Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/103

 her encounter with the 'Merrimac' she foundered in a gale off Cape Hatteras. In England it was evident that a type of vessel unfit for distant service could not serve as a model for general adoption. But as coast defence was then prominently before the country, owing to the views expressed by Lord Palmerston when proposing in 1860 a large outlay on sea forts, it was decided to construct two turret ships on Captain Coles' plans. A wooden three-decker, the 'Royal Sovereign,' was accordingly cut down and armoured with 5½-in. iron

plates. She carried four turrets, the foremost one containing two guns, and the others a single gun each. To give more freeboard at sea there were hinged light iron bulwarks, 3 ft. 6 in. high, which were thrown down when it was desired to fight the guns. The turrets, instead of revolving on a central spindle as in the 'Monitor,' rotated on rollers fixed on the lower circumference of the turret, thus giving greater rigidity to resist impact of shot. A similar vessel, the 'Prince Albert,' was specially built of iron by Messrs Samuda for the same equipment. The 'Royal Sovereign' was completed in 1864, and underwent successful trials. Having a low freeboard, and being without masts, she was not considered a ship capable of service on foreign stations.