THE GUNBOAT VICTORIA

We give an illustration of the Victoria, one of the recent additions to the Victorian fleet, as seen while she was in the Alfred Graving Dock for purposes of scraping, painting, and effecting necessary repairs. The Victoia was taken into the dock at the same time as the Cerberus, the latter being at the head of the dock, and the gunboat near the entrance. The view we give was taken looking towards the caisson from about half-way down the dock. During the stay of the Victoria in the dock she was visited by a large number of people, who took interest in inspecting this, the larger of the two gunbpoats recently brought out to join our fleet. Her big 25-ton, or l0 inch breech-loading gun, 27ft. 8in. in length, situated, in her bows, naturally was viewed with great attention and interest. The maximum charge for this enormous weapon is 230lb. of powder, but 170lb. is the normal full charge. The weight of the projectile is 4001b. The range of the gun is 10,000 yards, while its projectile will penetrate 20½ inches of wrought iron armour at 400 yards with a Palliser chilled shot. The firing may be done by tube or by electricity. The captain of the gun stands protected by a square compartment of steel called the "conning tower," and takes his sight through narrow niches 1eft for the purpose. The gun is worked by nine men. In the stern of the vessel are two 12-pounders, which are an exact copy of the larger gun. The range is 6,000 yards, and their use is principally to attack boats or repel torpedo attacks; as they have very 1ow penetration they may also be used as field guns. There are two Nordenfelt guns, with four barrels each.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE FAWKNER

The steam hopper barge Fawkner, one of two boats built at Glasgow to the order of the Melbourne Harbour Trust - and strengthened in the bow at the suggestion of the Minister of Defence, so as to fit her for carrying a six-inch breech loading gun, of the type recently introduced for the protection of the harbour - made her trial trip in the bay on Saturday.

The steamer left Sandridge railway pier at a quarter to 11a.m., having on board a numerous company of gentlemen interested in the results of the experimental tests it was proposed to make, among them being, Alderman Moubray (chairman of the Trust), Lieut-Colonel Sargood (Minister ofDefence), Colonel Disney (commandant), Captain Manderville, Lieut-Colonel J.M.Templeton (Defence Board), Major turner (commanding officer of the field artillery), Captain Fullarton (harbour master), Mr. C.Smith (mayor of Melbourne), Mr. Wallace, M.L.A. Commissioners, Marshall, Couch, Lorimer, Huddart, O'Grady, Loader, Blyth, and Dowman. Mr. Mouritz (secretary to the Trust), Mr. Brady(resident engineer to the Trust), Mr. McLean (assistant engineer), Councillors Amos, Zevenloom and Wilkes. In charge of Captain Richardson, (formerly of the Harbour Trust's steam tug Pelican and of their steam launch Commissioner), the Fawkner went under ordinary steam to the lightship, which she rounded, and then steered for Brighton Point.

Off Brighton a stoppage was made for the purpose of exhibiting the method of working the machinery used for dropping the silt or mud with which the Fawkner will be loaded by the dredges. This operation was watched with much interest and proved thoroughly successful, the dredgings being deposited and the doors reclosed without a single hitch. The water was smooth as the surface of a duck-pond, a circumstance highly favourable to a critical survey of the experiments. While off Brighton Captain Fullarton directed several manoeuvers, with a view to testing the speed and steering capacities of the boat, and expressed himself highly gratified with her behaviour, especially the smartness with which she answers her helm, a complete circle being described in 3 min. 25sec. Her ordinary speed is between eight and nine knots an hour, with the engine making about 70 revolutions per minute, and by putting on a spurt she can make ten knots hourly.

It is said she will tow two 500-ton barges at the rate of six knots, and one of that burthen at seven and a half knots an hour. Her boilers and engines are very compact. The engines worked well, being cased, stopped, and the vessel sent full speed astern in 1 min. 5 secs. In every respect the trials were considered very satisfactory, the vessel being handy, steaming well, and steering admirably. In the course of the trip the visitors assembled under an awning over the forecastle, and several complimentary speeches were delivered; "Success to the Fawkner," "The Minister of Defence." "The Chairman of the Harbour Trust," and "The Commandant," being toasted with great cordiality and appropriately acknowledged. Colonel Disney remarking that it was his constant and earnest endeavour to bring the defence force on land to a condition of thorough efficency, worthy of the colony.

It was mentioned that the Fawkner cost £12,000, and that an additional expenditure (probably amounting to £1,300) which will be defrayed by the Government) has been incurred in qualifying her to act as part of the naval defence.

