Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-08-05
TINE RARBOR DEFENCE RAM.
The Third Of Maines Contributions TO The
Steel May About Ready Tor the Water.

WARRINGTON, Aug. i.-t,ne OF tue most
novel and interesting vessels of the new
dee, is the harhor defence ram. authorized
by the act of March ,, lSs9, and very soon
TO be launched, She is now under con-
struc,ion at the Bath Iron Works, and pains
will he taken to make her appearance on
the water a memorable event. The wife of
Senetor Hale has been invited to name the
craft, and the North Atlantic squadron,
under Admiral Ghcrardi. is expected To hc
present at the ceremony.
The bids for this vessel which were
called for on the 18th of October, lsao,
were opened on the 10Th of December fol-
lowing and the contract for her construct
ion was awarded on the 2sth of January,
1891, at the price of saS0, 900 for the hull
and machinery, TO the Bath Iron Works,thc
builders of the gunboats Machias and
Castine,
These contractors proposed and obtained
permission to add about eight feet 10 the
length of the vessel, with corresponding
increase of displacement of about lR3 tons
This increase allows much larger coal
CARRYING capacity, which now reaches about
lso tons; while the shape of the stem is
altered so as To obtain greater strength and
better ,manruering qualities. and the height
of the coming tower has been increased,
The vessel is built after the designs of
Rear Admiral Daniel Ammen of the reu red
list who is well known AS the leading al
vocatc in the American navy of the ram as
an appliance in naval warfare. II has
length on load water line of $50 feet and
. inches, u breadth of Is feet ! inches, and
"A mean iraughi of Is feet giving a dis
placement of 2ls3 tons, Her engines,
which are of the twin-screw, triple eSpan-
sion type, are to develop maximum of
$500 Indicated horse power, which should
give the contract speed of Il knots per
hour.
4 premium of Sl5 900 will hc allowed for
each quarter knot in excess of that rate.
and she may reach Is knots, since her mo-
tive machinery was really designed for that
speed, on displacement of 1850 tons.
Each engine is independent of the other. in
separate water-tight compartment; and
there are four boilers in two separate com
partmcnts, with forced draugh, produced
by closed fire rooms.
The hull is designed upon the longiiudi-
nal and bracket system, with an inner bottom
extending from the collision bulkhcad to the
stern The longitudinals and gir'lcrs sup
porting the deck are continuous, convcrging
to the stem casting and to the stern, the
frames and beams being in,ercosial. The
space between the inner and outer skin is
suhlivided into y compartments and 30
more between the inner skin and the deck
,rmor make up 1902 compartments.
Sh, will be a quccr-looking craft. With n
tur,le-hack deck. above which will show
oply her coming tower. smoke pipe anh
yen,,la,ors. with the hatch coa,niugs aud
skid beams for the boats Originally it
was intended that she should carry no arma-
ment whatever; but it has since been de
ej.lcd To give her four small rapid fire guns
of 6-pounder callbrc, simply NJ II defence
against torpedo craft. For her offensive
work she will rely wholly on her ram,
which is of wrought steel and removable.
but accurately fitted aud securely held in
position in the cast-stccl stem.
Being eigar-shaped in general appear
ance she will rely much on her curved
deck tn defect shot that may strike her.
The armor is not very heavy. but will be
aided by this curvature. The outside strakc
of the deck armor is .ix inches thick the
next strake inboad tapcrs from ) l-2 To