An item reported that the Japanese admiral Akamatsu (1) invented afloating fort for coast defence purposes. It was built on a steel made vesselwith a length of 150 feet. The thickness of the armour was 12” with the bridge especially protected by a steel bulwark thick 3”. With a double screw and 200hp horsepower was a speed of 3 mile spossinle. On the first bridge were 12-15cm guns and on the second bridge 8-26 cm guns. The crew numbered 250 men. Building costs 400,000 pound sterling, the reporter wrote that must be a mistake and that the actual building costs were 40,000 pound sterling.(2)
Notes
1. Identical to vice admiral baron Akamatsu Noriyoshi (13 December 1841 Edo, Japan-23 September 1920 Mitsukecho, Seto, Acichi, Japan), in 1889 commander-in-chief of the Sasebo Naval Division. Studied shipbuilding and science in the Netherlands between 1862-1868.
2. The Mechanics, volume XI, dated January 1889 added that the vessel had a length of 150 feet and a draught o 5.5 feet. The deck of this vessel was covered by 3” steel, her sides with 2” armour and the fort with 12” armour. One engine. In stead of two bridges this magazine said decks. Building costs for one fort was 2,000,000 US dollars.
Sources
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