Her passage out occupied 80 days, including 16 days in ports en voyage, so that she was under steam only 64 days. In the course of his observations in replying to the toast of his health, Colonel Sargood stated that in a very few months two gun-boats and three torpedo boats will be out, and when these were added to the Cerberus, Victoria would have a fleet which, he thought, we might safely look upon as all that is required to defend the port of Melbourne from hostile attack. He should arrange for a naval review on a small scale as soon as possible after the arrival of the boats he had named, and he hoped that the two armed barges of the Harbour Trust would turn out fully equipped and form part of a flotilla. (Applause) The Fawkner reached Sandridge pier shortly after 12.30, and the company returned to town by train.

TORPEDO BOATS FOR VICTORIA

The two second-class torpedo boats constructed by Messers. Thornycroft, of Chiswick, were tried over the measured mile at Long Reach on Thames, below Greenwich, on 20th of March. The boats, in charge of Mr. Brown, chief engineer of the constructing firm, appeared off the Westminster pier at 10 o'clock in the morning, and attracted considerable attention. Mr. Brown received on board Mr. Soper, of the Engineers department of the Admiralty, to report on the result of the trip; Major-General Stuard, representing the agent-general of Victoria; and Colonel Malcolm, of the Marine Mining department of the Admiralty. The boats are each 67 ft. in length with 7ft. 6in. beam, and are fitted with seven water-tight compartments. They are furnished with compound engines of 150 indicated horse-power. Projecting above the bows are two tubes for discharging the Whitehead fish torpedoes, to be projected by steam impulse.

The speed guaranteed under contract was 17 knots, or about 20 miles, per hour. The weight to be carried in the absence of the torpedoes, which in active service would be on board, was to be one ton and a half, including coal, water and crew. The little ships themselves weigh 13 tons each, and are made to lift inboard an ocean-going ship, and to be conveyed down to their port of embarkation on railway trucks.

The torpedoes to be carried are of regular approved construction, consisting of three compartments, the first charged with about 80lb. of gun-cotton, the second with compressed air, and the after compartment with the machinery to be set in motion by the steam impulse, and to drive the torpedo through the water at a depth of about 9ft. below the surface, until the impact againt the object to be destroyed explodes the torpedo. Up to a distance of 1,000 yards an effective blow could be given that would be quite sufficient to explode the charge, although the precision of aim would, of course, be more certain when the machine is launched against a foe at half that distance. In point of fighting tactics, the object is to evade the shot of the enemy by means of rapidity of action, the comparative smallness of the exposed surface, and the difficulty there would be in any enemy observing the diminutive craft, especially in the smoke and turmoil of a naval engagement.

Constructed of Bessemer galvanised steel throughout, the conning tower or lookout is the only part of the vessel that is shot-proof. It would indeed be almost impracticable to render these boats, consistently with speed and handiness, impenetrable by the Nordenfeldt machine gun, or even the bullets of a Gatling. All told, the crew of each boat consists of two stokers, two engineers, the steersman, a man to work the torpedoes, and the lieutenant. All except the steersman are completely under cover, and even the steersman in his lookout tower is vulnerable only in the head. Each water-tight compartment is fitted with steam electrics to draw out whatever quantity of water may be lodged there by leakage or fracture.

Steaming down the river at a propulsion of 670 revolutions per minute, the boats, known by their numbers as 189 and 190, were promptly set on the measured mile. A fairly strong southerly breeze blew in the teeth of the waspish little crafts as they dashed along roughish water at low tide, retarding them to considerably greater extent when going in the one direction than assisting them when going in the other.

Six runs were made by each vessel each way, yielding in the one case an average, under some- what adverse circumstances of 17.16 knots per hour, and in the other of 17.59 per hour. The times made by No. 189 over the measured mile were 3m. 23s., 3.44, 3.19, 3.39, 3.19, and 3.40; by No. 190 the recorded times were 3.26, 3.24, 3.24, 3.24, 3.26, and 3.24. The three-bladed propellers are of steel, 2ft. 10in. diameter, and of 3ft. 9in. pitch. The draft of water is 3ft. 7in. aft and 1ft. 6½in. forward.

The two boats will be taken down to Portsmouth by train, as a less expensive method than by running them on their own bottoms by sea, subject to the expense of pilotage and the risk of storm. Eight torpedoes, manufactured at Woolwich at a cost of about £400 each, will be put on board, and practice will be made with the blank charges to test the discharging and driving machinery. The boats will be shipped to the colony by steamer in about three weeks.

TORPEDO BOATS FOR VICTORIA.

