The sun., 1895-05-27
The Two New Battle Ships.

The plans for the new Kearsarge and her
mate, authorized at the late session of Con-
Rress, are ut length decided upon, and it
only remains for them to be put in shape
for the examination Of those who may offer
bids for the construction of the vessels.
In several important particulars these two
new battle ships differ both from the In
diana class and the Iowa. In displacement
they may possibly come nearer the former.
The act of Congress calls for two vessels {" of
about 10000 tons displacement" but that
is an elastic limit. The act of June 30,
1890, authorized three vessels "of about
$500 tons" and the Indiana class is
expected to displace actually 10,2SS, or
l,7SS in excess. The act of July 10,
1892, called for n battle ship "ofnbout 5000
TONS" and the Iowa is expected to displace
really IL l,4lOtons, or 2,4lO tons in excess.
Accordingly, should the two new vessels
displace even 10000 tons each, they would
have precedents; and it is altogether proba-
BILE that II the carrying out of the present
plans should involve displacement of / 1 :
600 to IL, 800 tons, it would be accepted in
preference to altering the weights for the
mere sake of more exact conformity to the
language Of the act, especially as the limit of
cost would allow still larger vessels. Even
in the case supposed they would he several
thousand tons lighter than the newest Eng
lish battle ships.
The extreme draught settled upon for
the new ships is said to be % feet, and the
mean draught will be proportionately less
that OF the Indiana class and also the
Iowa being "a feet. 1t is necessary
that coast-defcnce battle ships should take
into consideration ability to enter at
least the principal harbors which they are
relied upon to protect. The normal coal
supply Is 800 tons, exceeding the lndiana's,
the total coal-carrying capacity, of course,
being much greater than this
The speed fixed for the new vessels is 9
knots on trial, with the air pressure in the
fire room not exceeding one inch of water.
This exceeds by one knot the speed that is
required Of the Indiana class and exactly
equals the contract speed of the Iowa, as the
average of four consecutive hours under a like
condition OF one inch of air pressure. A note,
worthy difference is that for the new vessels
no premiums will he paid. With modern
requirements in view it seems not desirable
to exact less than l6 knots for battle ships
while there are certain advantages in get
ting q good degree Of uniformity of speed
for the same class. The three of the Indiana
type are fully expected to make 10 knots
which will bring them in harmony, in that
respect, with the two new ships
AS to armor, the thickness prescribed foI
the water-linc belt is fixed at l5 inches
whereas that of the Indiana class is IL
tnches and that OF the Iowa ID inches.
The reduction from the former is considered
to be justified by the very great gain in re
sisting power effected through the HARVEY
process since the Indiana class was planned
At the same time this reduction will allow
the armor to be extended further forward
and aft than is the case with our previou:
armorclads. The belt, in addition is to be s
feet deep, while the Indiana's S is only ~, ant