Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are
able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the
public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains
useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor
accessible. In his book for politicians and merchants Martin described all the
countries part of the so-called civilised world. If available he published
information dealing with the armed forces and the merchant trade shipping.
Mr.E. Joh. Morris of the United States legation at Constantinople several letters to the secretary of state William H. Seward dealing with the situation in Turkey. In his letter dated 5 January 1866 he supplied the next details.
P. 231. Screw steamers. One three-decker, armed with 110 cannon, mostly Armstrong guns; three two-deckers, of 95 cannon each ; three frigates, armed with 80 cannon each, mostly Armstrong; nine corvettes, 25 cannon each; six brigs, of 10 cannon each, and four schooners, with 5 cannon.
Of wheel steamers. There are four corvettes, of 30 guns each ; one brig, of 12 guns ; six despatch boats, 4 to 6 cannon each; also ten small brigs, of from 4 to 6 cannon, stationed at various seaports and islands of the archipelago.
Ironclads. Five frigates. These splendid vessels are completely iron-clad, with rams, and are armed with 40 cannon of the latest invention, rifle barrelled. Of these, three have already arrived from England, and are stationed in the Bosphorus; a sixth frigate, which will also be iron-clad, is under construction at Constantinople. She will have a battery of eight 150-pounder Armstrong guns ; upon the poop two cannon of the same calibre, and upon the bow an enormous piece of 600. When this vessel is completed the Turkish navy will have six of the most formidable iron-clad frigates in the world, equipped with the latest inventions, and built in the most perfect style, both as to sailing and fighting qualities.
Wheel steam yachts. These are five in number, of which three, of large dimensions and sumptuously fitted up, of an average speed of about 15 miles per hour, were built in England for the special use of the Sultan ; a fourth belongs to Prince Murad, the successor to the throne, and the fifth is in the service of the high functionaries of the Porte.
Sailing vessels. One three-decker, a solid vessel, carrying 120 cannon, of wich the upper series are rifled and of large calibre; one two-decker, of 80 guns; two corvettes, of 30 guns each; four brigs of 20 guns each. To these must be added five other brigs, and more than ten cutters carrying from 6 to 12 guns, chiefly used as guard-boats in the seaports of the empire.
p. 232: Transport steamers. Of these there are eight wheel steamers of various sizes, and six screw steamers. There are also of sailing transports, two frigates, eight corvettes, twenty brigs, and four small cutters. There are twelve wheel steamers of various sizes used for postal purposes and as despatch boats, and also 18 steamers used for carrying passengers on the Bosphorus, but which may be used for subordinate naval purposes in time of war. There are under construction, also, one two-decker and two corvettes, all screwvessels, and six other steamers of which one is a frigate. Two paddle-wheel corvettes, and three screw brigs, are being built in the imperial dockyards of Nicomedia and the Black Sea.
The whole number of naval vessels in the Turkish service is at present about 180, carrying in all about 2,600 guns. It will be seen from the above table that the Turkish navy has already grown into quite formidable dimensions. It is, I understand, the intention of the government to yet further increase this force, as the finances of the empire will permit.” In his letter dated 17 May 1866 he supplied the next interesting information.
P. 241: “In view of war in central Europe, and the complications incident to the ques-
P. 242: tion of tbe Danubian principalities, the Turkish government is preparing all its military and naval forces for immediate action. One hundred thousand men are already concentrated in European Turkey from the Danubian frontier to the Adriatic, and measures have been taken to double this force in case of necessity in a few weeks. These troops are all armed with rifled cannon. Including the reserves and the contingents from the vassal states, the disposable force of the empire amounts to five hundred thousand men. The Ottoman navy afloat, including ships of the line, frigates and corvettes, all steam vessels, mounts twelve hundred cannon. Three iron-clad first-class frigates are the most formidable vessels of the navy. Three other iron-clad frigates are under construction and nearly finished in England. The Turkish navy, while it is admirable for the quality and construction of the vessels composing it, is much inferior to the navies of the great maritime states of Europe in the discipline and efficiency of its crews. The dock yards are night and day employed in putting the whole navy in the most efficient condition, and the transport ships are already in a state of readiness.”
