The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-01

them. The most striking difference be-
tween the Illinois and the battleships
now in service, is the high free board OF
the former, enabling her to ngnt her
guns from their great elevation abOVe
the water in seas so heavy that the
guns of the lower vessel would be sub
merged and useless. Splendid SeagOing 8
powers are also expected to result from
this increased free board by which IS
meant the height of the hull above the
water line.
which vary in many important particu-
lars from the existing types, are given
in the following description prepared by
Chief Constructor HichbOrn:
Displacement is Immense.
The dimensions of the Illinois, are as
follows:
Length on load water line 1858 feet;
beam, extreme, 72 feet 215 inches; draft
on normal displacement of II, SIS tons,
% feet 6 inches. Maximum displacement
of II, 525 tons, % feet inches, Maxi
mum displacement all ammunition and
stores on board 12 1926 tons; maximum
indicated horse power (estimated) TO-
00O probable speed, 1612 knots. Normal
coal supply, 500 tons; coal supply, loose
storage 1900 tons; full bunker capacity
1 400 to ], 500 tons. Complement of Off
GERS 40; seamen, marines, etc, 449. The
main battery will consist of four 13-
inch breech-loading rifles in HichbOrn
balanced tuTretS; oval in shape and
placed in the center line Of the vessel
and IA 6-inch rapid fire guns.
The secondary battery will consist of
16 6-pounder rapid fire guns, four L
FOUNDER rapid fire guns, two Colt guns
and two field guns. She will carry four
torpedo tubes. The 13-inch guns have
an arc of fire of 135 degrees on each
side of the center lines and the 6-inch,
an arc of 80 degrees on the broad side
with the advantage of those on the up
per deck of a direct fire ahead and
astern. Any injury to, or near, either
of these 6-inch guns will be confined to
it's own compartment as a ~ inch steel
splinter bulk head separates each of
these guns from it's neighbor.
Armor 10 I-2 Inches Thick.
The armor belt which extends from
the stem to abaft the after turret, is TO
be 1919 inches thick at the top and 915
inches thick at the bottom, except at
the forward end, where it will be tap
cred to four inches at the stem. This
belt of armOr will extend from four
feet below the normal load line to 315
feet above it, and will maintain the full
thickness amidships between the tur-
rets, and for the distance occupied by
the engines and boilers. Diagonal ar
NOR Il inches thick, connecting this
belt arn1Or and barbettes and extending
from the slopes of the protective decks
to the top of the side belt on each side,
is worked to give protection from a
raking fire. Abaft the after turret the
protection will be completed by thick
en1ng the protective deck to four inches
on the slopes with 23z inches on the fiat.
On the slopes of this deck forward it is
three inches thick and "a inches on the
fiat.
The armor of the 1S-inch gun turrets
win be II inches on the front and Is
inches on the rear and Sides while on
the barbettes for these turrets, which
are circular in shape, will be Is inches
on the front and ten inches on the rear
and Sides The sides of the vessel
above the armor belt ii wake of the six
inch battery and forming the casemate
will -be armored with five inches Of
steel extending between the turrets
with diagonal armor of same thickness
at the ends, connecting with the bar
bettes and worked above the 12-inch
diagonal armor below. She will be
protected against the entrance of wa
ter, in case of injury to the side at the