New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
INCREASING THE FLEET.
THE MASSACHUSETTS AND THE OREGON
TO BE COMMISSIONED SOON.
TWO BATTLE-sIIIPs WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO
COPE WITH ANY ENEMY-sOME PARTICU-
LARS ABOUT THEIR ARMAMENT
AND EOI'IPMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l

LARS ABOUT THEIR ARMAMENT
AND EQUIPMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.]
Washington April II (SpeciaD.-Before July !. I'M
less the unexpected happens, the country's COM
missioned feet will be augmented by the al
dition of two powerful battle-shps. the Nassa-
chusetts and the Oregon The Massachusetts Is
the output OF the Cramps. The Oregon has peen
constructed by the Union Iron Works. Of San
Francisco Both ships will have completed tier
trial trips in about month. and for the first time
since the rehabilitation of the Navy was begun IN
earnest an opportunity will be offered OF compar-
ing fair terms the work OF the East anu me
West In the art Of shipbuding The vessels are
identical in features and have been constructed on
plans prepared in the Navy Department by the
experts who designed the best Of armored cruisers,
the New-York: the feetest of commerce destroyers
the Minneapolis, and the strongest most powerful
of her class the battle-ship Indiana
The Massachusetts will have her trial the 18TH
of this month. May IS has been fixed as the date
of her Western sisters test of speed. stability
and strength. Speed is not the first consideration
in a battle ship but coupled With. other elements
of offence ard defence il Is OF great Importance
in an engagement. The prediction Is made at the
Navy Department that the Oregon Will make raster
time on her tsial than the Massachusetts, 1t Is
not meart by this that the Union iron WorKs
do better work than the Cramps but the oregon
win start on her trip with a clean bottom She
will be locked just before going to sea- Naval
officers count her making speed OF sixteen
knots. splendid showing for batte-ship. Inc
Massachusetts locked four months ago she
must have considerable marine growth on her DOT
tom. and it is not to be scraped before going TO
sea- IL is likely that she will fall behind her sister
. little.
But the most important fact TO be taken into
account In connection with the early trial OF the
Rig fighters is that before July the country VIII
0raI
vessels able to cope with any two ships OF the
world and match for SPANS combined fleet
The general dimensions and principal features OF
each ship are: Length on load water-line Sie rect
extreme beam. So feet inches; mean draugh'' -
feet; normal displacement ready for sea- l02Ss TONS
speed required by contract 10 knots; normal coal
supply, 400 tons: bunker capacity l,64o TONS maxi
mum, indicated horsepower (estimated), 5000 The
ships arc built of steel Each has double bot
tom for the distance of 1876 feet extending Tor the
length covered by the machinery and magazine
spaces; all the vital portions being amply pro-
tected. Every feature has been provided TO en-
able them 10 cope successfully with vessels OF the
heaviest armor and armament. The forward and
after turrets for the 13-inch guns marx the eH-
tremties Of distractions upon the main decKs
From these points forward and aft TO the ends OF
the vessels respectively no further obstacles pre-
sent themselves to uninterrupted fire. means nav
ing been taken to remove or turn down any erec-
lions which might obviate this end
Between the turrets for the 13-inch guns there is
q superstructure in which are placed the 6-inch
guns; and above. upon the deck erected thereon
are placed the S-nch guns. On each ship .pattery
Of 6-pounders is arranged along the top of the ham,
mock berthing and bridge and l-pounders are
placed forward and aft on the berth deck. The
Handicapped military mast is cone shaped placed
or top of the tower just abaft OF the Tor
ward 13-nch gun turret Two l-pounders are IN
the lower and two eating guns in the upper tops
vFL~ h'ioh+c
ahe sides to find the enemy AT night and to guard
against torpedo-boat attacks under cover of dark
ness The armament of each ship is four l3-inch
breech-loading rifles; eight S-inch breech-loading-
rifles: four s-nch breech-loadlng rifles: twenty
Gpounder rapd-fre guns; six 1-pounder rapid-fire
guns: two Calling guns, and six torpedo-tubes.
The four 13nch and the eight s-inch guns are
mounted in pairs within six barbe;te turrets two
OF which are erected upon the main deck, and
the remaining four upon the superstructure deck
the former containing the larger and the latter the
lesser guns The 6-nch guns have local protection
in addition TO splinter bukheads shields and auto
matte shutters. The turrets are all mounted In
redoubts. The 13-inch guns are about eighteen
feet above the water and have an arc OF ire
sweeping across the deck and 45 degrees on both
sides back toward the centre body of the ship.
making total of fire Of 10 degrees for the
guns In each Of these turrets. These have a con-
verging fire directly opposite the middle Of the
ship and are able to concentrate their projectes
within fifty feet in a straight line from the YES
ters side in a broadside action. The 8inch guns
ere about twenty-five feet above the water, and
are high enough TO fire above the 13-inch turret
having of action Of 1o4 degrees. The 6-inch
- guns have train OF AS degrees
~ The rapid-action guns are so arranged that a
i adiating fire Of shot around the vessel will de-
stroy any venturesome torpedo-boat or other light
craft coming within range and be particularly use
full in forming a destructive fire to prevent the
enemy from working his larger guns that only
partially protected and whose effectiveness depends
principally upon gaining the initiative. The side
feet inches below the water. extending along the
sides for 14S feet, then taking a diagonal course
1nboard at angle OF 10 degrees for longitudinal
distance OF twentyfo feet at each end. making
q total broadside amor OF l96 feet. The belt
passes around the support of the armor for the
13-inch gun turrets. On top OF this side armor IL
placed a steel deck "a inches thick under which
Above this belt Of side plating is placed the case:
mate, with backing of ten feet Of coal. Forward
and abaft the redorbrs 3-inch protective decks
Of steel, which turn down TO w feet below the
.. water line. On top OF these decks there is belt
q feet high by feet wide filed with cellulose
The side belt. diagonal belt. redoubts and turrets
have behind the armor backing Of wood and
thisk plates secured by heavy channe-bars. The
~pachinery is inside OF and Is protected by the
nclosure also by ~ feet OF coal bunker back
OF the side armor and reserve coal bunker above
and under the armor deck The engines and maya
zines also protected by coal besides which
There are four thicknesses OF skin for a shot to