The two second-class torpedo boats, constructed by Messrs. Thornycroft, of Cheswick, to the order of the Victorian Government , were tried over the measured mile at Long Reach on the Thames, below Greenwich, on the 20th March. The boats, in charge of Mr. Brown, chief engineer of the constructing firm, appeared off the Westminster pier at 10 0'clock in the morning, and attracted considerable attention. Mr. Brown received on board Mr. Soper, of the Engineers department of the Admiralty, to report on the result of the trip; Major-General Stuard, representing the agent-general of Victoria; and Colonel Malcolm, of the Marine Mining department of the Admiralty. The boats are each 67ft. in length with 7ft.6in. beam, and are fitted with seven water-tight compartments. They are furnished with compound engines of 150 indicated horse-power. Projecting above the bows are two tubes for discharging the Whitehead fish torpedoes to be projected by steam impulse. The speed guaranteed under contract is 17 knots, or about 20 miles, per hour. The weight to be carried in the absence of the torpedoes, which in active service would be on board, was to be one ton and a half, including coal, water and crew. The little ships themselves weigh 13 tons each, and are made to lift inboard an ocean-going ship, and to be conveyed down to their port of embarkation on railway trucks. The torpedoes to be carried are of the regular approved construction, consisting of three compartments, the first charged with about 80lb. of gun-cotton, the second with compressed air, and the after compartment with the machinery to be set in motion by the steam impulse, and to drive the torpedo through the water at a depth of about 9ft. below the surface, until the impact against the object to be destroyed explodes the torpedo. Up to a distance of 1,000 yards an effective blow could be given that would be quite sufficient to explode the charge, although the precision of aim would, of course, be more certain when the machine is launched against a foe at half the distance. In point of fighting tactics, the object is to evade the shot of the enemy by means of rapidity of action, the comparative smallness of the exposed surface, and the difficulty there would be in any enemy observing the diminutive craft, especially in the smoke and turmoil of a naval engagement. Constructed of Bessemer galvanised steel throughout, the conning tower of lookout is the only part of the vessel that is shot-proof. It would indeed be almost impracticable to render these boats, consistently with speed and handiness, impeneterable by the Nordenfeldt machine gun, or even the bullets of a Gatling. All told, the crew of each boat consists of two stokers, two engineers, the steersman, a man to work the torpedoes, and the lieutenant. All except the steerman are completely under cover, and even the steersman in his lookout tower is vulnerable only in the head. Each water-tight compartment is fitted with steam ejectors to draw out whatever quantity of water may be lodged there by leakage of fracture. Steaming down the river at a propulsion of 670 revolutions per minute, the boats, known by their numbers as 189 and 190, were promptly set on the measured mile. A fairly strong southerly breeze blew in the teeth of the waspish little crafts as they dashed along through roughish water at low tide, retarding them to a considerably greater exent when going in one direction than assisting them when going in the other. Six runs were made by each vessel each way, yielding in the one case an average, under somewhat adverse circumstances, of 17.16 knots per hour, and in the other of 17.59 per hour. The times made by no. 189 over the measured mile were 3m. 23s., 3.44, 3.19, 3.39, 3.19, and 3.40; by no. 190 the recorded times were 3.26, 3.24, 3.24, 3.24, 3.26, and 3.24. The three-bladed propellers are of steel, 2ft. 10in. diameter, and of 3ft. 9in. pitch. The draught of water is 3ft.7in. aft, and 1ft. 6½in. forward. The two boats will be taken down to Portsmouth by train, as a less expensive method than by running them on their own bottoms by sea, subject to the expense of pilotage and the risk of storm. Eight torpedoes, manufactured at Woolwich at a cost of about £400 each, will be put on board, and practice will be made with blank charges to test the discharging and driving machinery. The boats will be shipped to the colony by steamer in about three weeks.

H.M.V.S. CHILDERS.

The torpedo boat is the most interesting of the three vessels, although it is by far the smallest. Every nook and cranny of it contains some novel device for economising space. The following technical description of the Childers, is taken from Engineering, of 28th December:- Length on water-line, 113ft.; beam (moulded), 12ft. 6in.;depth, 6ft. 6in.; draft forward, 2ft. 6in.; aft. 6 ft.; displacement, 60 tons, The hull is built of galvanised Bessemer steel, and is divided into 11 compartments by eight water-tight bulkheads and two half bulkheads, in the manner introduced by Mr. Donaldson. The boat will float with any one of these compartments filled. Six powerful bilge ejectors are fitted. Two of these are placed in the boiler compartment, and are capable of ejecting 40 tons of water per hour each with a boiler pressure of 75 lbs. In addition to the ejectors, a bilge pump is worked off the main engines, and hand pumps are fitted for pumping the bilge from on deck. A seperate steam donkey is provided, and the circulating pump, which is arranged with suction branches both in the boiler and engine rooms, as well as from the sea, is guaranteed to throw 45 tons water per hour.

