Page:The Development of Navies During the Last Half-Century.djvu/316

 portion, wherein are located the machinery and heavy guns, but it is 16 in. thick.

For some years after the completion of these vessels no more ironclads were laid down, until the activity of other nations in adding to their fleets spurred Germany to further effort. She could not view with indifference the steps taken by Russia to create a powerful Baltic Squadron. Accordingly, three years ago, a programme of construction was framed, the most important part of which was the completion of four new ironclads of 10,000 tons each. The design selected is somewhat similar to that adopted in late French battle ships — a complete armour belt and three barbettes on the middle line, each containing a pair of 11-in. guns. Between the foremost and middle barbette is the auxiliary broadside battery of light guns. The maximum thickness of belt is 16 in., and it tapers to 11 in. at the ends. These vessels are to have a speed of 16 knots, and all are being built in Germany. Their weak point appears to be the absence of any protection above the belt on the side; but the best distribution of a given weight of armour is a matter about which all experts differ. The distribution of heavy guns in three independent positions seems an excellent one, and provision is made for a high freeboard forward, so that the foremost barbette will have a commanding position. The largest gun mounted afloat in Germany weighs 35 tons, and this pattern is only placed in armoured gunboats. It is considered that for battle ships ordnance of about 25