The morning times., 1896-03-24
READY FOR THE FIRST DIP
The Big BallIeship Iowa 10 Be
Launched Saturday..
FLRETEST OF HER CLASS
Only Seagoing Vessel OF Her Kind De
VIII BE an Efficient Fighter In the
Heaviest Kind of Seas-Some of Her
Engines.

Saturday there VIII be launched from
Cramps sUlpyaru the most powerful battle
ship ever competed Tor Tie navy, anu one OF
tue IieelesL OF ner CLASS in The woriu.
The ceremonies are to De Witnessed by a
large party from Washington, including The
Secretary or Ine Navy, probably the Iowa
Congressional dclcSauon, tue governor OF
that State and his staff ana other distih-
suISGeu cltIZcns. Three years ago Secre-
Iary Tracy decided TO cali lnis vessel the
Iowa, ana thus she VIII be named as She
leaves the ways for the Delaware River.
The popularity OF tire Iowa's design rem
ders her unlike the other three battleships
nearing completion, and she is really the only
scagOlng bdtlicship designed by the depart
ment. Her immense freeboard will make
her efficient as a fighter in the heaviest seas
ana will enable her TO take The ocean and
search for the enemy, rather than to remain
III around harborS waiting for an attack.
Her batteries are not as formidable, per-
haps, as those OF the Indiana type, but she
carries more guns, and on account OF their
smaller caiiber can deliver broadsides with
greater rapidity than any ship in the navy.
WILL HAVE RECEDING SIDES.
Like some of the great French ironciads,
the Iowa viii have recedng sides, designed
10 deflect projectiles and giver her increased
freeboard at the same time. Her speed is
one OF the important Developments of the
ship, ana by many OF the leading expertsshe
Is regarded as the most formidable vessel
tor the service, with the exception of the
KeaTsarge and Kentucky, which will be
ready for service three years hence. The
appropriation for the construction OF the
/ Iowa was made on July l9, 1892, and on
August n, 1913. her keei was laid near the
Massachusetts and Indiana, then on the
ways. The idea OF the constructors was
10 follow closely the Iowa's prototypes
Indiana, Massachusetts, and Oregon-and
even 10 excel them.
Her hull win be OF steel throughout with
double bottom and close water-tight sub
divisions extending 10 a height of ten feet
above the load water line The forma-
tion OF the sides amidships, where they roll
lnboard, secures increased freeboard with
out the added weight consequent were the
lines carried up perpendicular from the
water line fullneSs, gives an easier curve
of stability, roomier quarters for the crew,
greater sweep for the guns In the broad
side sponsons, and promises efficiency OF
the great guns in almost any condition of
the sea
The Iowa Will carry main battery OF four
l2-inch breech-loading rifles. mounted in
pairs in two barbette tGrrets Of the balanced
type. fifteen inches thick, and firing through
an arc Of go degrees. Besides this powerful
fure-and-art fire. She Will have eight S-inCh
rifles in four barbctte turrets. eight inches
thick. mounted on the upper deck and
having individual arc OF fire Of 40 degrees.
The secondary battery Will be composed of
six 4-inch rapid-fire rifles four OF which are
mounted on the main deck in armored spon-
sons and sheltered by thick splinter bulk
heads of steel. The two remaining mounted
aft on the bridge deck. sheltered by fixed
shields. Twenty six-pounder. four one
FOUNDER and four Gatling guns will cnnsti-
( tute the auxiliary force and viii be mounted
on the main deck. on the superstructure aud
bridges and up in the top of the military
nlaSts. In addition 10 all this fighting ma
terial she has two torpedo tubes on either
/ bruadside.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPEED.
Her speed is To be developed by three
double-end boilers, 81 feet long, with di-
ameteTs of 6 feet inches and two single
! ended boilers o feet long, with diameters Of
| 40 Iect y inches, ana TWO single-end, To-
Gated in four water-tight compartments,
! and two sets Of triple-eXpanslon engines,
/ each initS own compartment and driving its
own shaft. With her bunkcrs filled, and at
/ a cruising speed OF ten knots an hour, she
should he able to steam about Z 400 miles,
| while at full speed of 6 knobs, under like
conditions, she should be able to cover 5000
/ miles and have a radius of endurance OF six
days.
Nearly 100 auxiliary engines win add to
/ the efficiency of the ship by turning the tur-
rets, working and loading the guns, lifting
and lowering the boats, raising the an
chors, controlling the rudder, bringing up
the ammunition from the magazines, pro-
viding fresh water, lighting the ship by cleo
1 tricity, making ice and preserving the fresh
food ana thoroughly ventilating the ship by
blowers OF great capacity
TIE House Committee on Naval Affairs
has decided 10 accept the invitation TO the
| launching Of the Iowa.