New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
A NAVAL FAILURE.
THE KATAHDIN BELIEVED TO BE IN
CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVE WORK.
TOO SLOW TO FIGHT LIGHT CRUISERS AND hhh
RAM TOO HIGH TO INJURE HEAVY

]
RAM TOO HIGH TO INJURE HEAVY
BATTLE-sHIPs.
After all the hurrah and glorihcation attending
the placing In commission Of the Ammen ram ma
ahdIn $50 called after her designer. Rear Admiral
Daniel Ammen L. J. NJ. there Is well-groundeo
suspicion to call It by a mild term. that the new
naval engine of destruction is not capable OF per-
forming the duty which would be expected OF her
in case OF war. During the time this now ceie-
brated vessel In course OF construction. many
noteworthy examples OF the terribly destructive
effect OF the ram on an enemys ships were cited.
and history ransacked to show that next 10
the torpedo ranked the ram as an agent OF de-
struction and the opinion went abroad ana gre"
In strength that the new vessel was 10 De thos'
excellent defender of the seaboard city at whose
harbor gates she might be stationed. On general
PRINCIPLES these views were correct, and this fact
londs additional gravity the mistake which 1t Is
now claimed has been made in the construction OF
the Katahdn.
When in March, 1862. the United States sloop OF
war Cumberland was struck and sunk by the Con-
federate ram Merrimac. the naval world was start
led at the demonstration Of the enormous offensive
powers OF the ram q naval weapon. 1t was not
however, until the battle Of Lisa. In July 1855. when
the ships OF Austria and Italy met In what was
termed the greatest naval duel since the great
day Trafalgar" that the value OF the ram was
demonstrated large scale. in that battle
the Ferdinand Max. wooden ship OF Austria.
plated with iron five inches thick going ahead at
a speed OF eleven knots. struck. fair and square.
the Italian Re dItalia which was plated with iron
45 inches thick. boted to a teak backing 70 inches
thick. The Re dItaia careened under the I'M
pact until her gunwale at the water. and as
she righted the Ferdinand Max backed away I'M
injured The and backing OF the italian
ship pierced II they had been paper. and
the story OF the fight says In two or three min
utes the victim plunged heavily down. leaving
nothing to tel. OF her whereabouts but few
shrieking. struggling remnants OF her ill-fated
crew OF go men"
Other engagements in modern naval warfare, to-
gether the accidental sinking OF the British ship
Victoria by the Camperdown. tended to increase the
favor in which the he'd by naval authorities.
LACK OF DEPTH A VITAL ERROR.
In all instances. however where life and valuable
property been destroyed through the power OF
the ram, that point OF the vessel which has caused
the damaee has been enabled by Its location TO attack
ship in the vulnerable portion OF its anatomy.
1t is in the lack Of power strike ship where 1t is
least capable OF defence which in modern battle ships
Is below the heavy armor, that the katahdin falls
Of It's intended power and the great destroyer
stands forth monumental, fzze.
The original design Of the vessel was based on the
experiences OF Rear-Admrs Daniel Ammen in the
Civil War when the question Of the defence against
and the use OF the ram in attack was brought d-
recty 10 his attention. The plans were made In the
Bureau OF Construction and Repair in 1880. Inc
machinery was designed by the Bureau OF steam
Engineering under the supervision OF commodore
George w Melville its chief and the contract for
construction was awarded 70 the Bath Iron Works,
the only bidder for $3.50 00 In March 1891. the Navy
Department approved the suggestion OF the builders
70 lengthen the vessel eight feet the increase IN the
displacement G33 tons) to be utilized In Increasing
the coa-carrying capacity. and providing for bat
terv Of four FOUNDER rapidhre guns for defence
tba oriCn
nroyision for battery The size and type OF tho
boilers were also modified and with these changes
tho dimensions OF the vessel are as follows; Length
over ALL PSI feet: length on the normal water-lne,
$50 feet inches: BREADTH i3 feet inches;
breadth on water-line. Al feet inches The total
depth from the base TO the crown OF the arched deck
amiships is % 10 inches and the normal draught
~ water Is Is feet the corresponding displacement
being ol55
HER PROV OF LITTLE USE.
The.c statistics lead up TO the real purpose for
u,h,cb rnA shir was built and the means b. when
that rurpose was TO be carried odt The lower por-
tion Of her hull is dsh-shaped the rise FORWARD
terminating in sharp knuckle. whlch runs AL
around the vessel six inches below the normal water
In. rhe angle of he knuckle amidships being about
e, degrees Above this knuckle is an armor-plaied
dack with thickness tapering from six inches at
the knuckle 70 TWO inches at the crown OF the deck
shaped like a circular arch. with radius OF 50 Feet
amidshps rising from six inches below 20 SIX lee'
above the normal water line. 1t Is the apex OF this
knuck:e al accurately fitted removable, forged steel
r,head which IS intended do the work OF destruc-
,fo, Tba, thc vessel IS remarkably strong Is ad-
rni,,ed even by those who realize how weak she IL
- tho matter of ramming and with her construction
az = work Of shipbuding fault can be found and
criticism Is dsarmed Her hull Is framed by contin-
nous longitudinal Orders. both below ana ABOUT the
Lnuclla which gathered al the bow and stern. make
structure so rigid that II the ship could oe placed on
~ s,nnorts one al either end Of her framework, the
line Of her keel would be DETECTED oy her weight
oor,inuous water-tight inner bottom TWO feet from
rho outer skin il carried nesry the whole length OF
ha ,essel and I'D 70 the armor shelf on either side
IT, ,,ssei - really designed the longitudinal
taoLo, system the frames and beams being inter-
cosal-that IS placed between the ribs. The double
hotor, is divided and subdivded by longitudinal and
,rarsve-se frames making seventy-two water-tight
.oronartnoents and Is further subdivded BY water
tigbt bulkheads both longitudinal and transverse.
The motive power Of the ship consists OF two sets
- exna nson horizontal engines. operating twin
scravs the steam generators being northumberland
ard one single-ended cylindrical horizontal hve-ube
boilers placed in water-tight compartments The
quarters for both officers and men are as roonly ana
Comfortable as Is possible on vessel or her dlmen-
sions and peculiar construction ana III an minor re-
she IL UOucl OF "4lI4 tic may
v el. be proud. &c.,, T.. T., IL.
his particular phase OF ner character that ms
article has deal. statistics being given only for me
rnose NJ accentuatng enormlty OF the error made
in sending her INFO commission 10 do Work OF "hlch