Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-11-17


the hull The lower portion of the hull
instead of being parabolic, as in other
vessels, is diSh-shaped up to Il sharp
''knuckle," which runs completely
around the vessel, forming a sharp
blade, the edge of which is ordinarily
six inches beneath the surface Of the
water, but one foot below at the fight
ing draught. This bladelike side is a
most notable characteristic Of the ram.
1t was adopted not only to facilitate
exit from an enemy's hull after ram
ming, but in order that, after striking
an antagonists side, the latter might
be ripped-indeed, literally cut-away.
1t also increases the destructive effect
of a gigantic blow and at the same
time increases the rams structural
strength. Above this ''knuckle,' or
blade, the shape of the hull is chat Of
a circular arc with a radius amidshipS
Of about thirty-nine feet. There is
thus formed a curved Neck, or turtle
back which is a11l,ured throughout,
the thickness of armOr tapering from
six inches at the ''knuckle' TO two in
ches at the crown of deck. Below the
'knuckle' extends an armOr belt five
feet deep, the thickness of this belt
taperirg from six to three inches. The
walls of the coming tower are eighteen
inches thick. The lower portions of
the smokestack and the ventilators are
protected with six inches of armor
All the &rmOr is of steel.
The new boat is to be lighted with
electricity throughout and she will be
submerged to fighting trim by means
of Kingston valves in the various wat
Cr-tight compartments. Artificial air
is to be supplied through ducts con-
nected with the armOred yentilatOrs.
The force draft system will consist of
two blowers for each fire room, de-
livering into an alright fihe room
There will also be steam reversing
gear, ash-hoist, turning engines, auXil-
larry pumps, engine room ventilating
fans and distilling apparatus.
The vessel is being constructed with
a double bottom the entire length, two
feet between the shells, and divided
into numerous cells The framing is
on the longitudinal system, and great
strength is given to the structure by
the longitudinals and Orders being con-
tinued from stem to stern. The YER
teal keel, four of the longitudinal
frames, and the armOr shelves are to
be water-tight. At every twenty feet
the transverse frames are also - be
Water-tight, so that the space between
the outer and inner shells is divided
into more than seventy-five Water-tght
compartments. The vessel above the
inner shell is divided by transverse
and longitudinal bulkheads into thirty
two water-tight compartments, making
in all about 100 compartments.
The engines are to be of the hori-
zontal, directacting triple-expansion
type, with cylinders SO and So inches
in diameter and SO inches stroke. The
indicated horsepower will be 1890, at
$50 revolutions a minute. Each en-
CINE will have an auxiliary condenser,
With combined air and circulating
pump. The boat will have two double
ended boilers 13 feet inches in diane
ter by II feet inches long, and one
Single-ended boiler of the same dimen-
sions all for Il working pressure of 100
pounds to the square inch.
1t is interesting to note that there is
but one vessel in the world which
bears even the remOtest resemblance to
the Ammen ram. This is the British
torpedo ram Polyphemus, a vessel
built some eleven years ago. She is
slightly larger than the Ammen ram,
displacing 2,640 tons. She is Of steel.
with twin screws, and has a speed Of
about eighteen knots. She has a ''t1lr-
tle-back" deck, and possesses certain
other points of resemblance to the
Ammen ram, from which she differs,
however, in the underwater contour
and construction of her hull, and also
in the fact that she is not exclusively
Il ram, but is intended largely, if not
mainly to fight with torpedoes. She
is chiefly interesting as showing that
a vessel of low freeboard, turtle
back" ard high speed may be both
stable and seaworthy.
The result of the trials of the Am
men ram are to be looked for with
the greatest interest, both by the pro-
fessional and the on-professional OBJ
server. There can be no doubt that
she will be a valuable addition to the
United States navy if she should full
fill the contract requirements.