THE WORLD'S WAR-SHIPS. 
21 
The citadel being only 104 feet instead of 110 feet. The deduction in 
tonnage being nearly 3000 tons. The cork is carried further fore and 
aft. Their armament is 38-ton guns in place of 80-ton. They are 
easily distinguished from their larger predecessor by only having one 
funnel placed in the centre of the citadel. Their maximum of armour 
is 18 inches. 
Having proved successful, these two vessels were followed by the 
Colossus and Edinburgh. Of the same size, and carrying guns of 
much the same weight but improved type—12-inch B.L.—they are 
able to steam continuously 6200 knots to the 4100 of the Ajax and 
her sister, and a maximum of speed of 15*5 knots in place of 13*25 ; 
partly due to improved engines, and partly to an increase of length 
brought about by steel being used for their construction. Their is no 
particular reason in discriminating between these last four ships. 
Against them all the object to secure is a hot shell fire. Their sand¬ 
wich-backed plates would be wisely in most cases left alone. 
It is necessary now to make a digression and allude to two families 
of ships that have sprung from the mastless turret-ships. 
One has already been spoken of, the British turret-ram Hotspur. 
In 1874 she was followed by the Rupert, a vessel that we have up to 
the present taken no account of. The light upper works are the same 
in both ships, but a hurricane deck was erected abaft the turret in the 
later boat, while the turret was made to revolve, and the armoured 
breastwork was not extended across the deck. The broadside of the 
ship is protected with heavy armour plates ; above the water-line and 
on the turret they are 12 inches thick. Her engines have lately been 
renewed propelling her 13*5 knots, while she now carries in her turret 
two 9*2-inch guns. But her chief weapon for attack and defence is 
her ram, which projects some nine or 10 feet from the bow. Having 
only one turret, which cannot fire astern, she is provided with two 
recessed ports for stern fire, and these serve to distinguish her. 
In 1882 she was followed by the Conqueror, and in 1887 by the 
Hero, two sister ships. The first of these was built as an improved 
Rupert, of steel, 6200 tons displacement instead of 5500; 20 feet longer 
and five feet more beam. The citadel or breastwork again extends across 
the deck, but it is no longer rectangular, its corners being rounded off. 
It only encloses the turret, conning tower, and funnel. It is protected 
by 12 inches to 15 inches of steel-faced iron, and is covered by a deck 
nearly two inches thick of steel. The armour belt on the rest of the 
ship varies from 11 to eight inches. Between the turret and the 
chimney is the conning tower, from which to the stern is-an upper 
deck. She has two recessed stern ports. The Times says of her :— 
“ The leading features of this ship may be said to be, first, that 
the protection of her vital parts against an enemy's projec¬ 
tiles is so ample, that if the stern and upper works and 
even the citadel should be damaged, stability would be still 
preserved; second, that the unarmoured structure, rising 
high above the submerged vessel, affords comfortable 
quarters and removes the objections raised against low 
freeboard monitors. Altogether, the ‘ Conqueror is the 
