The newspaper De Curacaosche Courant dated 3 April reported that the navy yard at Plymouth was ordered to prepare masts and yards for 12 ships of the line. The British ship of the line Windsor Castle (1) was to be lengthened and fitted out with a steam engine. With a length of 240 feet and 140 guns will it become the most fiercely floating battery of the world. The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 17 February confirmed the first sentence of this item.
The Bredasche Courant dated 31 October published an item dated London 27 October reporting that ten ships of the line of which the building already had started or was ordered all to be fitted out as screw steamships. The edition dated 5 December repeated the news that 10 ships of the line were to be fitted out as screw steamships adding that it was believed that within one year twice as much 2 and 3-deckers were to be fitted out with steam engines. Private plants received orders to deliver engines for eight ships of the line which were now being rebuild. The newspapers Algemeen Handelsblad and Rotterdamsche Courant both dated 30 October added no new details.
The newspaper De Tijd dated 15 December published an item dated London 10 December reporting that when all of the ships now being build were build the British Royal Navy included 22 screw steamships of which eleven to be compared with ships of the line similar in size and that daily large numbers of qualified sailors came to serve on board of the warships now fitted out in the several British ports. The newspapers De Nederlander dated 15 December and the Bredasche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad both dated 16 December confirmed this item.
Note
1. The 1st rate 120 gun Windsor Castle was launched on 14 September 1852 at Pembroke Dock but renamed on 1 October Duke of Wellington. Her builders measurement was 3,700 tons and her dimensions 241 x 60 feet.
The Bredasche Courant dated 31 October published an item dated London 27 October reporting that ten ships of the line of which the building already had started or was ordered all to be fitted out as screw steamships. The edition dated 5 December repeated the news that 10 ships of the line were to be fitted out as screw steamships adding that it was believed that within one year twice as much 2 and 3-deckers were to be fitted out with steam engines. Private plants received orders to deliver engines for eight ships of the line which were now being rebuild. The newspapers Algemeen Handelsblad and Rotterdamsche Courant both dated 30 October added no new details.
The newspaper De Tijd dated 15 December published an item dated London 10 December reporting that when all of the ships now being build were build the British Royal Navy included 22 screw steamships of which eleven to be compared with ships of the line similar in size and that daily large numbers of qualified sailors came to serve on board of the warships now fitted out in the several British ports. The newspapers De Nederlander dated 15 December and the Bredasche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad both dated 16 December confirmed this item.
Note
1. The 1st rate 120 gun Windsor Castle was launched on 14 September 1852 at Pembroke Dock but renamed on 1 October Duke of Wellington. Her builders measurement was 3,700 tons and her dimensions 241 x 60 feet.
