The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-07

The Iowa Is officially known as "sea-
going battleship No. l. )" The contract
for her construction was awarded Feb. II.
1888, 10 the William Cramp d Sons ship
ana Engine Building Company of Phila-
ueiphia, the famous marine architects
The Iowa Is larger than the Indiana in
length, beam and deck measurements but
the disposition of the battery is the same
except that she carries four 12-inch guns
where the Indiana carries four l3-inch.
ana SIX 4-inch guns, as against the
lndiana's four 6-inch and her secondary
battery is - rapid fire and machine guns
as against % Of similar calibers on the
Indiana. In N word, while the Iowa is
the larger ship Of the two, her arinor and
armament are both lighter than those of
the Indiana. These differences in plan
are based upon the fact that while tho
Indiana Is intended as "A fighting ship.
with every other quality moro or less
subordinated TO that of ability TO give
and take hard and heavy blows, the Iowa
Is designed 10 combine with the latter
quality the attributes of an all-round,
sea-going cruiser.
The dimensions of the Iowa arc as fol.
lows: Length on the load waterline, 800
feet; extreme breadth, az feet pa inches;
moulded depth, 81 feet. 4 SIS inches.
mean draught "a feet; displacement on
normal draught IL, 800 tons, and with full
coal capacity, about IL, 800 tons. The
guaranteed speed was placed mt Ii knots
when the contract was given to the
cramps, under the usual four-hour trial
conditions The premium named by the
government was $50 600 for each lone
quarter knot excess of speed above the
contract specifications.
Inc armor protection of the ship con-
sists of "a waterline belt of Haryeyed
nickel steel IA inches thick on a l2-inch
wood backing, extending over "A length of
100 fcet amldships, and feet inches
wide, tapering below the waterline TO
SIX inches thick at the lower edge. The
ends OF this belt arc joined 10y athwart.
ship belts of II inch Harycyed nickel
steel work diagonally from each side to a
segment of circle in the center CORE.
with the radius of the superim-
posed redoubts of barbettcs Forward and
ait OF the diagonal belts submerged pro-
tective decks extend To the ends, ga
inches thick on the fiat. At each end of
The armored citadel thus formed rises IA
circular barbette of 15-inch Harvcved
irmor, the after barbctte being feet 9 |
inches high and the forward enc rs fCCr I
llgh. These barbcttcs support the main |
evolving turrets and protect the turning |
II the loading gear. The main turretS are |
'rinorcd with li-inch plates, and have an |
inside height of 10 feet q inches, from the |
op OF the gun supports to the under side |
" the covering plates.
Above the waterline belt for 100 feet of |
he length anidships is worKed case
nate OF 4.lnch armor with diagonal ends
dining the main barbettes on either side
md forming an upper citadal from each
II the four corners of which rises "A bar
'ette OF S-inch arinor surmountrd by re-
Owing turfct b19 inches thick. The !
rinorcd coming tower is ~ inches thick |
lect inside diameter and feet inches
Ugh III the clear.
The main battery OF the Iowa consists
fat..l.
lounted I'm pairs In the two main turrcts;
light s-inch brooch loading rifles mounted
J pairs IN the four turrpts at the corners of |
ne casematc; six 4-inch brooch loading
llies mounted In sponsors or with shields
nj - rapid fire ana machine guns The
MS OF the forward pair OF 10 inch and
u OF tho S-inch guns are 20 feet and of
he after pair of l2-inch guns Is feet
DoVc the waterline; so that with the
ability due tO her great beam She can
ght with her whole battery I'm any
fcathcr
The lowa's full war complement Is 5l9
Ulcers, sc amen and marines. The con
IVA, like tho Indiana, has a narrow
fluge deck amidships which widcns out
thc forward and after ends. This deck |
ia tect above the upper deck. All
below the main dock are similar 10 |
lusc oi the Indiana Above the main
80 ,here Is suporstructure that is car
cd clear forward a. the bow, forming q !
rccastlc deck 9S feet long. which add.
iout % per cent to her brthiug space
compared with that of the Indiana.
re maximum coal cIrrying capacity of |
c Iowa Is 300 tons and gives her q
uising radius Of about 1000 knots at
~ hpst economical ~ ecd The motiv,
'Wcr Of the vessel differs from that o'
g other battlcships in dimensions and
rangement and Is planned to develoI ,
'out aD greater horse power The two
ain engines have three cylinders each
The stroke of all pistons il ~ inches.
here are two screw propcllers with three
ndes each. The diameter of the urn.
ilCfe il lB feet a iuchoa aud ,h. ,,s,.I a | 4