Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-17
WARSHIPS BEING BUILT.
and Number, but the United States and
Spain Lead in Speed - Interesting and

Spain Lead in speed - Interesting and
Valuable Statistics.
Every year the warships built by the vari-
Gus nations are much better than those of
year before. This year every country is
adding to its navy, and the statistics shown
by Brossey's annual are valuable as well as
interesting.
Beginning with our own country, it is
seen that we have building and rebuilding
twelve armored ships of a total displace-
ment of 72,720 tons. OF the building IRON
c!ads, there are three coast-line battle ships
of 10, 800 tons each, one armored cruiser of
8, $50 tons, one turret ship of $500 tons, one
coast service turret ship of 1000 tons, and
one ram of 2,O5o tons. This gives a total ar
mored building displacement of 400 tons,
or an average of little more than 1900 tons
per ship.
In the matter of speed the new construc-
tion ranges from 16 krots to % knots. In
armament, the heavy guns from s inches,
the calibre of the New York's, to 13 inches,
the calibre of the battle ships. In armor
the range Is from inches in thickness. on
the New York, to Is inches, on the battle
ships.
Great Britain has building eight battle
ships of total displacement of lO9,550 tons.
Seven of these have Il displacement of IA, loo
tons apiece, and one has a displacement of
10, 800 tons. In speed they range from 17.5
knots to Is knots; i'll armament, from 1Olnch
guns to l3}5-inch guns: in armor from IL
inches in thickness to Is inches.
French Ships of Various Kinds.
In France the armored tonnage building
varies from an armored gunboat of /, ,045 tons
to a battle ship of 1000 tons. The aggregate
tonnage is s7,961 TONS belonging to Is ships,
which gives mean displacement per ship
of nearly $500 tons. The speeds vary from
l3 knots to 10 knots: the.great guns from rs
inches in diameter to G3.4 inches; and the
thickness of armor from 8 inches to 1734
inches.
Italy is building one 13 259-ton battle ship
of Is knots speed armed with 13.4-inch guns,
and armored with Is inches of metal. No
other armored ship is given by Lord Brassey
as building. A second similar battle ship is
to be laid down.
Germany is at work on two classes of ves-
sels-four barbette battle ships of 10000 tons
each and four armored cruisers of g. 500 tons
each. These eight ships have an aggregate
tonnage of "a 600 TONS an average of q, 100 per
ship. The speeds of all are given as Is knots;
the armaments range from 9.5inch guns to
1l-inch guns. The armor ranges from 95
inches in thickness to 15A inches. The
larger figures belong to the battle ships, the
smaller to the arnOred cruisers.
RusSia's table OF armored ships shows as
great variety as Frances. OF the five YES
sells building two of them are gunboats of
1,500 tons each, two are armored cruisers of
about 10000 tons each and one is q battle
ship of 10 go tons. The sum of these ton
nages gives Il total of 81, 756 on an average of
nearly $3.50 tons apiece. In the matter of
speed the limits are 10 knots and Is knots:
the armaments range from eight-inch guns
to Pinch, and the armor is from five inches
on the gunboats to Is inches on the battle
ship
The newest armored construction in some
of the lesser nations is worth mentioning.
Spain is at work on two 7OO0-tou armored
cruisers, to have the high speed of 20 knots,
mount 1linch guns and carry ten and a half
inch armor. Unfortunate Chile has battle
ship building in France OF $500 tons, 10
knots speed; nine three-inch guns and l2-
inch armor. Denmark has in hand new
155 knots speed and II inches of protection.
Finally, Sweden has turret ship laid down
of 3,070 tons, 15.5 knots speed, ten-inch guns
and ll1a-inch armor.
England's Ships Are the Largest.
England ranks first in average tonnage,
though second in point of numbers Second
in tonnage is Italy, though among the last
in numbers. France in numbers is first, but
fifth in average tonnage, being preceded
by England, Italy, United States, Spain and
Chile in the order named. In the way of
speed, Spain and the United States lead the
world, followed by Chile, France, England,
Russia, Italy, Germany, Denmark and
Sweden. As to ornaments, England mounts
the largest gun, then France and Italy, then
the United States after which come Russia,
Germany, Spain, Denmark and Sweden
with Chile last. In protection, England, the
United States, and Italy stand together, fol-
lowed by France; then in order follow Rus
Sia, Germany, Chile, and Denmark, Sweden,
and last, Spain.
Arranged according to the number of ships
building, England comes first, the United
States, France and Italy second, Germany
third, Portugal fourth, China fifth, then
Japan, Russia, Spain, Austria, Denmark,
Turkey and Brazil. Arranged for total
building tonnage the order is England,
United States, Germany, France, Italy,
Brazil, Denmark, Spain, Turkey. Arranged
in the order of average tonnage per ship,
Brazil leads, then follow England, United
France Italy, China, Denmark, Russia
Turkey, Spain.
England is building six torpedo vessels of
$40 tons each, six 3,5C0-ton cruisers, eight
360-ton crnisers. three of 1850 tons each,
and three of 100 tons each. The speed Of
none is to be below 10 knots; many are ex-
pected to exceed 20 knots. The largest ships
mount one or two 92-inch guns; the medium
sized cruisers carry 6inch guns, and the
torpedo vessels are armed with the 47-inch
rapid firers.
France makes rather poor showing. Her
building operations are confined to small
vessels, as Is seen by the following: There
are four torpedo vessels of 45O tons each,
and two of $50 tons each; of cruisers build
ing, two are of 80 tons, two of 3,027 two
of 37l2, and one of L. 160. The speed of the
smallest is to be Is knots, of the others 10 to
90 The guns in the little ones are inch, in
the big ones 63 inch.
Germany's Fast Torpedo Boats.
Germany's range of tonnage is large. She
is building two 3S0-ton torpedo vessels to go
26 knots, one s00-ton torpedo vessel to go %
knots, two 1,5S0ton cruisers, one 3,5O0-ton
cruiser and three 5,5O9-tonners. On these
last 9.5inch gun is to be mounted; the
other cruisers mount 6-inch guns, and the
torpedo vessels are to carry small rapid
firers. The highest speed, excepting in the
smallest vessels, is to be 20 knots ON the big
cruisers: the medium-sized ships are to go
Is and 10 knots.
Italy is developing two classes of ships
the torpedo vessel, 749 to $40 tons, of which
seven are building, and the small cruiser of
$3.50 tons, five of which are in hand. Her
largest cruiser building is a 3.59O-ton vessel,
to have but II knots speed 20 and 2l knots
are expected from the torpedo vessels, 10
and 20 knots from the others.
Russia, according to Lord Brassey, is con-
structing but four gun vessels for the Baltic
Sea fleet No speed is given; probably IA
knots will be their best. The armament is
to consist of two eight-inch and one sfx-inch
gun on each.
OF the other nations whose building pro-
grammes need notice Portugal comes first.
She is at work on two 600-ton torpedo vessels
of 10 knots of speed. one 641-ton gunboat of
=anN Of