Source
Executive documents printed by order of the House of Representatives, during the second session of the thirty-ninth congress. Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States. Vol II.
Mr.E. Joh. Morris of the United States legation at Constantinople several letters to the secretary of state William H. Seward dealing with the situation in Turkey. In his letter dated 5 January 1866 he supplied the next details.
P. 231. Screw steamers. One three-decker, armed with 110 cannon, mostly Armstrong guns; three two-deckers, of 95 cannon each ; three frigates, armed with 80 cannon each, mostly Armstrong; nine corvettes, 25 cannon each; six brigs, of 10 cannon each, and four schooners, with 5 cannon.
Of wheel steamers. There are four corvettes, of 30 guns each ; one brig, of 12 guns ; six despatch boats, 4 to 6 cannon each; also ten small brigs, of from 4 to 6 cannon, stationed at various seaports and islands of the archipelago.
Ironclads. Five frigates. These splendid vessels are completely iron-clad, with rams, and are armed with 40 cannon of the latest invention, rifle barrelled. Of these, three have already arrived from England, and are stationed in the Bosphorus; a sixth frigate, which will also be iron-clad, is under construction at Constantinople. She will have a battery of eight 150-pounder Armstrong guns ; upon the poop two cannon of the same calibre, and upon the bow an enormous piece of 600. When this vessel is completed the Turkish navy will have six of the most formidable iron-clad frigates in the world, equipped with the latest inventions, and built in the most perfect style, both as to sailing and fighting qualities.
Wheel steam yachts. These are five in number, of which three, of large dimensions and sumptuously fitted up, of an average speed of about 15 miles per hour, were built in England for the special use of the Sultan ; a fourth belongs to Prince Murad, the successor to the throne, and the fifth is in the service of the high functionaries of the Porte.
Sailing vessels. One three-decker, a solid vessel, carrying 120 cannon, of wich the upper series are rifled and of large calibre; one two-decker, of 80 guns; two corvettes, of 30 guns each; four brigs of 20 guns each. To these must be added five other brigs, and more than ten cutters carrying from 6 to 12 guns, chiefly used as guard-boats in the seaports of the empire.
p. 232: Transport steamers. Of these there are eight wheel steamers of various sizes, and six screw steamers. There are also of sailing transports, two frigates, eight corvettes, twenty brigs, and four small cutters. There are twelve wheel steamers of various sizes used for postal purposes and as despatch boats, and also 18 steamers used for carrying passengers on the Bosphorus, but which may be used for subordinate naval purposes in time of war. There are under construction, also, one two-decker and two corvettes, all screwvessels, and six other steamers of which one is a frigate. Two paddle-wheel corvettes, and three screw brigs, are being built in the imperial dockyards of Nicomedia and the Black Sea.
The whole number of naval vessels in the Turkish service is at present about 180, carrying in all about 2,600 guns. It will be seen from the above table that the Turkish navy has already grown into quite formidable dimensions. It is, I understand, the intention of the government to yet further increase this force, as the finances of the empire will permit.” In his letter dated 17 May 1866 he supplied the next interesting information.
P. 241: “In view of war in central Europe, and the complications incident to the ques-
P. 242: tion of tbe Danubian principalities, the Turkish government is preparing all its military and naval forces for immediate action. One hundred thousand men are already concentrated in European Turkey from the Danubian frontier to the Adriatic, and measures have been taken to double this force in case of necessity in a few weeks. These troops are all armed with rifled cannon. Including the reserves and the contingents from the vassal states, the disposable force of the empire amounts to five hundred thousand men. The Ottoman navy afloat, including ships of the line, frigates and corvettes, all steam vessels, mounts twelve hundred cannon. Three iron-clad first-class frigates are the most formidable vessels of the navy. Three other iron-clad frigates are under construction and nearly finished in England. The Turkish navy, while it is admirable for the quality and construction of the vessels composing it, is much inferior to the navies of the great maritime states of Europe in the discipline and efficiency of its crews. The dock yards are night and day employed in putting the whole navy in the most efficient condition, and the transport ships are already in a state of readiness.”
Source
Executive documents printed by order of the House of Representatives, during the second session of the thirty-ninth congress. Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States. Vol II.
