3-034-814 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The new turret-ship Glatton, for harbour defence, 1871. 'This new iron turret-ship...was designed by Mr. E. J. Reed, the late Chief Constructor of the Navy...for the home defence of our harbours and ports...Her trial-trip...was very satisfactory, with respect both to the performance of her engines, and the working of her two huge guns, each weighing 25 tons and throwing a shot or shell of 600 lb., mounted on the gun-carriages of Captain Scott's design...The shape and look of the Glatton will seem very uncouth. She is only 3 ft. above the water, and can be reduced, if necessary, to 2 ft. by flooding her water spaces. She draws 19 ft. of water, and the height of her hurricane-deck is nearly 22 ft., so that from top to keel she is barely 40 ft. in depth. Her length is 261 ft., and her breadth 54 ft...There is no bulwark above the deck, only a single iron chain running around it. The tonnage of the vessel is 2709 tons; she carries 500 tons of coal. Her engines are of 500-horse power nominal, but can be worked up to 3000-horse power...Our Illustration shows the Glatton in her fighting trim...The guns are run out ready for firing...There are no sails...The turret revolves by steam in thirty seconds, or by hand in three minutes'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.