Proposal for a floating dock annex battery in

The (re-)introduction of steam power in the navies, first as auxiliary propulsion next to sailing, but later replacing it, new weapons like the torpedo, ancient weapons like the ram, armoring ships etc. resulted in a tsunami of ideas, patents, (never realized) designs from officers and constructors within the navies and merchant shipping and by private persons like inventors or just those interested in naval affairs. Partly to be trace in newspapers and (scientific) magazines. A nice example is the idea of a certain Mr. John W. Winton living at 13, Gladstone-street who sent 15 May a small letter with sketch to the editors. His idea: dual purpose of the large iron made floating docks. How this is realized he explained in the next text, as far as I can trace (at the moment) nothing is done with thus suggestion.

“The middle compartment of such a structure [floating dock] is merely tot unite the basement with the top chamber, the water simply flowing into the middle chamber, and flowing out again; no pumping, as erroneously supposed, is require to fill or empty this - so I have utilized this space, by forming it into a powerful battery, the great base on platform of the dock enabling me to place therein guns of the heaviest calibre. The dock has a semicircular front, and at the back a caisson is fitted, so as to insure great stability for docking ironclads, the form of the battery resembling an elongated horse-shoe with intended embrasures, so as to be able to fire right ahead, when the dock is securely moored. The design being simply to protect our harbours and mouths of rivers, and as the guns would be heavier that what van possibly be carried ou board ship, I would merely armour-plate the top and sides of mid-chamber, and the top of basement, to protect it from vertical fire, depending on the heavy guns to keep without reach of the enemy’s shot. When the dock is used for docking purposes, the ports would be filled with suitable water-tight doors.”

Source

The Mechanics’ Magazine and Journal of Engineering, Agricultural Machinery, Manufactures and Shipbuilding, dated 22 May 1868, page 396.