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designed for protection against heavy seas, and she has a poop covering the stern gun. Her draught is about 19 feet, and about 17 feet forward. She is constructed with numerous water-tight compartments. The nominal horse-power of the engines is 450, and the speed of the vessel on her trial trip was at the rate of about 13 knots an hour. The vessel ordered for South Australia should, in addition to her battery and ramming power, be fitted for propelling the Whitehead torpedo.
A vessel of this description would probably be less costly than one like the "Cerberus,' and would be also capable of going to sea, whilst the "Cerberus" is essentially a harbour- defence vessel.
be consulted.
Before finally deciding, however, on the nature of war vessel to be obtained for the Her Majesty's defence of South Australia, it is most desirable that a communication should be made to Government should Her Majesty's Government, with a view of obtaining the opinion of the Admiralty as to the precise description of ship they would recommend, and in order to ascertain the expense which it would be necessary for the Colony to incur for providing such vessel, as also for manning and maintaining her.
It is, indeed, most desirable that the drawings for the vessel, the contract for building her, and the supervision of the work should be undertaken by the Admiralty, provided Her Majesty's Government can make arrangements for meeting the wishes of the South Australian Government in this respect.
It should be observed that it will be unnecessary to have a full complement of officers Manning of the and men on board the vessel except during war. In peace-time there should be a commander vessel. in charge, two lieutenants, two engineers, two gunners, one paymaster, twenty-five petty officers, seamen, and stokers, and about twenty boys. The additional crew during war- except extra engineers and stokers, who would have to be specially engaged-could be supplied by seamen, organized as a Naval Reserve, properly trained during peace-time, and receiving an annual payment for their services.
Adelaide and Port
As regards the defence of the capital of the Colony and its port, it is desirable to Land defences guard against the chance of the war vessel not being on the spot at the required moment, recommended for and of some little time elapsing before she could arrive at the scene of attack.
It should, Adelaide. moreover, be observed, that local defences at the capital would render the war-vessel more readily available for general defence.
With this view, I think it desirable---
(a.) That a battery for three heavy guns of 18 tons weight should be constructed on the sand-hills near the Semaphore, and another for two 12-ton guns (already in the Colony) should be placed about three miles to the north of it:
(b.) That the military road, already in course of construction, should be extended so as to afford ready communication behind the sand-hills for field guns and infantry from Lefevre's Peninsula to Marino:
(c.) That a few electro-contact torpedoes should be provided, to be placed across the Port Creek: and
(d.) That a force necessary for manning the defences and opposing a landing should be maintained:
The force I would recommend to be maintained is as follows :-
For land defence-
Permanent Artillery
Volunteer Artillery
Volunteer Cavalry
Volunteer Infantry
Total
Force required.
Officers and Men.
80
100
60
700
940
This number is irrespective of the small permanent naval force, about 50 strong, and the naval reserve, about 150 strong, which will be required for the proposed war-vessel.
The capital cost of the scheme I recommend would be approximately as follows:-
Battery at Semaphore
Military road and works connected therewith
Field guns, torpedo stores, buildings, and contingencies
Total
£
10,000
15,000
10,000
35,000
This is irrespective of the cost (probably 150,000l.) of an iron-clad war-vessel, with armament complete, with reference to which communication should in the first instance be made to Her Majesty's Government.
Estimated capital expenditure.
The following is an approximate estimate of the annual expenditure :~~-~
Estimated annual expenditure.
[793]
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