An item reported that the Dutch navy lieutenants 1st class Jhr. A. Klerck and 2nd class J. Phaff were sent with the Dutch schooner Zr. Ms. Atalante to attend the British naval review of Spithead, Engeland in 1856. At that moment was the so-called Crimean War (16 October 1853-30 March 1856) in which the United Kingdom was involved ended. However the results and demands of this war became clear during their visit. In a report to the minister of Navy they described what they saw. The Atalante left on 7th April arriving at Portsmouth, England on the 14th where they were spoke the British vice admiral Sir Geroge Seymour, commanding officer there. The worse weather conditions prevented visiting the ships on the roads. As alternative were instead the gunboats in the harbour visited. They pointed out those boats were built to serve over seas in the latest war and not for the coastal defence of the United Kingdom.
In the opinion of the Dutch navy officers was the fact that the British Royal Navy lacked flotilla vessels the main reason for the unemployment of the Baltic fleet in 1854-1855. This was compensated by the building of around 200 gunboats and 200 mortar boats by private shipyards. The gunboats were small steamships with as rough dimensions 35 x 8 metres and a tonnage of 235 British tons. There were 3 types namely with 20,40 and 60hp although of the latter type the largest number, the difference between the type was just a slight different draught and around 20 tons smaller tonnage although with a similar armament. The largest type had a draught of 7 feet, the smaller types just 4-5 feet. All screw propelled without the possibility to lift the screw and with direct drive high pressure steam engines.
Source
Verhandeling en berigten betrekkelijk het Zeewezen, de Zeevaartkunde en de daarme in verband staande wetenschappen, 2nd part. Jacob Swart. 1856.
In the opinion of the Dutch navy officers was the fact that the British Royal Navy lacked flotilla vessels the main reason for the unemployment of the Baltic fleet in 1854-1855. This was compensated by the building of around 200 gunboats and 200 mortar boats by private shipyards. The gunboats were small steamships with as rough dimensions 35 x 8 metres and a tonnage of 235 British tons. There were 3 types namely with 20,40 and 60hp although of the latter type the largest number, the difference between the type was just a slight different draught and around 20 tons smaller tonnage although with a similar armament. The largest type had a draught of 7 feet, the smaller types just 4-5 feet. All screw propelled without the possibility to lift the screw and with direct drive high pressure steam engines.
Source
Verhandeling en berigten betrekkelijk het Zeewezen, de Zeevaartkunde en de daarme in verband staande wetenschappen, 2nd part. Jacob Swart. 1856.
