CONQUEROR-HERO.

It is reported of both these vessels that they may be expected to roll a good deal, but the motion is easy, and they do not "hang" at the end of the roll.

From the small amount of experience obtained, it is considered that their speed would not be much affected by wind, but, being short, they feel a head sea quickly, and, on account of their low freeboard, it would be impossible to "drive" them against a heavy sea or swell at anything approaching full speed.

Admiral Tryon in his report, dated 28th August, draws an unfavourable comparison between the speed of these shorter vessels of great beam-however fast they may be in smooth water-and that of the long ships of an older type, under the conditions of heavy wind and

sea.

It is said that they get rid of the water forward very quickly, and rise easily after every plunge.

In spite of their admittedly lively motion, the captains of both these vessels consider them steady gun-platforms. Admiral Baird, however, does not concur in this opinion as regards the Conqueror; Admiral Tryon reports that "there was no occasion when, in the opinion of her captain, the guns of Hero could not have been "fought efficiently"-but then the opportunities of judging this were small.

Both ships are reported as being very "handy," to steer well, and to answer the helm quickly.

Hero's captain is of opinion that the screw shafts have too much "spring" in the vicinity of the main thrust bearings, and that the hull wants strengthening there.

Much inconvenience and discomfort was experienced in both vessels from the heat and smoke of the ship's - company's galley when the ship is battened down, and the captains are of opinion that this fitting should be removed into the "superstructure "-in this suggestion the Committee concur.

It is considered that the turret guns in this type of ship are too close to the deck, and that the explosion from them is likely to seriously damage the upper-deck fittings in their line of fire; as it is now, all the fittings on the fore-deck leak badly, and the mess-deck is always "afloat" when steaming against a moderate sea. A trial of the strength of these fittings should be made by firing full charges " right ahead."

There is no protected stern fire in this type, and the late captains No pro

tected

guns having

stern tire.

Arma

ment.

of both these vessels call serious attention to the want of it. This defect should be borne in mind in the construction of future battleships of this type.

MERSEY.-SEVERN.-THAMES.

So far as experience was obtained during the recent manœuvres, these vessels proved themselves good sea-boats; they are reported to be "handy," to have steady gun-platforms, and that they could fight their guns "longer than most ships."

With regard to their armament, the late captain of 'the Severn considers that the 8-inch B. L. guns on the poop and forecastle should be removed, and their places taken by lighter guns; Admiral Baird is of opinion that "the cruiser class especially are too heavily armed."

The "small dynamo" seems to be deficient in power, and it is reported that candles had to be resorted to for internal lighting whenever both search lights had to be used at the same time.

No important defects appear to have been developed in any of these vessels, but many suggestions are made for improvements in working details, which will, no doubt, be dealt with by the Controller in due

course.

ARETHUSA.

Although the sea-going qualities, &c., of vessels of this type must, from the reports of Leander and Phaeton, be well known, the Committee think it right to call special attention to certain remarks contained in the report of the captain who lately commanded this ship.

He considers the Arethusa a good sea-boat, and that she steams well against a moderate head sea and strong wind, but that she rolls heavily when the sea is abeam or abaft; she is therefore unsteady as a gun-platform under these conditions, and, on account of her quick and heavy rolling, "accurate shooting would be an impossibility, and machine guns in the tops would be useless."

Among the many suggestions made for improving her efficiency, the following refer especially to the reduction of top weight:

(a) Removal of square rig on foremast.

(b) Removal of the fighting tops.

The captain does not himself suggest that the armament should be lightened; but Admiral Baird's opinion, that all cruisers appear to be too heavily armed, applies to this vessel as well as to the Mersey class, and in this opinion the Committee concur.

Three other suggestions from the same officer are noted as specially worthy of consideration, viz. :—

To enlarge the rudder.

To extend the upper bridge out to the ship's side in order to
obtain a view right aft.

To fit a search light on the poop, as a torpedo-boat coming up
astern cannot be kept in the beam of the ones on the fore-
bridge.

ARCHER CLASS.

The

Six of this type were employed during the manœuvres.
officers lately in command of these vessels report that, from the limited
experience gained as to their behaviour and sea-going qualities, they
appear to be good sea-boats, but would not keep up their speed in
a head sea, and, owing to the great weight in the bows, they pitch
heavily.

They are quick rollers, and consequently unsteady gun-platforms.
They are all handy vessels.

Racoon.

It is reported, unanimously, that the armament is too heavy, and Armament consequently the vessels are "crank," that the weights on the fore- too heavy. castle are too great, and the forecastle itself is not strong enough for the weight it has to bear; of the Racoon, the only vessel of the class which appears to have experienced anything like a heavy sea, it is reported that on one occasion, when going 10 or 11 knots against a moderate swell, a sea was taken on board which carried away everything movable on the forecastle, broke in the fore-hatch, which was battened down, tore away the iron stanchions supporting the forecastle, and bent the beams down 3 inches.

