Hidden in plain sight

[rebelatsea]

Not quite in our period but interesting as an example of how things can "disappear".

The British admiralty prepared plans for emergency conversion of the more "modern" wooden ships of the line to ironclads during the 1860s. Some we know were actually built to add to the the fleet strength, or as an experiment in the case of HMS Royal Sovereign. late in the decade ,plans were made fro the conversion of the Duncan class two deckers into breastwork monitors. Several eminent authorities including Oscar Parkes commented on the scheme to the effect that it would be interesting to say the least.
The plan has actually been in the files of the "Engineer" since 1870 !

 

[georgew]

Not quite in our period but interesting as an example of how things can "disappear".

The British admiralty prepared plans for emergency conversion of the more "modern" wooden ships of the line to ironclads during the 1860s. Some we know were actually built to add to the the fleet strength, or as an experiment in the case of HMS Royal Sovereign. late in the decade ,plans were made fro the conversion of the Duncan class two deckers into breastwork monitors. Several eminent authorities including Oscar Parkes commented on the scheme to the effect that it would be interesting to say the least.
The plan has actually been in the files of the "Engineer" since 1870 !
View attachment 98899

Hi Rebel. What displacement of vessel did they start with? Did they plan on an ironed belt on the waterline?

 

[rebelatsea]

Hi Rebel. What displacement of vessel did they start with? Did they plan on an ironed belt on the waterline?

Hi Georgew,
4,555 tons displacement, and yes full belt armour as in Royal Sovereign.

 

[bekosh]

That issue of The Engineer is available online at Grace's Guide to British Industrial History along with many more.
Here's the link to the February 4, 1870 issue. The image above is on page 64 and the article is on pages 65-66.
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1870/02/04

The article also included a section view of the armor for the Duncan (planned) and the Devastation/Thunderer.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here is a quick and dirty model of HMS Duncan after conversion, and according to the Engineer plan. In reality the ships would have acquired long flying decks, chart houses, cowls

and all the clutter of a mid Victorian warship.

 

[georgew]

Here is a quick and dirty model of HMS Duncan after conversion, and according to the Engineer plan. In reality the ships would have acquired long flying decks, chart houses, cowls View attachment 99087 and all the clutter of a mid Victorian warship.

Cowls?

 

[georgew]

Cowls?

Sorry Rebel. Forgot to ask. When did they start adding anti-torpedo nets?

 

[georgew]

Here is a quick and dirty model of HMS Duncan after conversion, and according to the Engineer plan. In reality the ships would have acquired long flying decks, chart houses, cowls View attachment 99087 and all the clutter of a mid Victorian warship.

You can certainly see the genesis of the pre-dreadnought layouts in this vessel. As torpedoes became more capable, quick-firing lighter armament would have been added and anti-torpedo nets. Add a decent gun-director and you are in business.

 

[Carronade]

Sorry Rebel. Forgot to ask. When did they start adding anti-torpedo nets?

Right after they invented torpedos

 

[James N.]

... In reality the ships would have acquired long flying decks, chart houses, cowls View attachment 99087 and all the clutter of a mid Victorian warship.

Sort of like this:?

 

[rebelatsea]

Cowls?

Ventilation hood ,known as cowls over here.

 

[rebelatsea]

Sort of like this:?

Yes ,exactly like that.

 

[rebelatsea]

You can certainly see the genesis of the pre-dreadnought layouts in this vessel. As torpedoes became more capable, quick-firing lighter armament would have been added and anti-torpedo nets. Add a decent gun-director and you are in business.

In the late 1880s

 

[vikingbear]

Hi John,

Great find. Unlike me (Murphy's law strikes again).When I said finding that plan would be easy did not know that My wife in a cleaning mood had been going through her stuff and tossing things out. Every thing got moved around and God only knows where that box is now. But that's all right. Having been wanted more time to go through everything. My wife is all happy, so will keep her "Honey do" list away from me for a while.
But it was not all a loss, found a copy of a British design of a monitor that was was proposed for India. It is around the same time as the design above and will make a good contrast to that design. So wile make a copy tomorrow and post it.

GRIZZ

 

[georgew]

Ventilation hood ,known as cowls over here.

thanks Rebel.