An item reported that the former French target ship Fulminant which was sold to the Dutch firm Jan van Rijsdijk, Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherlands was towed to the Netherlands to be broken up was berthed for some time at the quay of the super phosphate plant Holland at Pernis, Netherlands. One of the editors of the Dutch magazine was permitted to visit the ship. The Fulminant with a displacement of 5.651 tons was a so-called citadel ship with just one gun turret (with 2-27cm guns) in the middle of the ship. She was deep lying in the water and resembled a large armoured monitor except for the turret hardly proving a surfaced target. The turret was extreme large. Despite looking for it were no special alterations for her new task as target ship found. All what could be removed from the superstructures lake deck houses was already removed. Underway towards the Netherlands and on the river Maas was the breaking up continued/ Regarded the condition of armour belt and turret had she been the target of a large number of gun exercises with as only results visible blows in the 30-33cm thick old armour. Visible was also that the deck with a bam of 17 metres many times was hit. The all over conclusion however was that all these exercises did not damaged the ship self. Apparently were during exercises also modern armour piercing shells although with reduced explosives filling used while large pieces of the armour were smashed away. The editor got the impression that if the turret had been not so corroded she still could have been turned despite the fact that very close nearby a shell pierced the outside board armour and exploded behind it. The Fulminant was already replaced by a new old ironclad although better armoured. He hoped that within short time the Royal Netherlands Navy also could exercise using old warships as targets. There were enough suitable target ships available and if not, the earlier mentioned firm bought regularly old warships in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere.
Note
1. Belonged to the Tonnerre-class with as sister ship the Tonnerre. This single turret (1x2-10’8” guns) breastwork monitor was laid in January 1875 at Cherbourg, launched in August two years later, completed in 1882 and finally stricken in 1908.
Note
1. Belonged to the Tonnerre-class with as sister ship the Tonnerre. This single turret (1x2-10’8” guns) breastwork monitor was laid in January 1875 at Cherbourg, launched in August two years later, completed in 1882 and finally stricken in 1908.
