ii2 Book of Steamships 



In a heavy sea they were extremely 

 " wet bobs ", owing to their low free- 

 board. For many years, however, they 

 were considered some of the best vessels 

 in our fleet. With the introduction of 

 these three ships we see sails disappearing 

 from our warships. Instead of canvas, 

 the masts were provided with fighting- 

 tops, equipped with quick-firing small 

 guns. With a tonnage of close on 10,000 

 the huge battleships of to-day were fore- 

 shadowed very clearly. The strength of 

 the armour and its backing varied from 

 12 to 14 ins., the turret being more 

 strongly protected than the rest of the 

 vessel. 



The big guns varied in weight from 

 33 to 38 tons, and were, like the rest of 

 the period, muzzle-loaders. These guns 

 were really powerful, though perhaps not 

 in comparison with present-day weapons. 

 We learn that at 2,000 yards a shell 

 weighing 809 Ibs. could penetrate armour 

 and backing 16 ins. thick. 



