New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08

there is other armor to be attacked beyond the
al when the armament Of a battle-ship has been
on this principle and "a de sht Of
terry is carried tnat M ina Of being able to
drive semi piercing proJecue whoie tS
Ina Of the heavy guns. must be ranked alongside
Of them in Importance. In view OF the vast area
t ai spi f prescis ha such battery
should receive an equal consderaon "i,n .ne neA'y
guns in determining the disposition or armor'
AMERICAN BATTERIES AND THEIR DEFECTS
II Is interesting at this point to notice that the
nrinclple enunciated Is followed only In the
case of our three battle-shps of the Indiana class
though with these vessels 1t cannot be said that the
principle is wholly carried out on account or the
armor for protecting the e.ght!nch guns not being
proportioned their Importance. being OF insuni-
Gent thickness and not extending to the casemate
arnor; while other three battleships. the Iowa.
Kearsarge and Kentucky attain. after the Indiana
class a nearer approximation than any other YES
sells built. building or designed. 60,
cc6me t Of the cabre Of her four heavy
not outcassing the usual heavy armor whose thick
ness Is designed in view of this caibre; though
on the other hand the eight-inch battery. with the
brrbete armor extending to the eve ot she degree
OF protection. The Kentucky and Kearsarge fall
four, and having these hampered in their independ-
OF action: though, on the other hand an IN IN
ing these suns making their protection accord more
nearly than in the other vessels with their impor ,
these last two vessels have superposed more de-
vcoped rapid fire battery, which would be very ef-
fective when vessels of the cruiser classes came
within range In general engagement where me
siencng effect of this battery could be effectively
employed. The Iowa approaches very near being
an ideal flagship for fleet OF the Indiana class
she would be an ideal battleshp as far as battery
IS concerned II her l2-inch guns were 13-lnch ana
The thickness OF armor on the S-nch turrets were
increased three inches. To make the Kearsarge ana
Kentucky approach the same Ideal 1t would be
Unnecessary to add two more S-nch turrets one on
each waist completing lozenge. In both cases
there would have to be increase In displacement
and cost. though. II necessary, about one-thrd OF
the 5-inrh battery OF he latter vessels could be
sacrificed to furnish part Of the weight.
1T Is of further interest to note that the system
o. hull armor now adopted In English construction
studied on the Renown, and developed on the MaJes-
tie class. Is effectual reply to the influence on
the thickness OF armOr OF the semi-armor piercing
proiec,ile The S-nch gun Is overmatched entirely
and heavy guns can penetrate only with armor-
piercng projectiles whose destructive effect IL not
comparable with the destructive effect OF explosive
proiectiles. This vertabe fleet of batteships. Gre
atel at one call to the English nation. OF themselves
exceeding by onehalf the number OF all our battle
ships authorized, Is comparatively inVulneraDIe
and will remain until n semi-armor-piercing pro-
jcce can be counted on to pass whole through nine
Inches OF armOr'