New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08
THE PRESENT SYSTEM WEAK.
INSUFFICIENT ARMOR BELOW THE
WATER-LINE.
vULNERABlLIrY OF HULLS AND EXPOSURE of
THE vITAfs OF SHIP TO EXPLOSIVE PRO

yrLNERABrIIrY OF HULLs AND EXPOSURE OF
THE vITAls OF SHIP TO EXPLOSIVE PRO
JEcTILEs-AN EVIL AND ITS REMEDY.
further discussion Of the vunerabity Of turre,
guns and the effectiveness Of the armor used IN
their protection leads up the efficiency OF armor
weight allotted the hull It is in this part OF the
ues;o, that the great weakness OF the present sys
tenn OF building batte-shps is brought out Leaving
details for later treatment. II VIII be sufcieht 70
recall that the portion Of the hull through when the
enemy OF all IT'S features. the ever-ready water
may CT ter has only fraction OF It's area covered
By armor 1t will suffice to recall that only frac-
ton liza bic To alternate immersion and EMERSON Is
covered by armor. that great areas are at the
mercy OF projectes and fragments or all KINGS
which coursng along the sides. can cut open long
gashes or flying cupboard tear of whole lengths OF
plating laying the hull open to the entrance OF
water. while the portion with armor Is only par
tally exempt But the vulnerablliy Of the most I'M
porant OF all features. the vltals SHOULD be looked
a. more closely. These comprise the organs OF loco
motion and explosive objects. including compressed
gases as well explosives proper. The nature OF all
these objeci. - most delicate most susceptible 10
dcrangemen; that would cost the ship Its existence;
their protection therefore, should be absolute. In
their position below the protective deck they are
uablo 20 injury from above and from the sides. on
these points Constructor Hobson says;
wherever a deck. however heavily armored. can
be reached by explosive lGOJ'Gt4l'N IL - 4i@D' ~
ai-rup, on and IT can be laid down as a principle
AZ iho present stage OF naval progress that when
"A protective deck. worked near the water-!lne. can
De reached By project!e entering at an angle OF
fail Of seven degrees from any bearing without hTst
cncountorlng armor. or where the side armor
above II f. outclassed by semi-armor-pierc-
Ing projec,les. or where the side armor
below f. il ouiclassei by arrnor- piercing
projecillcs. then armor deck must be worked
below II: and. nversely. where there is no arnor
deck worked below the protective deck situated al
the watcr-llne arnior must be placed so as 10 in
tarccpt the projectile entering at an angle OF de-
gr.es from any bearing before It can reach this
deck and the side armor above this deck must
ouicass all seml-armor- piercing project!les and
the side armor below 1t must outclass armor-p.erc-
ing projectlles. else the protective deck must
descend TO the lower edge OF this armor
The first conditions fulfilled only by the hVe
latest French ba,tle-ships. now being built the
Massena the Bouvet the Charlemagne. the ST.
Louis and the Gaulos; the last conditions are full
filed only by the nine latest English batte-shps
the Majestic class.
I'm all the other vessels yet built designed. in
Guiding all battle-ships. there Is no armor
deck below the protective deck. and at the same
time the light side is ouc.assed by semi
armor-p piercing projectiles which are thus liable TO
reach the protective deck and explode In contact
with IT, and hurl fragments below into the fragile
or dangerous vitas. while the protective deck Is ex-
posed further in greater or less degree. TO the ex
plosion in contact OF projectes entering above the
light side armor particularly from bow and quarter
bearings on which the turrets would not be
countered, and such explosions would blast tho
deck In the region struck, likewise hurting frag
ments on their dangerous mission into the vitals.
1T Is OF interest that the disposition OF the
French vessels referred to- which were the first de-
signs to fulfil the conditions which provide for
lower armor deck at the level of the lower edge Of
arnor will provide greater security for the vitals
though it will admit greater internal destruction
above while the disposition adopted in the English
vessels though giving a less guarantee for the
,ita,s will reduce a great degree the internal de-
struction by excluding all explosive projectles. by