The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-26
LAUNCH OF THB OREGON
Uncle Sans New Battle
Ship to Start on Its
Career.
IMPOSING CEREMONIES.
Description Of the Latest Ad-
ditiOn to The United
States Navy.

SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 26, 1898. Every
thing is ready for the launch OF the bat
tleship Oregon. which will take place
this afternoon, according to the pro-
gramme already printed.
The Oregon" the third of the thres
coast line battle ships launched, was
authorized by act OF Congress approved
June 30, 1890, appropriating for the con-
struction of three battle ships, at an
individual cost not exceeding four mil.
lions Of dollars.
Bids were opened October 1. 1890, and
the Union Iron works of San Francisco,
Cal, was awarded one of these crafts at
contract price of So, 18O, 600.
The Oregon" is built of steel. The
hull is protected by balts of heavy
armor 1-2 feet wide, three feet of which
is above water. This protection runs
along both sides of the vessel for dis
tance of 148 feet. amldsnfps, at the ex-
Irem1ties or which the armor turns IN
toward the centre line at an angle OF 45
degrees for longitudinal distance OF "a
feet. affordirg total broadside protec-
lIAOh VA A0O A0c6t aAu phbSluR ATOuuQ auW
supporting the armor for the 13~inch guu
turrets. On top of this side armor is
placed q steel deck 2% inches thick,
under which are the magazines and
| machinery. Above this belt of side
armor and extending from redoubt to
| redoubt, the sides are five inches thick,
with backing OF ten feet Of coRI.5 =;
The vessel is cut up forward, beneath
the water-lne. making a powerful ram
| bow, and doing away with excessive
| bow waves on account of the easier lines
| so obtained as well rs greatly adding to
tie maDGuvring qualities.
| The principal dimensions are:-LenRth
on water line. 34S feet; breadth, extreme,
| 69I feet: draught, forward and aft, "a
| feet; displacement, 10, 0,2S8 tons; sustained
sea speed. Is Knots; normal coal supply
400 tons.
l. OFFENSIVE EQUIPMENT.
Between the turrets of the 1S-inch q ms
| there Is superstrueture In which :, re-
placed the 6-inch guns, and above or
| upon the deck, erected thereon, are
| placed the S~inch guns. A battery OF g.
| Founders Is arranged along the top OF
| the hammock berthtng and bridge. aud
| 1-pounders are placed two forward and
| two aft, one on either side, on the berth
deck. In the tops OF the double topped
military mast are placed four Gatling
guus, two in each top.
The batteries will consist of:-Main-4
| IS inch breechloaG1nR rifles, 8 inch
I hreecb oadIng rifles, 4 inch breeohload~
ing rifles. and, secondary, 20 6 FOUNDER
rapid fire guns, FOUNDER rapid flre
guns and Calling guns.
In addition to the foregoing offensive
phase OF the ship there are six torpedo
tubes, one bow. one stern and four broad
side, two on either side, just abaft and
| forward of the forward and after barr
| bettes, respectively.
1
pairs in two barbette turrets. forward aud
sbaft the superstructure, on the main
deck, The lower part of the turrefs.
called the barbette, Is 17-iHches thick,
while the turret proper, which arises
above this wall OF armor, Is .15%fnches
thick.
/ THE GUNS.
The S-inch guns are mounted 10 pairs In
four turrsts of similar character. TWO on
either side. on the forward and after ex4
tremities of the superstructure deck.
The four 6~inch guns, two on each
side. are placed amidships on the main
deck. These guns will have local pro-
lection in addition to splinter bulkheads,
shields. and automatic shutters.
The 13-inch guns have an effective arc
of fire of 276 degrees. These guns are
mounted about seven and half fee5
above the water line. The S.inch guns
are about twenty-five feet above the
| wafer lkUo, anu are nlRU 6uOuRu Go uf0
over the 13'incu turrets. These guns
have radius of action of 164 degrees.
ENGINES
The engines are of the twin screw,
vertical, triple expansion. inverted cylin>
der type, diameter OF cylinders being as
follows: High pressure 81 5; intermediate
pressure, 4S: low pressure, 70, with q
stroke of 40 inches. There are four
double-ended boilers 1Sx15 In diameter,
and TWO single-snded boilers (donksy)
SISx10 in diameter. Each boiler and
engine is In separate water tight com
partments, IN order 20 localizs possible
injury.
While the normal coal supply is 400
tons, there is a coal bunker capacity of
1,S00 tonR.
The complement will consist Of AIS per-
sons. officers aud men. Good quarters
and accommodations have been pro-
vided, and all the latest sanitary i'm
provemeuts will be Installed to ensure
efficiency and thoroughness in lighting
ventilatinR and draining.
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