The main engines are 14½ in. and 24¼ in. in diameter, by 15in. stroke, and were guaranteed to develope 750 indicated horse-power. They are of the now well-known Thornycroft type of torpedo-boat engines; they are fiitted with a special valve by which they can be converted into non-condensing engines if necessary.Auxiliary engines are used for driving the fanblower and for the circulating pump, in adddition to which there is the steam donkey referred to; the former are placed in the engine compartment,and the donkey in the boiler-room, but both fan and donkey can be regulated from either compartment. A striking feature is the steam-steering gear, which is fitted in the forward part of the conning tower.

The boat can be steered either by steam or hand in the conning tower, or by hand by means of the wheel further aft.In the forward compartment as a Brotherhood air-compressing pump, the engine and pump being self contained on one base-plate. By this machine air is compressed to 1,500 lb. to the square inch for the purposes of charging the torpedoes and ejecting them from the impulse tubes.

In the forward compartment is also the electric light machinery, consisting of a Brotherhood engine and an M.Gamme dynamo. A Mangin projector is used, by the aid of which objects are rendered visible at a distance of 1¼ to 1¾ miles. The boiler is of the usual Thornycroft torpedo-boat type. The total heating surface is 1,119 square feet, of which 1,032 square feet is supplied by the tubes, and 87 square feet is con- ained in the firebox. The grate area is 30 square feet; the area of tube section is 4.74 square feet. It will be seen that in this small vessel of only about 60 tons displacement there is no less than seven seperate steam engines, and the main engines alone are guaranteed to indicate 12½ horse power per ton of displacement on full power runs.

The propeller is one of thornycroft's patent: it has three blades, and is made of forged steel. The diameter is 5ft. 7in. and the pitch 5ft 9in.; the end of one blade is considerably out of the water when the vessel is at rest, but even at a very slow speed the boat settles sufficiently by the stern to immerse the screw immediately on the engines being started ahead.

The vessel lies low in the water, and has a remarkably neat and trim appearance. There is a turtle-back deck forward, at the after end of which is a conning tower, giving considerabe protection to anyone within its cover, and containing the apparatus for firing torpedoes. A rudder is placed at the bows, which can be worked in conjunction with that at the stern. The armament of the Childers consists of four Whitehead torpedoes, and two small Hotchkiss machine guns, which somewhat resemble the Gatling guns. The torpedoes are 19in. in length, 15in. beam, and they cost about £100 each.When not in use they are stowed in the after part of the boat. They are fired by means of compressed air, and in the act of being shot a spring is released by which the torpedoe is enabled to work its own passage. When in the water it travels at the rate of 21 miles an hour for a distance of 2,500ft. The charge of gun-cotton for a torpedo of this class is 94½ lb.

The speed attained by the Childers is about 20 knots an hour. She exceeded this rate on the trial trip. It may be added that there is only one other boat like her in the world. It belongs to the Russian Government and is a twin vessel to the Childers.

H.M.V.S. ALBERT.

This vessel is a little smaller than the Victoria, but in general constructon she is exactly similar to the latter. She has a company composed of four officers and 31 men. Her dimensions are Length 120ft., Length along waterline 115 ft., beam 25ft. She draws 9ft. 6in. of water, and her displacement is 470 tons. The engines are like those of the Victoria. The diameter of the high - pressure cylinders is 17 in, and of the low - pressure cylinders 26 in. The length of the stroke is 1ft. 3 in., giving a mean indicated horse-power of nearly 400. The mean pressure on the starboard high-pressure cylinders is 39.4lb, and on the low 16.75lb., that on the port-side high-pressure cylinder is 37.83lb., and on the low 15.34lb. A speed of 10.18 knots was obtained at the trial trip. The boilers, furnaces and propeller are a little smaller than those of the Victoria, and all have worked splendidly on the voyage out. In the bows of the Albert is an 8in. o 12½ ton gun, capable of being turned 15 degrees in each bow. It is 19ft. 3 in. long, and the maxamin charge is 100lb.of powder, the smaller 65lb. of pebble powder. The projectile,which weighs on an average 180lb., is capable of penertrating wrought iron armor 14½ in. thick. In other respects the weapon is similar to the 25ton gun on board the Victoria. In the stern is a four ton or 6in. gun mounted on a pivot. It is exactly of the same construction as the gun in the bows, but it can be turned around to any point. It is 14ft. 7in. long. The average weight of the projectile is 70lb. and the maximum charge is 42lb. of powder. The projectile can be fired through 11½ inches of unbacked wrought iron armor. The Albert has also two nine-pounders mounted on her beam, each weighing 5cwt. The weight of the projectile is 9lb., and the charge is 2½ lb. of rifle grain powder. Two Nordenfeldt guns similar to those on board the Victoria will be carried.

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