3-039-011 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The turret-ships Abyssinia and Magdala, for the defence of Bombay Harbour, 1871. 'The monitors...went by way of the Suez Canal. The Abyssinia was built and her engines made by Messrs. Dudgeon, of Millwall; the Magdala by the Thames Shipbuilding Company...These vessels mount each four 18-ton guns - a pair in each of the two turrets...The armour plating round the hull consists of an upper and a lower strake, the upper being 7 in. in thickness, and the lower strake 6 in. Upon this deck is built the upper or breastwork deck, which incloses within its elliptical walls of armour-plating the two turrets, conning tower, funnel, and engine-room, hatchways, and steering-wheel...The tops of the turrets project above the breastwork-deck 6 ft., and the guns are thus carried with the axis of their bore about 11 ft. above the water-line, with the ship at her load-line. The breastwork...is plated with armour 9 in. in thickness round the turrets, and amidships, round the funnel and its casings, with plating of 7 in. The turrets have a clear interior diameter of 21 ft. 3 in., and each mount two 18-ton muzzle-loading rifled guns. The armour-plating on the turrets is 10 in. in thickness on the front faces and round the gunports, and 9 in. on the rear faces'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.