New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-13
PLANS FOR NEW BATTLESHIPS
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN CAPTAIN SAMPSON
AND CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR HICHBORN

AND CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR HGCHBORN
AS TO THE GUNS
Washington. May 10 (SpecaD.-The designs Of the
newly authorized battleships the subject for much
serious consideration the part of the Secretary OF
the Navy. The Secretary has become the judge In
a somewhat spirited controversy between the Blu
reaus OF Ordnance and Construction and Repair,
atng TO certain features Of the vessels. Three feat
ures OF the battleships have been determined upon
that is the displacement, draught and speed. Each
vessel will have tonnage of about H. 100 allowance
being made for variation either way of from fifty
10 100 tons the normal draught will be twenty-five
feet. and the speed sixteen knots. The features to
be decided upon the machinery. armor and
mament. The question OF machinery is dependent
that OF ordnance. and the character. size and
location OF the engines and boilers will be fixed
until the design and position of the armor and tur-
rets are agreed upon.
The controversy now going on between Captain
Sampson and Chief Constructor Hichborn relates
to the matter OF ordnance. chiefly with respect to
the character and location of 1, is practi
cally settled that side will be fifteen
inches thick. three inches thinner than the same
protection on the Indiana Oregon and Massachu-
sets, and inch thicker than that OF the Iowa.
This armor will extend further forward and aft
than these four vessels covering larger area
of the ships departure from the general rule will
be made and three-ffths Of the width of the plat
ing will be put above the water-line and only two
ffths below the surface thus carrying the arlnor
higher I'D sides ana aNOrdlnS Increased pro-
lection to the battery OF sixteen hve-ncn rapidnre
guns. -, -. .. ,,
Captain Sampson favors the plan OF two heavily
armored turrets. one forward on the central me.
the other similarly aft He proposes a move! design
FOR the surreis. which is the suggestion o. b9sgn
Bureau OF Ordnance The plan calls for two double
be placed, and on the upper deck s-inch guns. In
support Of the proposition is held that there would
result a materia, saving OF weight that could be
distributed elsewhere, and tina, the combination
would permit OF the S-inch iurrets having the same
ok Of hat
l3nch turrets-l5 inches The chief advantage would
be the greatly increased concentration Of fire. Cap
for the new ships be those OF the l3-nch type.
chief Constructor Hichborn opposes the adoption
reported Secretary Herbert He recommends that
the be located separately those for the big
guns somewhat in the manner provided Tor on the
Iowa. There should be four sinch urrets. he says,
s1s sSy ifoys Of aDa s
two amidships. outboard Ii is contended that If the
shev necessary form part Of the stTctre The
four guns would at all times therefore be trained in
the same direction. whereas circumstances might
make il advisable TO turn the 1S-inch guns in one
way and the s-nch guns In another Thus concen-
tratlon OF fire might be greater but the command OF
Chief Constructor Hlchborn favors Pinch guns,
ment supporting Pinch guns. he says that two
points are be specially considered. In the first
place. all foreign naves have discarded heavier
rifles, and none now mounting larger than r.
inch guns the most modern battleships.
have YET BEEN t Manufactured Which win penetrate
the best armor Of fifteen inches and that it is
not material whether l2-inch or l3-inch guns are
employed, as neither would pierce the sides of
lighting vessels Of toaay The effect would be
guns. II the projectes of lS-inch guns will not
DO he nsS n a9 a 10 1c and IL
general parpo3,s,es why pn on ship The extra
wsh he n Of sy
Into fragments upon striking plates of certain
sdvantage until shot and shell are invented that
viii meet the requirements.