The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-29
THE STEAMSHIP "HELENA. "
Description of the New Gunboat Soon
to be Launched.


Congress, under the appropriation
for increase of the Navy" act APP
proved March Sd, 1895, provided for the
| construction of three light-draft gun
boats of about 200 tons displacement
| each. to cost, exclusive of armament
| and speed premiums, not more than
| S400 600 apiece.
| The Helena" heretofore known as
| Gunboat No. 9, is the third of these
vessels. and the last one to be launch
| ed. the Nashville" and her sister ship,
| the Wilmington, having been
| launched on the 10th of October, 1895.
The Helena has been designed
| strictly for special service. and is in
tended particularly for the shallow
waters and rivers of the Asiatlc sta
| ton.
Her principal dimensions and gem
| eral features are: Length on load
water line. normal displacement, %
min. 8 sec; maximum breadth, 40
min. see; mean draft at normal dis
placement, min, 0 sec; freeboard
| forward, 10 min, 8 sec; freeboard ait,
| II min, 2 sec; normal displacement,
1872 tons; coal carried at normal dis
placement, 100 tons; total coal capacl-
ty, 279.7 70 tons; speed, contract and esti-
mated. Is knots; complement, officers
and crew, 40 men.
The hulls will be constructed of steel
throughout 4 water-tght will be
worked over the region occupied by
the ''vitals." to be placed about the
level of the water-line, with slopes eN-
tending 70 the sides below the water
line,
There will be a double bottom
worked in the neighborhood OF the en-
CINE, boiler and magazine spaces,
throughout which this double bottom
will be of cellular construction. requil-
ing that two skins be pierced before
water can gain entrance to either the
engine or fire rooms.
Owing to the light draft of this YES
sci and the use of twin screws. to-
gether with the special river service
for which the boat is designed, the hull
is of unusual shape aft, that part being
followed out into two tunnels for the
purpose of admitting an easy flow of
water to the propeilors, the water-line
breadth being maintained over nearly
the vessels full length aft and about
the counter, thereby atfording protec-
ton TO the screws against river banks
and injury from other craft in a crowd
ed river. The extraordinary beam al
lows large berthing space, augment
ed by covered deck extending aft for
about two-thirds of the vessels total
length. The light draft has necessi-
tated the adoption of twin rudders,
one forward of the other, and so ar
ranged that they shall respond TO
either the forward or backward action
of the screws before the vessel has ac-
quired Roadway. These rudders are
strongly protected against damage
when backing.
There will be no sail power. There
is one military mast, carrying two
Calling guns in the upper top and two
1-pounder Hotchkiss guns in the lower
top. The mast is large enough to adj
nit of spiral stairway for access
from below to the coming tower.
which is situated just beneath the
lower top, at the same time providing
a covered way for the ammunition
hoists, which raise the gun supplies
for the tops. y.
Every precaution has been taken to
provide against fouling, and but few
distractions appear upon the sides.
The sponsors are SO arranged that the
z iA1fo fAiE NJAiiD bltE Sttif~tlUt
of the vessel, while their range is in
no wise limited on that account.
Coal protection is provided for the
water-line region. the bnnkers being
placed on the slopes of the water
tight deck.
Aside from the customary exhaust
system Of ventilation. the ship will he
provided with a supply of fresh air
fh1.pY1rrI af al 4,sto
fans placed in numerous ventiIatOrs
running from the main deck to the
spaces below, and further supplement-
ed by a number of portable fans of
similar propulsion.
In hot weather or during a wet sea-
son, owing to the arrangement Of avn
| ings, the alain deck can be utilized for
| berthing the men.
The arrangement of the batteries
| viii be as follows:
| Four 4-inch guns mounted in pairs.
| two forward and two aft; those aft
| being mounted on the main deck, those
! forward on the forecastle deck, and all
| protected by gun shields.
| -Four 4-inch guns mounted in armor-
| ed Sponsors on the gun deck; two on
| each side amidships
| W. mounted III 1FUlOf~
ed sponsors on the gun deck.
Two G-pounders mounted forward
! OH the forecastle deck.
Four 1-pounders. two on the bridge
and two in the lower top.
Two Calling guns in the upper top.
There will be no torpedo arrange
ment. All of the guns will be of the
rapid fire type.
The engines win be in two sets, one
on each of the shafts, and will be YER
teal, inyerted-cylinder direct-acting,
triple-expansion, having cylinders of
14.5 inches, 20 inches, and 1915 inches,
respectively with an 18-inch stroke;
designed for 1000 horse power, with
piston speed of $50 feet minute and
a boiler pressure of $50 pounds.
There will be six horizontal, return
tubular boilers, in two water tight
compartments; TO maintain in work
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