The morning call., 1893-03-01
THE BATrLE-sHTP INDIANA.

embody the acme Of naval architecture and
to be the compeer Of anything afoat equal
In point of guns and size. This means that
in the chances of war the Indiana could lay
alongside of the most powerful vessel in the
world, 'giVe and take" and If the ancient
superiority of American seamen is inher-
tied and the modern promise OF American
success in shipbuilding has been realized,
the chances are that the Indiana would be
the one that would steam into port to tell
the story. The Indiana is intended TO cope
with the most powerful vessel afloat, TO
humble 'the pride" of any navy in the
world.
The principal dimensions of the vessel
are: Length on lead line. 34S feet; breadth.
extreme. co feet inches; draught of water
Qevei keeD, "A feet; displacement, 10,2SS
tons; maximum speed. 162 knots; sustained
sea speed, 10 knots; indicated horsepower,
5000 tons: normal coal supply. 400 tons.
The Indiana is built of steel. with the new
Harveyized Giekel-SIeel armor plates. She
has do3bls bo:tnm for the distapes OF 196
feet, extending for the length covered by
machinery and magazine spaces. Thus all
the vital portions are amply protected and
every feature is provided TO enable her to
cope successfully with vessels of the heay-
lest armor and armament
The forward and after turrets for the 13-
inch guns mark the extremities of obstruc-
tlons upon the main deck from these points
forward and aft to the ends of The vessel,
respectively, no further obstacles present
themselves to an uninterrupted fire, means
having been taken to remove or turn down
any ereetions which might obvlate this end.
Between the turrsts fot the 13-inch guns
there is a superstructure in which are
placed the 6-inch guns, and above. or upon
the deck erected thereon, are placed the
S.inch guns.
A battery Of 6-p0unders is arranged along
the top of the hammock berthing and
bridge, and 1-pounders are placed forward
and aft on the berth deck. The double
top military mast is cone-shaped, placed on
top of the coming tower just abaft OF the
forward 13-ineh gun turret, two 1-pounders
being placed in the lower and tgo Gatling
guns in the upper tops respectively.
There are six powerful seareblights ar
ranged along the sides to locate the enemy
at night and to guard against small boat
attacks under cover Of darkness.
The complement of twelve boats and one
baisa are slowed well above tae flash of the
guns and are handled by means of powerful
cranes.
q The arm ament of the vessel consists of
four 13-inch breech-loading rifles, eight
S-lnch breech-lOading rifles. four 6-inch
breech-loading rifles, twenty 6-pounder
rspid-fire guns, four 1-pounder rapidfr
guns, four Calling guns and six torpedo
tubes. She has, besides, torpedo netting
to protect her from the insidious attacks of
the most destructive OF all modern engines
of naval warfare.
The four 13-inch and the eight S-nch guns
are mounted In pairs within six turrets, two
of which are erected upon the main deck,
and the remaining four upon the super
structure deck. the former containing the
larger ana the latter the lesser guns.
The 6-inch guns have local protection in
addition to splinter bulk kheads, shields and
automatic shutters. The turrets are all
mounted in redoubls. The 13-inch guns are
about eighteen feet above the water and
have an arc Of fire sweeping across the deck
and 40 degrees on both sides back toward
the center ef body of the ship, making a
total arc of FIRE of 270 degrees for the guns
in each of these turrets, thus, as can be
seen, giving a converting fire; /. e., the
power Of training the guns from both ends
toward a common point directly opposite
the middle of the ship, and concentrating
the shot within fifty feet in a straight line
from the ships side in broadside action.
The 8-inch guns are about % feet
above the water. and are high enough
20 fire above the 13-inch gun turret,
having an arc of action of 164 deg, being
able to fire across the center line OF the
ship. the projectile crossing the same before
reaching the ends of the vessel. The 6-inch
guns have train of 145 deg, and can cross
the center line of the ship. extended be-
yond the hull. within 40 feet from either
end of the vessel, showing that the main
battery can train within distance of about
700 feet on either side OF the vessel.
The rapid-fre guns are so arranged that a
radiatng fire of shot around the vessel will
destroy any venturesome torpodo-boat or
other light craft coming within range, and
is particularly effective in forming de-
structve fire against the eudeayors of the
enemy to work such OF their larger guns as
ale only partially protected in action, and
whose effectiveness depends very largely
upon gaining the initiative.
The facilities for handling the ammunition
are Of the best. Passages connecting with
all the magazines run the length of the
armored inclosure, along which and near
TO the armored tubes and passing scuttles
are distributed auxiliary magazines 10 OBJ
viate delay in transmitting ammunition
during an engagement
The armoT-plating of the Indiana is q
revelation in the way of naval defense.
being the most effective ever put upon a
vessel of her class. The following figures
will show the thickness of the Harveyized
nickel steel plates upon the several parts Of
the ship:
Thickness Of side belt. 1S inches; thick