There are also some modern corvettes in this navy which may be classed in point of speed with the above frigates; these are,
GERMAN UNARMORED CORVETTES.
| Name of Ship. | Displacement. | Indicated Horse-power. | Speed. | Principal Armament. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons. | Knots. | Guns. | ||
| Alexandrine | 2330 | 2400 | 15[38] | 10 of 4 tons. |
| Arcona | 2330 | 2400 | 15 | 10 ” 4 ” |
| Carola | 2160 | 2100 | 14 | 10 ” 4 ” |
| Marie | 2160 | 2100 | 13½ | 10 ” 4 ” |
| Olga | 2160 | 2100 | 14 | 10 ” 4 ” |
| Sophie | 2160 | 2100 | 14 | 10 ” 4 ” |
| Freya | 2000 | 2500 | 15 | 8 ” 4 ” |
There are about a dozen other smaller and slower gun-vessels and gun-boats in the German navy, but they need not be considered here. As to sea-going torpedo-vessels, the German government took the lead in the production of this type of ship, and had the Ziethen launched at Blackwall as a despatch-vessel ten years ago, for a torpedo armament, and with a speed of 16 knots—an example of naval enterprise worth remembering to the credit of Germany. The Bletz and Pfeil, of 50 per cent. larger tonnage, have since been produced in Germany, but only with a speed about equal to the Ziethen’s. Two torpedo gun-vessels of 855 tons and nearly 2000 horse-power, and 15 knots speed (of which vessels the Admiralty Return makes no mention), were launched at Bremen in 1884. The following is the Admiralty statement as to German torpedo “boats:” Completed, 58 (43 over 100 feet in length). Completing and building, 2 torpedo division boats; 30 torpedo-boats over one hundred feet in length.—Total, 90.
Money was voted in 1884-85 for seventy torpedo-boats. When these have been built, the number of German torpedo-boats will be one hundred and five, and these are to be increased to one hundred and fifty.
Reviewing the condition of the German navy as set forth above, it becomes obvious that for some years past the policy of the imperial German government (contrary to that of the Prussian government, which, before the empire, built several large and powerful sea-going ships) has been to avoid all competition in naval matters with the great naval powers, and to apply its moderate expenditure to vessels of a defensive class, such as armored gun-boats and coast torpedo-boats—a policy which, in view of the limited interests of Germany in the Mediterranean and across the seas, has much to commend it.[39]
The Austrian government also, which with less necessity for naval strength now than it had when it possessed Lombardy and Venice, has slackened greatly in the production of iron-clads of late years, and has but two, and these of very moderate size, under completion. These are the barbette-battery ships Kronprinz Rudolph, of 6900 tons, and the Kronprinzessin Erzherzogin Stefanie, of 5150 tons. The former vessel is to carry 12-inch armor, and to be armed principally with three 48-ton guns; and the latter to carry 9-inch armor, and to be armed with two such guns. There is much uncertainty about even the intended speed of these vessels, neither the French Carnet nor the Universal Register stating the speed, while the Admiralty assigns a speed of 14 knots to the Rudolph only. But while the Carnet gives the indicated horse-power of each as 6500, the Register gives that of the Rudolph as 8000, and that of the smaller vessel as much as 11,000. If these latter figures be correct, the Rudolph will exceed 14 knots and the Ferdinand 16.[40] Austria already possesses two powerful iron-clads in the Custoza and the Tegetthoff, but her Kaiser, Lissa, Ferdinand Max, and Hapsburg are old wooden vessels, lightly armored and armed, and need not be further considered. Besides the iron-clads already named, she has likewise the three iron central-battery and belted ships Don Juan d’Austria, Kaiser Max, and Prinz Eugen, each of 3500 tons, 2700 indicated horse-power, and 13½ knots speed, with 8-inch armor (the thickest) on the belt, and each carrying eight guns of 9 tons. The unarmored vessels of Austria (other than those classed as torpedo craft) are numerous, but most of them are small and slow. Those of thirteen knots and upward are but three in number, the Laudon, Radetzky, frigates of 3380 tons and 14 knots speed, and the wooden gun-vessel Hum, of 890 tons and 13¼ knots speed. Austria is providing herself with several of Sir W. Armstrong & Co.’s light steel vessels of eighteen knots speed for torpedo service, of which she has one, the Panther, completed, and two others, the Leopard and Seehund (all of 1550 tons), under construction. She had also four 14-knot torpedo-vessels, built at Pola and Trieste. Of torpedo “boats” she has the following: Completed, First class, 135 feet in length, 2; second class, over 100 feet in length, 18; third class, from 85 to 90 feet in length, 8. Incompleted, First class, 135 feet in length, 2; second class, over 100 feet in length, 8.—Total, 38.[41]
The navy of Turkey, which was formidable a few years ago, possessing as it did some of the most powerful and efficient iron-clads in the world at that period, both large and small, is rapidly declining in importance in presence of the powerful ships constructed or constructing in England, France, Russia (Black Sea), and Italy. The Turkish navy would not have held its high position so long had it not been for the foresight of the late Sultan Abdul-Aziz, having all his armored ships built of iron. There is not a wood-built iron-clad in the Turkish navy. The largest Turkish armored ship, and one still very powerful, is the frigate Mesoodiyeh, of 9000 tons, built at Blackwall, which in her main features resembles the German König Wilhelm, being, like her, of English design, but instead of having eighteen main-deck guns of fourteen tons, she has twelve of eighteen tons, and her battery is consequently of less length. Her speed is fourteen knots. Next to her comes the Hemidiyeh, launched in 1885 at Constantinople, of similar type to the other vessel, but of only 6700 tons, and therefore carrying but 9-inch armor, and ten guns of fourteen tons, and steaming at a knot less speed. Turkey has no less than thirteen other iron-clads, ranging in tonnage from 2000 to over 6000, in speed from 11 to 14 knots, and in armor from 5½ to 9 inches. The most notable of these, if I may be allowed as its designer to say so,[42] has been the Feth-i-Bulend (“Great Causer of Conquest”), built at the Thames Iron-works in 1869. This little vessel, although of only 2700 tons displacement, carried a 9-inch armor-belt, and a main-deck battery of 6-inch armor protecting four 12-ton guns, placed at the four oblique sides of an octagonal battery, and steamed at fourteen knots—a speed unexampled at that time for an iron-clad of her small tonnage. It is a well-known fact that whenever of late years Turkey has had naval work to do, the Feth-i-Bulend, on account of her speed, handiness, and general efficiency, was selected by the late lamented Hobart Pasha to perform its most active part.
Of unarmored vessels Turkey has few worth mentioning as fighting ships, beyond three composite corvettes now under construction at Constantinople, one of 1960 and one of 1160 tons, both of which are to steam at fourteen knots, their armament consisting of eight and six light guns respectively; and one other of 670 tons which is to steam fifteen knots[43] and to carry five light and four machine guns. A steel torpedo-vessel which is to steam at twenty-one knots, and three torpedo cruisers complete the list of new vessels laid down. Turkey has six torpedo “boats” one hundred feet long, built in France; six more of larger size, one hundred and twenty-five feet long, building in Germany; and five of one hundred feet, building in Turkey and France—in all, seventeen torpedo-boats.