The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-05

The Novel Twin Screw ArmOr-P Plated Herbor
Defense Ram Katahdin Launched.

BATH. Me-. Feb. 4.--The twin screw ar
NOR plated harbor defense ram Katahdln
was launched here this afternoon in the
presence of six thousand people. Miss So
ley. daughter of Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy James r. S0ley. performed the chris.
tening ceremony. The Maine Legislature
attended in body. and there were num-
Dor OF Congressman from Washin gton pres
ent.
At 3:15 T. NJ. Superintendent Hanscom
gave notice that all was ready. The band
struck MP and the chairman appeared,
leading Miss Solely. They proceeded to
the launching stand. The Hyde Park
Light Guards fired a salute. small gun,
mounted on the deck of q vessel, res pondsd.
Then two volleys were followed from the
light guards. A moment more and the
admonitory creak was heard. AS the
vessel began to move down the we'll
creased ways, Miss Soley stepped forward
and with a pair of silver tongs snapped
the string. The bottle of champagne came
down on the PROV with a crash and the
crowd gave vent to cheers while the vessel
shot out into the river like thing of life.
The new vessel Is built upon the plans
drawn by Rear Admiral Ammep, and IS
something OF novelty in naval erohl-
lecture ne pr1nclDai consists
OF numbOr OF tanks which, when Tiled
with air. give her a convenient free board
for cOasting service. but when filled with
water depress her so that her turtle-baok
deck is awash. She Is intended purely as q
weapon OF Ofense against an attacking
fleet, and her mission will be to sink battle
ships or cruisers. She Will mount no guns
save few small ones of rapid fire pattern
intended to keep off torpedo boats.
The dimensions of the vessel are as fol-
10. Il all
the normal water line, 250 feet inches:
extreme breadth. 43 feet 5 inches. and on
the water line. Al feet inches. The total
depth, from the base To the crown of the
normal draft of water is fifteen feet and
the displacement 2.1S3 tons. The lower
portion of the hull is dish-shaped up to O
sharp knuckle, which runs all
around the vessel six inches be-
this knuckle the shape of the hull
is q circular arc with a radius amIdships
of thirty feet. rising from six inches
below to SIX feet above the normal water
line. This curved deck will be armor-
armor tapering from six inches at the
knuckle to two inches at the crown Of the
deck. Above this deck. when the ram is
completed. will rise only q coming tower
eighteen inches thick, a smoke stack and
ventilator, the lower portions of which
will be protected by six inches of armor,
two light bar bettes. within which the guns
will be mounted, and skid beams carrying
four boats.
The propellIng machinery will consist of
two sets of horizontal triple expansion
engines the cylidners being respectively
1886 and SO inches In diameter. and the
stroke of the piston being So inches. The
estimated maximum horse-powe Will be
4sOo. There Will be two screw propellers.
The estimated speed with full power is
seventeen knots per hour and must be OBJ
tanned to render the vessel acceptable under
the contract. The quarters for officers and
crew are all within the armored hull. and
they will be fitted with o complete system
of electric lighting. artificial ventilation
and drainage