It would seem that the weights forward are too great for vessels with such fine lines, and this naturally causes them to pitch heavily. The bower anchors appear to be stowed unnecessarily far forward, and the spare anchor is before them again (on the port side); each anchor weighs 40 cwt., and the cat davits 25 cwt. each; the two 6-inch guns, with their mountings, weigh a little over 25 tons. Thus over 34 tons of dead weight are carried on the forecastle.

sugges

The Committee are of opinion that much of this weight "in the Comeyes" of the ship should be reduced, and suggest that the "bowers" mittee's should be stowed farther aft, the spare anchor removed to a position tions. near the mainmast, and that the two 6-inch guns on the forecastle should be replaced by 5-inch, by which latter means alone a saving of over 15 tons would be effected.

Satisfac

tory
sea-boats.

Coinmittee s vicwe.

They submit also that the proposal to substitute 5-inch for 6-inch guns throughout is, in view of the "crank" nature of these vessels, as reported by their late captains, worthy of the most serious consideration.

RATTLESNAKE CLASS.

For the purposes of this Report all four of the "torpedo-gunboats employed in the recent operations may be considered as belonging to the same type.

From the reports of the officers who lately commanded them, it may be assumed that, for the purpose for which they were designed, they are satisfactory sea-boats, and, "provided they are handled with care," are safe vessels.

Under all circumstances of heavy weather they seem to be extremely lively, and to "ship" a good deal of water, except when steaming easy against the sea, or running at speed before it.

Their behaviour is said to be much the same as that of a large torpedo-boat, their light draught making it difficult to steer a steady course when there is anything approaching to a heavy sea on.

The gun-platform is, as may have been expected, an unsteady one except when nearly calm, and it is on all sides reported that the 4-inch gun could not be fought in a sea-way.

As to their handiness, the reports are unfavourable on the whole. They only answer the helm quickly when steaming at speed, and their turning circle is large. Considering their great length and light draught, this is no more than was to be expected.

The removal of the 4-inch gun is strongly recommended by each of these lieutenant-commanders, and various suggestions are made for improving the general efficiency of their vessels.

We observe that the 4.7-inch quick-firing gun has been appropriated for both the Rattlesnake and the Grasshopper, and we would call attention to the fact that this change will entail an increase of weight for guns, fittings, and ammunition-of 8 tons over that at present carried for the 4-inch B. L., which increase, in view of the size and dimensions of these vessels, would appear to be excessive.

With regard to the numerous other suggestions made, the Committee feel sure that each will be duly considered by the Controller, and that further trials will be made. These proposals which appear to merit immediate consideration are:-(1) To generally strengthen the hull in this type of vessel; (2) to raise the freeboard forward; and (3) to "turtle-back" the forecastle.

In this brief Report, only the more important defects have been noticed, and only such of the suggestions made by the various reporting officers as, in our opinion, deal with questions of principle are touched upon.

Many other points, of greater or less importance, have been raised in these reports, and, as experience of new types of ships is not easy to obtain, we strongly recommend that one and all of these proposals should receive the fullest consideration.

SUFFICIENCY AND EFFICIENCY OF ENGINE-ROOM AND SIGNAL

STAFFS.

untrained

men.

The proportion of untrained (2nd Class) stokers which were Too many draughted to several of the ships appears to have been too large; in point of physique they are reported as unequal to their work, and in many instances the experience of these men in stokehold (or any other work on board ship) was nil.

Attention to this want of experience on the part of stokers in newly commissioned ships was called in paragraph 1 ("Miscellaneous Remarks "), page 23 of the Committee's Report, dated 21st November, 1888.

The late captain of the Mersey, in his letter dated 13th August, points out the great want of trained stokers which was felt in that ship, and the consequent strain on the whole engine-room staff; in all types of vessels this want seems to have been experienced, as the accompanying Table (Table A), compiled from the reports before us will show.

Committee

As a means for affording opportunities for training newly raised stokers, we recommend that at least one year should be served by them as supernumerary in a sea-going ship before they are considered fit to be draughted as part complement to any vessel; we further are Appointof opinion that a Committee should be appointed to inquire into the ment of a sufficiency, or otherwise, of the complements allowed in the steam recomdepartment of each class of ship, the proportion of 2nd Class stokers mended. which should be borne, and the amount of training which they should be required to undergo before they can usefully be borne as part complement in a fighting ship.

men.

It is understood that the personnel of the signals department has Signalreceived the attention of various committees lately, and it is hoped that the outcome of their recommendation may result in a speedy improvement of the same, both as regards numbers and efficient training.