New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-19
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THE DECK PLAN.

The ram has had many enemies since the idea
was first officially suggested to the Advisory
Board during Secretary Hunts administration in
1882, at which time it was recommended to build
five such vessels. But not until March ., 1889,
iust before the Cleveland Administration expired,
did Congress take decisive action, and then it
authorized one to be built. The design was then
sent to the Bureau Of Construction, since which
time that Bureau and also the Bureau Of Steam
Engineering have been at work perfecting the
plans.
The vessel is described as "a twin-screw armor
plated harbor defence ram. upon the design of
Rear-Admiral Daniel Ammen, L. s. NJ" Its
principal features are: Length over all, 234
feet: length on water-line, 242 3-a feet; ex-
IRENE breadth of beam, AZ feet inches: breadth
on water-line, Al feet 10 inches: draught amid
ships, Is feet displacement 1850 tons; in
dicated horsepower, 4,aOo speed, II knots. 1t
would thus be seen that her horsepower is more
than double that of the displacement, and this
should give her great speed as well as quick
turning capacity. The vessel is designed upon
the longitudinal and bracket system with an
inner bottom extending from the collision bulk
head to the stern
The lOngitudinas and girders supporting the
deck are TO be continuous, converging to the stem
casting and TO the stern, the frames and beams to
be intercosta The vertical keel, two Longitude
halls and armor- shelf on each side of the vertical
keel are TO be water-tight, forming transversely
Blk Compartments these being divided longitude
nally by water-tight frames BY this means the
space between the inner and outer skin will be
kubdkided into seventy-twO compartments. The
transverse and longitudinal bulkheads between the
Inner skin and deck-armor will divide this space
Into thirty compartments. making a total Of o2
3v no Tl,a -1,oa Iuill
be a removable one will be of the best forged
steel; and will be accurately fitted and securely
held in position in the caststeel stem. There will
be an inner keel, an outer keel and a vertical
keel fitted to the bottom. The keelson plates.
outside and inner plating, longitudinals, frame
angles, bulkhead plates and floor plates will be
of the best tested steel and unusually heavy. The
outside strake of the deckamor is to be six inches
In thickness; the next strake inboard to taper In
thickness In its breadth from five and one-half to
two and one-half inches. The remainder of the
aeck plating is to be two and one-half inches in
thickness, including the lower course Of plating.
The side armOr is to be two strakcs in depth, the
upper to be six inches in thickness and the lower
three inches, to be secured by bolts with counter
sunk heads driven from the outside through wood
backing Of yellow pine and two backing plates.
All matches through the armored deck are to have
are to have inclined armor six inches in thickness.
The coming tower is to be eighteen inches in
thickness.
This is the arrangement of quarters for officers
AMI crew: The ward-room is to be on the after
berth-dcck, just abaft the engine-room bulkhead,
into which will open seven stateroons and pam
try. Abaft the officers quarters will be BERTH
ing space for o portion Of the crew, the forward
berth-deck being designed entirely for the crew.
The engines are to be triple expansion and of
the horizontal type, each engine to be in sep
srate compartment There will be four cylin-
dYical horizontal fre-tube boilers placed in two
Nater-tight compartments The engines are to
develop $500 horsepower under forced draft
with a corresponding speed Of seventeen knots
Hgh0 sufficient for lighting all parts Of the YES
eel, and they will be arranged In duplicate 30 as
90 guard against accident. The drainage system
is TO be 80 arranged that any compartment can De
pumped out by the steam pumps. The vessel is
10 be submerged to fighting trim by means Of four
teen Kingston valves; one n each transverse
Eluice valves will be fitted in the vertical keel and
In tie water-tight longitudinab Of these COM
The foul air is to be exhausted from all parts
of the vessel by means Of blowers in the engine
and fire rooms The fresh air is to be supplied
iesdins along the under side Of deck forward and
Aft The only projections above the armoI-deck
VIII Be The coming tower. smokepipe, ventilatos,
4ns 'S Ssye ' ne
armament and L. to rely entirely upon the ramming
for her offensive powers.
Although this vessel d novel in it's design and
buff q an experiment. the British Admiralty
tiled o similar experiment years ago In building
the Polyphemus. The Ammen ram is similar to
three feet shorter, three feet narrower. but has
1--we feet greater drsught and 500 tons greater
displacement with eighttenths OF knot greater
Sron . detail to tie Polyphemus a. Q species Of
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