The Van Buren press., 1898-06-18
OUEEREST WAR CRAFT.
Uncle Sans Deadly and Destructive
Ram katahdin Is
wonder.

oueerest of all vessels in the navy Is
the ram Katahdin, the only ship OF its
kind in the world. 1t presents an odd
annearance as It rests alongside of the
dock at League Island navy yard. 1t
appears as If it had sprung leak or
sunk from other causes, only small
portion of the ship being above the
water.
Naval officers are interested to know
what the Katahdin could do In case OF
war. Since 1893, when she was COM
pleted at the Bath irSn works, accord
ing TO the designs of Rear Admiral Am
men, the ram has had little service. 1t
Is believed that it would be formid-
able fighting machine in time OF war,
for while the Katahdin carries no large
guns, experts say she could whip ships
of much larger tonnage and armed with
heavy guns. The Katahdin depends
wholly upon her ramming powers for
either attack or defense. The ram is a
solid piece OF hardened steel weighing
about five tons. It is conical in shape,
and placed on the bow of the vessel
below the water line. When going at
full speed the ram has striking force
of about 100000 foot tons per minute,
or enough force TO drive hole in an
ordinary armored battleship.
The construction of the vessel is such
that It would be almost impossible for
the shells from an enemy's guns to
cause any damage to her.
The vessel has conical steel-armored
deck, running the length and breadth
of the ship. 1t is curved so the ends,
which are knife edge" project from
| the sides of the vessel about three feet
below the water line. When under way
only a small portion of the deck line is
visible. Four small guns of the rapid
fire type are mounted on the deck TO
repel the attack of torpedo boats, but
as all the matches are battened down
when the vessel is cleared for action"
they would be of little use. No one is
allowed on deck during an action. The
coming tower, placed forward, and
only few feet from the ram, is protect
ed by armor plates ten inches in thick
ness. This, with the smoke funnel,
which is protected half its length by
armor plates six inches thick, are the
only targets which could be aimed at
by the enemy.
| The hull of the vessel below the ar
mored deck is protected, and is unlike
any of the hulls of the other vessels; il
is V-shaped
The ship is driven by twin screws,
operated by a set of triple-expansion
engines of the most modern type. They
are placed in a water-tight compart-
ment amidships, and develop an indl'
Gated horse power of 4.s00. The dis
placement of the vessel is 1880 tons, and
she has speed Of over II knots.
The crew space is forward, while the
officers quarters are aft. All are below
the water line, and air is pumped into
them by the electrical machinery in the
engine room.
The great ram Katahlin has been
| compared to a bee, for it is said that
she will Immediately lose her own life
after inserting her sting. She has been
the subject of more adverse comment,
doubtless, than has been hurled against
any other ship in the navy and many
officers prophesy that she will surely go
down with her prey. This is expected
to occur rs a result of inability TO back
out after inserting her ram or of mash
ing in her own bow. Furthermore, she
could be torpedoed by her adversary
within a distance of 600 yards. After
one bold stroke her career would prob
ably be ended and all on board would
go TO the bottom, The full compile
ment, except the captain, would be shell
tered inside during an assault, and
there would be little chance of escape.
They would have less to do in a fight
than any crew in our navy, yet they
would be faced with the most terrible
death which might be pictured in the
Imagination, imprisoned, as they would
be, beneath the surface of the water.
The katahdin has practically no de-
tense whatever-only four little six
Founders of the rapid-fire type, effec-
i've only against torpedo boats.-St'
Louis Republic.