the way of increasing the weight of the most 

 powerful guns, as by developing the secondary armaments of quick- 

 firing guns and increasing the supplies of ammunition. It will be 

 remarked that the heaviest guns mounted in the Naval Defence fleet 

 are 67 tons in weight, whereas preceding ships of less size carry 

 110 ton guns. Indeed, had there been a satisfactory 12-inch gun of 

 about 50 tons available in 1889 it would probably have been adopted 

 by preference. Since that date such a gun has been produced, and 

 has been made the principal armament of the Majestic class. 



A distinctive feature in recent battle-ships is the great power and 

 efficient protection of the secondary armament of quick-firing guns. 

 It is within the truth to say that with this portion of the armament 

 alone, a ship of the Royal Sovereign class could make a good fight, 

 having regard to the rapidity of fire and the energy of the projectiles. 

 A 6-inch quick-firing gun delivering five or six aimed projectiles per 

 minute, with energies sufficient to perforate a foot of iron armour 

 at close range, is clearly a formidable weapon. 



Armour protection in the Naval Defence ships has been most care- 

 fully considered. No other feature in war-ship construction has given 



