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

all of the heavy turret guns and part OF tho
elghtnch guns the proportion oeing sFea'er ,sa
the sea runs, will probably still be In action when
the end comes.
with the points set forth and the deductions
made from them by Assistant Constructor Hooson,
Naval Constructor Croneau, OF France. agrees.
and in his comments on the propositions SAYS:
II wrote a few years ago. in my essay on Guns,
Torpedoes and Amor: The protection TO be given
to the water-line is proportionate TO the protection
ed IN which the guns have little or no protection Il
will be sufficient TO give the water-Lne c9Mpafa-
having all the guns disabled one after the other
ihsn II 10 protect the hull the weak point IN modern
war vessels is. consequently (as MI Hooson c,eary
pSnts h oI the the waterne or little above An
Increase OF protection 10 guns Is then oy no means
S to be w unes 4 shoud be inc without any
crease whatever OF obstruction or weight.
That the discussion in the paper 1e nose 81 sr ws
have the building up and sustaining OF tne hava
forces Of the United States in their chargs is ev.
nrin.el herewith show the relative depth OF armor
Of United states vessels Of the Indiana and kear.
sarge class. when on an even Keel ana on i ron y.
fifteen degrees and fully bear out the deductions as
10 the exposure OF the vital portions OF the ships oa
degree which makes them peculiarly dangegous "a
view OF the present perfection in the manufacture
semi-armorpiercins and high explosive shells anu
ply designed 10 effect damage by the crushing force
tecting the vitals Of the ship from the injury likely
10 be caused by the contact with and explosion On
the upper deck OF projectle carrying h,gn
bursting charge of a powerful explosive, is an i'm:
portant factor in the safety OF ship when exposed
to the fire OF guns OF eightinch calibre is shown y
the adoption OF that system O. protection by the
French in building their vessels OF the Charemagns
class and the modification OF the double deck shown
in the plan of the English Majestic class u far s
perior TO the arrangement for protection on tns
American vessels
modern high powered shot could easily penetrats
the light side OF the Indiana or the KENTUCKY
and Kearsarge. and exploding on contact with me
single protective deck. tear II open and leave me
boilers. engines and other machinery, together Win
the magazines. at the mercy OF any shot whcn
might come along. II. indeed. the motive power Of
the ship not completely wrecked by the trag.
ments which would find their way into the depths
below. On roll. which In an ordinary seaway
TO be expected the protection afforded 10 the secs
below the shallow line OF the heavy armor belt would
be still less than that afforded 10 the vitals OF the
ship from shot coming through the side armor,
and the damage would be infinitely greater, as n
addition TO the disaster to the engines the noe
through which the shot came would allow enough
water 10 enter TO affect seriously the safety OF the
ship. Mr.. Hobson's plea FOR a radical change in tho
apportionment of armor protection appears 10
landsman TO be founded principles which Il VIII
be hard 10 controvert. and which. while they have
been recognized by the designers OF the lates!
foreign vessels. appear 10 have been overlooKea
by the designers OF American vessels in favor
of systems which the experience OF constructors
OF recognized ability abroad has caused 10 be thrown
aside inadequate in view OF the changed condl.
tons OF the manufacture and propulsion OF shot ana
shell