THE WORLD’S WAR-SHIPS. 
23 
line of keel, but are polygonal in plan instead of circular, or rather 
pear-shaped. 
The success of these ships have led to an improved type, that of the 
Royal Sovereign class, including., besides that ship, the Ramilies, 
Empress of India, Repulse, Resolution, Revenge, and Royal Oak. 
These ships are 380 feet long in place of 325 feet; their beam 
being at the same time increased to 75 feet from 68 feet, and their 
total displacement rising from 10,300 tons to 14,150. Their maximum 
speed has been increased from 16*75 to 17*5, though their coal endur¬ 
ance at 10 knot speed falls from 8500 knots to 5000. The armament is 
the same, four 67-ton B.L. guns, except that in place of six 6-inch Q.F. 
they mount in all 10 of these weapons with a larger number of smaller 
guns. In fact it is doubtless the need of being able to deliver a rapid 
fire against small craft, that brought the Admiral class and then the 
Royal Sovereign into existence. The following disposition of armament 
was laid down 
“ 1. That there should be four heavy guns placed in two protected 
stations situated at a considerable distance apart, each pair 
of guns having an arc of training of about 260° equally 
divided on each side of the line of keel. All four of these 
guns to be available on each broadside, 
2. That the greater portion of the auxiliary or secondary 
armament should be placed in a long central battery 
situated between the two heavy gun stations, and so dis¬ 
posed that there should be practically no interference with 
the fire of any one gun by that of any other. 
3. That in view of the development of high explosives, it was 
desirable to secure the widest possible distribution of the 
guns in the auxiliary armament; and that it was preferable 
to mount the auxiliary armament on two decks, one of 
them being the spar deck, rather than to carry the guns 
chiefly between decks.” 
Hence we find the barbettes are about 225 feet apart instead of about 
160 feet, while four of the 6-inch are on the main deck and six on the 
upper, the corner guns of these being able to fire directly fore and aft. 
With regard to armour, the belt has been extended to two-thirds of 
the ships length, thus reaching to the outer edge of the barbettes, 
across which they extend in athwart ship bulkheads. Above the belt, 
which is 18 inches, is armour of five inches, which protects the 
secondary battery on the main deck. A 3-inch steel deck runs the 
entire length of the ship, fitting along the top of the belt. The 
turrets are protected by 17 inches, and enclose not merely the turret 
bases, but also the upper portion of the ammunition hoists and loading 
appliances. They will be easily marked from the Admiral class. 
Turning back now to the turret-ships, an advance on the armament 
of the Colossus was needed. It was decided to build two ships for 
two 110-ton B.L. guns, hence the Victoria and Sans Pareil were 
designed. Having only one turret it had of necessity to be placed in 
