New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-18
WASHINGTON.

NEW IDEAS IN NAVAL WARFARE.
BATTERY BrARING SHIPS TO re DRIVEN PROM THE
sEAs-COMNoDOgE AMMEN'S IDEA AS TO Rms
A MoDEt/oF That SORT OF VESSEL
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-Commodore Ammen,
Chairman of tho Bureau Of Navigation has written q
letter TO the Navy Department In regard 10 proposed
marine ram. lie says:
It may be worth while Ia state that Commodore Barron
and Commodore Vi. = Perry OF our navy, quarter
this subject but le perhaps the embodiment o the idea
undoue Abroad we ind ia tue British aud oief ser
vices eminent constructors VINO pronounce po-lIlNt
opinions upon the effectiveness Of tie mariue ram Al
Tissa, gave practical illustration oi the power Of ram
ming m vessel not specially constructed for the pun
without intention. showed the allacy OF ght com
parmcnts at least IN ordinary models ia snhhS ne
Vanguard. IL seems suPcriuous IN view OF the
facts argue the value the marine ram.
lrmOr plated. gnn-healug vessels costing sr,Si"i mn
lions oi dollars have either De built maintained, ana
kept IN repair, the nation not having them must pos
scss tHe power 10 destiny then lls the inatho I"n
as umes cn-iOd IL significance. IL i Tar I"
presume that II a marine ram be built, IN round
numbers, for third o million dollars, which would a.
OF fleet he more than match for an arnoi-laUd
Gu-hearing ship forming OF hect, which "0udc"-
S30O0oO0; and il lno former would be manned py 10
" 20 men, ana the latter ny 400 on JoO, Tue cuH au
maintenance in time OF peace and effectiveness III time
OF war would clearly he IN iayor Of ieet oil marine I'
rather than one OF appropriated, g-Deaiing 5hiPs.
II the De found superior Tor this purpose To arip
plated lun bearing essels, II If plain that no nation
continue 10 Ddld men, rom re I@'t 't me- 49,
place themselves IN position to Use thelt batcs
the works OF an enemy lOa-tsAihE idiu1
The points IF construction ot marine ram are ye, uA
solved out the most effective must cmbUdy the i"lo"
Ing: l. other things being equal economy 81 constr ,
ton - the greatest speed possible IN combination win
other csSc Ial qualities; - great iaellity0 miie'N't
J. immunity from INJURY ln fiihihh- IN 'H ny 80.
greatest powers Cl resistance Whcn Idi4td "I 4'''f-
ire Ot a enemy. 81, !,
kecpng the above considerations in view, the WORK
Ing drawings OF proposed ram aro submitted by Com
modore Alnmcn to the Department. The ram viii he
I75 feet long with 80 feet BEAM exclusive Of thrce ee
OF sponsors on each side of the body OF the vessel 30
feet each side midships viii bo symmetrical; beyond
this ends taper inciosed by parabuc curves Tore
and aft All cross sections viii be formed by two semi!
eipses the deeper forming the bottom, the other
the part OF the vessel above the line OF greatest BEAM
The vessel viii be combination u the longitudinal hnd
bracket frame systems and composed OF =
grders built up Of plate and angle irons 10
break Joints. aud thus continuous grder. The ran
viii be casting Of tempered st,el, having solid end
inside bein hollow cylinder with radlalsg iiahScs
east around IT, 10 which The grers VIII BE- ryctcd. The
vessel viii covered with outer and an inner plating
o. iron TIC ordinary draft viii Dc IL feet BY allowing
water in the lower compartments she may b. sunk oi
acrion to 3 feet showing feet only Out Of water The
pot-ouse will be "a small turrct OF 6nch steel plates,
feet high above the crown OF the vessel, Pre-. citing
feet below and incl0sing tho smokestacbs 10 protect
them The total weight Of the VIII be sJI tons dis
placement 70 tons. With velocity OF II knots an
hour it can give blow or impact of 1920 ions. Tie
plans will re examined by secfctary Robson and the
matter pIooaby bIcas to the al nOn Of Congress