New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-13
A BIG VAR VESSEL COMING HERE
ENGLAND SENDING THE BLAKE TO BE FLAG.
SHIP IN THESE WATERS.

ENGLAND SENDING THE BLAKE TO BE FLAG
SHIP IN THESE WATERS.
The big 9OOO-ton armored cruiser Blake. which
sci is looked upon of the "crack' ships of the
British Navy, is being fitted out at the Portsmouth
Dockyard England, to become the flagship Of Admiral
Hopkins, commandnnt Of the North American Station.
There Is doubt that the arrival OF this vessel in
Of the harbors of the Atlantic coast of the United
States especially of NewYork will create decided
sensation since few other naval vessels of the world
have been talked written about more than the
Blake. She was first designed as a protected cruiser
but changes were made In her plans before her hull
completed. so that she finished as arnored
cruiser Not an inch Of vertical armor has been put
upon her. but she has oval steel roof turtle back
covering the entire hull.
Writers naval subjects have frequently compared
the Blake with the armored cruiser Maine, build
ing at the New-York Navy Yard. but she Is much
larger vessel, a comparison Of the dimensions OF
each would show. Since the armored cruiser New
York is almost far advanced as the Maine, a
comparison Of her with the Blake would be a better
one and this will show that the latter vessel Is not
superior in every sense, notwithstanding the fact that
she is nearly thousand tons greater in displacement
Length over al........ $50 feet ca inches 37j feet
Disrlae ement ............ $3.50 tons Q o0o tons
Speed dstinated ..... 90 knots 20 knots
At the Official steam trial of the Blake November
10 her maximum horsepower developed was only
1885, and her maximum speed 1928 knots.
Thus she fell short in both the estimated horsepower
and speed.
The armament Of the NewYorii will be main
battery of six 8inch breechlOadhg rifles and twelve
4inch breech loading rifles and secondary battery OF
eight e-ponnder and four 1poundcr rapidfring guns,
and four Calling guns
The Blake's armament consists of two 0.2-inch or
Atom guns, mounted in armored tOwers-one at the
bow and one at the stern; ten 6-inch rapid firing
guns-sX the spar deck and four the main deck
mounted in casemates; sixteen 3pounder rapid firing
guns, Nordenfeldt machine guns, and four Ia
inch Whitehead torpedo tubes.
The main battery Of the Blake will throw a weight
Of metal at discharge of 760 pounds, while that
Of the NewYork will be only 1858 pounds But the
main battery Of the New York be handled with
greater facility and the discharge of metal would DO
greater in given time There is one material d fer
ence, and 1T is in favor of the NewYork according
the general opinion Of Navy officers between the two
vessels The fighting deck OF the Blake is twenty
feet above the water line while that of the New-Yors
Will be only about sixteen feet. The advantage claimed
for this by the British designers is that la heavy
seaway, causing the vessels to roll deeply the Blake
would be able 20 fight her guns while the Newly rk
might be rolling hers muzzle under. Even supposing
doubted IL is not probable that naval battle would
take place between two ships under such conditions
besides the Blake presents much greater target for
the enemy's guns.