The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-12
TIE BUoYAxcr OF ARMoRc1ADS
Further Lessons Drawn fro-. the sinttng Of
the Victoria.


| the Victoria.
WASHINGTON, July 11.-Although It Is well
| established that the late disaster OIL Tinoli
was the result OF a tactical error In manru-
| wiring. yet disposition is evident not to lose
tho benefit OF the terrible experience In It's
bearing on the construction OF war ships. The
London Engineer, n high technical authority.
writes as the epitaph OF that vessel. "Sacri-
feed to the 110-ton gum" And 1t is tolerably
clear that. oven had not this monster rifle
already been condemned. from it's intrinsic
defects. sentence might be passed upon 1t In
consequence OF the recent calamity.
But what this authority says also applies to
the general question OF the proper distribution
OF weights in relation to seaworthinesa and
buoyancy. 1t points out that the Victoria had
o thickness OF eighteen inches Of compound
armor on her turret and n similar thickness
on her redoubt besides 3-inch plates on her
battery deck. Her armament included two
Hilton guns. one 30-ton. twelve 5-ton guns,
and q secondary battery. The extreme draught
was about 81 feet 3 inches. but the freeboard.
forward Of the turret was only about 10 feet
while gigantic superstructure. carrying
with 1t all tho elements OF top-heaviness and
IN unsettled condition OF centre OF gravity.
containing. as It did. in armament and mount
ings alone, dead weight OF 300 tons. extended
bulkheads in considerable mum ers 'one de-
feet appears to hnvo existed. There was no
double bottom further forward than the turret.
The coming tower was massive structure.
plated with 14-inch armor. perched high over
the spar deck. and associated with 8-inch plated
bulkheads. which ran athwart OF the super
structure. The two 110-ton guns. with 1S-inch
armored turret, were also at q considerable
elevation. the redoubt, similarly armed. being
at the same time above the water line In point
offact overy feature this singularly designed
battle ship tended to enhance the probability OF
her swift destruction II grievously wounded
in a vulnerable spot"
The Engineer further points out that this
tendency is found in many other British IRON
clads, although in less degree than in those
constructed like the Victoria:
1888 fail have noticed the IRENE uroh
do She rssd % ssssn ssR. a' snrS
HS
OF an arinor plated vessel to ro receiving
4 Sis's:
M
ssa,ss q s.s',1sisa y: feli%s ns%
ing height to hat az she might at Least h.se present
ments above would nave her greater OF
buoyancy But tho fatal condition which required that
she should carry Two monstrous weapons absolutely
secure this end the seaworthiness and buoyancy OF
the ship wore utterly sacrificed. and there lttlo
doubt that this vi be done to greater or less degree
80 long great ironclads associated with heavy
guns are butt.
As to the lack Of completeness in the double
bottom Of the Victoria. the Engineer ad-
mits that no double bottom. however con-
structed would have availed against the thrust
Of the Camperdown's ram. yet one more COM
plete might at least have localized the
inrush." and enabled the vessel to float little
longer than 1t did.
1t should be said that mono Of our four first
class armorclads has the peculiar construc-
ton pointed out by the Engineer in regard to
the Victoria. To begin with. their largest guns
are the 13-inch. and these are distributed in q
totally different way: while the Iowa. our new
est battle ship. will carry no guns larger than
the 12-inch. In various other points. also.
buoyancy has been carefully guarded. Yet the
suggestions Of this London critic are no doubt
worthy Of careful consideration.