LATEST IMPROVEMENTS. 



145 



leading feature in this vessel is the situation of the turrets. In most turret ships afloat 

 these batteries are placed on the middle line, and in consequence only one-half the guns 

 can be brought to bear on an enemy either right ahead or directly astern. In the 

 Inflexible the turrets rise up on either side of the ship en echelon within the citadel walls, 

 the fore turret being on the port side and the after turret on the starboard side. By 

 these means the whole of the four guns can be discharged simultaneously at a ship right 



THE "INFLEXIBLE." 



ahead or right astern, or, in pairs, towards any point. What vessel could withstand such a 

 h're rightly directed ? 



As we have seen, the forms and proportions of ironclads have undergone enormous 

 changes from the days when the success of the plated floating batteries at Kinburn called 

 the special attention of Europe to the possibility of successfully protecting vessels in the 

 same way. The shot of the enemy had no effect on these batteries. A special corre- 

 spondent of the Times said : " The balls hopped back off their sides without leaving an 

 impression, save such as a pistol-ball makes on the target of a shooting gallery. The shot 

 could be heard distinctly striking the sides of the battery with a ' sharp smack/ and then 

 59 



