Navies of the world

by Edward W. Very

SHANNON.

Partial armored belt and partial spar-deck breastwork. The belt is carried around the stern as a protection to the steering-gear, but ends just abaft the fore-mast in an armored bulkhead, which rises sheer to the height of the spar-deck rail. From the foot of this bulkhead an iron deck is carried forward to the stem, ending as a support to the ram. A breastwork on the spar-deck forward forms a protection for the bow-guns, the topgallant forecastle being carried to its after-edge. The corners of the breastwork are cut for angular ports, and the rail forward is carried back parallel to the keel. The rail aft is recessed and cut back for after angular ports, but the guns are not protected by armor. An armored conning tower is placed at the forward part of the breastwork. A single gun is used aft, working on a turn-table for shifting from one port to the other.

NELSON. NORTHAMPTON.

Partial armored belt and partial forward and after spar-deck breastworks. The armored belt extends for three fifths of the length of the ship amidships, ending in armored athwartship bulkheads, which rise to the height of the spar-deck beams. A heavy iron deck prolongs the lower edge of the belt to the bow and stern, protecting the steering-gear aft and forming a support for the ram forward. The guns are all carried on a covered deck, giving a flush spar-deck. The breastworks on the main-deck at the bulkheads form a side protection for the forward and after guns, the corners being cut for angular ports and the side recessed for fore-and-aft fire. These ships have twin screws and an armored longitudinal bulkhead similar to the Alexandra.

NELSON.

MONARCH. NEPTUNE.

Armored belt and revolving Coles turrets on the spar-deck. The belt rises to the height of the main-deck beams, and amidships is carried up to the spar-deck beams to cover the lower part of the turrets and machinery. An armored bulkhead rises well forward, forming on the spar-deck a forecastle breastwork for the bow-guns. The spar-deck rail in wake of the turrets may be dropped to open their fire. The Neptune has no protected stern-fire. The belt of the Monarch is carried up aft to the height of the spar-deck beams, forming a breastwork for the stern-guns. ([See Hercules].) The Neptune is the late Independenzia.

MONARCH.