The English development closes with the gun-boats whose types come more directly from those commenced during the Crimean war. The displacement of these vessels ranges from 400 to 900 tons, with a diversity that scarcely admits of a distinct classification. The American gun-boats are reductions of the Iroquois class of corvettes, exceeding the English in average displacement, or rather showing no types below 500 tons. The French gun-boats are more closely allied to English than to American types, although there is but little difference between the three, the English showing greater diversity, the Americans greater measurements, and the French greater precision of rating.
Chart of Architectural Development.—
Unarmored Vessels.
CONSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Previous to 1857 wood construction was universal in the building of war-vessels. About this date England introduced iron frames in her first armored vessels, passing rapidly to the full development of iron construction in armored ships, composite construction in the medium and light classes of unarmored vessels, and iron or steel sheathed with wood in the first and second unarmored rates. By 1867 the old wood construction had been entirely discarded.
French Corvette La Clocheterie.
(Wooden System.)
