The gunboat Eber is an improved vessel of the Wolf type, but differs
from other vessels of its class in that it has not a complete iron hull,
only the frame and deck beams being of iron, while the planking is of
wood and yellow metal. No copper is used on the bottom. The "composite
system" of building is looked upon with favor for ships of this kind,
because iron vessels which are kept permanently at stations in the
tropics soon become overgrown in spite of good care, and thus suffer a
great loss of speed. In a wooden vessel the crew's quarters are better
and more healthful than in iron vessels, for they are not as much
affected by the temperature outside of the ship.
The greatest length of the Eber is about 245 ft.; its breadth, 26 ft.;
its depth, 14 ft.; and it has a displacement of about 500 tons. The
armament will consist of three long 5 in. guns in center pivot
carriages, and a small number of revolvers. One of the former will be
placed at the stern on the quarter deck, and the two others on the
forecastle. Some of the revolvers will be on the quarter deck and some
on the forecastle, care being taken to arrange the guns so as to obtain
the widest possible range, thus enabling the ship to protect itself
perfectly.
[Illustration: THE NEW GERMAN GUNBOAT EBER.]
The Eber is provided with a two-cylinder, compound engine, which can
generate 650 horse power, giving the vessel a speed of 11½ knots. The
coal bunkers are so large that the ship can travel 3,000 miles at a
speed slightly less than that just mentioned without requiring a fresh
supply of coal. The rigging is the same as in iron vessels of the Wolf
class, and the sails are sufficiently large to allow the vessel to
proceed without steam. The ship will carry about 90 men, including
officers, crew, engineers, and firemen.
A sum of $145,000 was appropriated for the construction and equipment of
the Eber, which was begun at Kiel in the latter part of 1885, and was
launched February 15, 1887.--_Illustrirte Zeitung_.
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