Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/128

 additional weight, while the barbette permitted a higher position for the gun, which at sea is a considerable advantage. When a gun is not many feet above the water there is a liability of projectiles striking crests of waves near the ship and being deflected from the path required. This has been observed at target practice from some of our turret ships in rough weather.

Though circumstances inclined us to the turret, we tentatively gave one ship—the 'Temeraire'—a barbette at each end. These were pear-shaped redoubts, but differed from those now constructed, because their dimensions were such as to allow the gun mounted within to recoil down after firing behind the walls, and thus disappear during the process of reloading. This

necessitated a larger enclosure, and the gain was considered so small as against the extra weight entailed that this disappearing principle has not been repeated in ships, though it is coming into greater favour for land defences.

But a further consideration brought about a modification not only in the method of carrying the heavy guns which the genius and enthusiasm of