These vessels, with the exception of the Monadnock, have their machinery in place; the Miantonomoh has her side armor on; the others are finished as to their hulls, except the interior fittings, side armor, and turrets. The estimated cost to complete them is about four millions of dollars. When we consider the very slight defence that the country now possesses in the single-turreted Monitors before alluded to, it would seem imperative to complete with all despatch these vessels, which would represent a force of real power.
These vessels are of iron as to the hulls, but they will be armored with steel or compound armor, and will be armed with the most powerful modern artillery that can be accommodated in their turrets. Their names appear in the navy list as “building.” They were launched in 1883.
U. S. FRIGATE “TENNESSEE.”
The double-decked ship Tennessee was the only frigate, or “first-rate,” borne, up to within a few months, on the list of vessels of the navy as available for sea service. She was for many years in commission as the flag-ship of the North Atlantic Station, but this year she reached that condition when the twenty per cent. law consigned her to “ordinary,” from which she has lately been removed under the operation of the hammer of the auctioneer. She was launched in 1865. Her length was 335 feet, beam 45 feet, draught of water 21.8 feet. She had a displacement of 4840 tons, and attained a speed of 11 knots with an indicated horse-power of 1900. The capacity of her coal-bunkers was 381 tons. Her battery consisted of two 8-inch muzzle-loading rifles (converted), sixteen 9-inch smooth-bores, and four 80-pounders.
The vessels next in order of construction are those of the Adams class, small sloops-of-war, which were launched in 1874.
U. S. SLOOP-OF-WAR “ADAMS.”
These vessels were built of wood. They are convenient and handy, and perform the duty required of a cruiser in time of peace. Engine-power is developed in them to a higher degree than in those preceding them, but in all else they are merely a repetition of earlier constructions. The Adams was launched in 1874. Her length is 185 feet, beam 35 feet, draught of water 14.3 feet. She has a displacement of 1375 tons, and attains a speed of 11.3 knots with an indicated horse-power of 715. The capacity of her coal-bunkers is 140 tons. Her battery consists of one 11-inch and four 9-inch smooth-bores, and one 60-pounder.
