The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-09
THE KATAHDIN READY.
Carries Only Four Guns, but Might
Clear Havana HarbOr.
New York Press.

New York Press.
If war with Spain comes there will be
chance to try that unknown factor in naval
warfare, the ram Katahdin. She is now get
ting ready for active service at the League
island navy yard, Philadelphia, and is eX-
Thursday. Aside from four six-pounder
rapid-fire guns, this curious vessel of war
carries no armament and depends entirely
for her offensive force upon her ability to
ram a foe. She was designed by Rear Ad-
miral Ammen, who has implicit faith in her
and all the officers who have been attached
to her believe that she is formidable en-
CINE of marine warfare, capable or doing
great damage in a naval engagement. She
looks small, owing to her peculiar shape,
but is really ''sizeable vessel being over
1000 tons displacement and $50 feet long.
She has a rounded turtle back deck
heavily protected by armor.. When she goes
into action nothing but this rounded deck
and her smokestack and her ventilators
which are heavily armored, appear above
Her twin screws propel her at a speed of
over sixteen knots an hour, and when she
attacks ship she PUSHES straight at it.,
down below the water line. She would hit
a ship below the armor belt with a force
which is intended to send the hostile man
of-war to the bottom or at least put her
out of the battle. The question is: would
the ram herself survive the shock?"
1t Is believed that she would, and, after
tack at least one other before her injuries
would cause her to withdraw. Those who
nave the greatest confidence in her say
that the Katahdin could go on ramming
indefinitely without being hurt dashing
about among fleet like bull in a china
shop.
The shots fired by a hostile ship could
not hurt her, as. on account of the peculiar
form Of her deck, every shot which hit her
would be DETECTED. But when she hit a
man-of-war the impact would be tremen-
douS and she might be strained or her beak
might become wedged in the ship she
Tammed, and the two go down together.
ify do
70 prevent such catastrophe, however,
has been done in her construction. The
katahdin was built in 1898 and cost $3.50 900.
II 1t requires nerve and dash to COM
mand a torpedo boat and get the best work
out or her, it requires the same qualities
In a high degree to command the Katahdin
successfully in battle. The man who sinks
man-of-war with the Katahdin will have
achieved the fame of "Albemarle" Cushing
In case of war with Spain is now much dis
cussed by naval officers. If she is ordered
south an opportunity is offered for her to
distinguish herself and her commander
she might run in to Havana in the night
and ram the Spanish men-of-war anchored
there. She could not be sunk by shots from
IortS or ships If she were successful in
her ramming operations, all she need fear
would be torpedoes and submarine mines
pedo at night would be a Slight chance.
and as for submarine Mines there would
not be much OF chance of her being hit
by one of them.
1t is one thing to deliberately anchor a.
vessel over a mine and then blow her up,
and quite another to touch off the proper
mine mine at the exact time that a swift vessel
like the Katahdin is darling over it, In
the confusion of night attack the chances
are vastly against its being done If the
Katahdin can ram a vessel with as little
damage to herself as those who believe in
her say she can, the harbor of Havana and
the Spanish men-of-war anchored therein
are not safe from her. When the ram leaves
League island next Thursday she will be
in as good condition for a fight as is pos
sible, and will he ready to do the work
assigned her, whatever it may be, as soon
as she gets her orders. If she does not go
south, she will '1ay for" any Spanish man
of-war which comes around the coast and
try conclusions, The Katahdin is an excel
lent vessel for harbor defense, and may be
assigned to that duty instead of the more
exciting duties which her officers and her
admirers hope will be apportioned her to do