The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-18
OUR SO-CALLED NAVY.
Recommendations of Chief Naval Constructor
Wilson as to It's Needs

Recommendations of Chief Naval Cons nstructor
Wilson as to It's Needs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-Chief Naval Con-
structor Wilson, in his annual report, estimates
for completing the four double -turretted moni-
tors as follows: For the Puritan, 1866 342 for
the Terror, $627, 1885, for the Amphtrite $685.
5S4, and for the Monadnock, $7O1, ,442. He also
asks $500 900 for building the huls of new steel
vessels. He submits his views with regard to
the dimensions and character of the new ves-
sells, which he recommends shall consist of one
of 1000 tons,i one of 2, 400, one of 3,6O0 one of
5000, one of $500 tons, and two of 5000 tons
displacement.
The following are the dimensions and few of
the characteristics which he mentions as re-
qulred by these vessels: The 7,500-ton ship
should be sea going armed vessel 320 feet long,
oy OF feet In breadth, and with mean draught
or "a feet. 1t should have covered gun deck, a
main battery equal to four ten-nch and six six
inch breech-loading rifles; a secondary battery
OF IA Hotchkiss cannon and the necessary num-
Der OF boat-guns and full complement of tor
pedoes to discharge, both above and below the
water-line The bow should be of modified
ram shape, and possess sufficient strength, that
the vessel might be used as a ram.
She should be able to steam 16a knots per hour.
The 5,OOO-ton ship (for belted cruiser) should
De o3O feet long, with breadth of fifty seven
feet, and mean draucht of twenty-one feet four
inches. 1t should have a covered gun deck and
a main battery equal to two ten-fnch and eight
slx-inch breechloading ri1ed guns The sec
ondary battery should consist of not more than
thirteen Hotchkiss cannons, and the necessary
boat guns and torpedo battery 1t should be
bulit OF steel, and possess sufficient strength to
De used as ram, and have a speed of III knots.
The 3,6O0-ton cruiser should be 300 feet long and
forty SIX feet wide, with a mean draught of
eighteen feet six inches; have a main battery Of
two elghtinch and six six-inch breech hoading
rifles, full torpedo outfit, and secondary bat
terry of eight Hotchkss guns, and p speed of
eighteen knots. The 2 400 ton cruiser should be
25O feet long, fortytwo feet in breadth, with
mean draught Of seventeen feet; a main battery
of eight six-inch and two fve-inch breech-load-
ing rifles; secondary battery Of eight Hotchkiss
cannon, and a speed of fifteen and half knots.
The 2,OO0-ton cruiser should be 2l5 feet long and
forty feet in extreme breadth, with a draught Of
sixteen feet Its main battery should be equal
to eight six-inch breech-oading rifles; its second
,ary battery of Hotchkss cannon, and speed o.
fourteen knots.
The early completion of the double turreted
monitors, for coast defense, as the best type of
vessels for that purpose, is strongly recommend
iary steam-power barque-rigged vessels, of 5000
tons. to take the place of the old sailing sloops,
Saratoga, jamestown and Portsmouth. Con-
structor Wilson describes the condition of the
vessels of the navy at the several yards, and
submits estimates of amounts required to COM
pete the work of construction or of repair which
each required. He recommends the consolida-
tion of work at one large navy-yard, preferably
that of Philadelphia.