The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-30
ponent he reminds one of nothing so
much as huge ape"
KATAHDIN is A FIGHTER.
Commander Wilde Has High Hopes
of the Ram in War.
Washington Letter in the Sun.


In the event OF war with Spain a
good many naval officers would be in
terested in the demonstration OF what
could be done in an actual engagement
with the modern ram, and the belief
prevails among some of them that the
country would be electrified with the
havoc caused among the enemy's fleet
by such a vessel as the Katahdin. No
modern vessel of this kind has ever
been used in actual warfare, and, in
fact, the Katahdin is about the only
craft of her kind in the world. In the
early days of our own civil war the
Confederate Merrimac, crude as she
was, according to present ideas of naval
construction, did fearful mischief in the
brief career which preceded the per-
formance in Hampton Roads of her
specially designed antagonist, the Mon
itor. The operations OF the Merrimac
were considered wonderful, and it was
then that the effectiveness of the ram
in naval warfare was first demon
strated.
The Katahdin is almost as little like
the old ram Merrimac as she might
have been if the dates of their construc-
tion We're separated by a hundred
common are the use of armor, the en-
ployment of steam and the pointed steel
prov, The Katahdin was the idea OF
Admiral Daniel Ammen, now retired,
and she is regarded as a sort of mon
strosity in naval construction. She was
built at Bath, Me-, in 1892, by the Bath
Iron Works. The vessel has a length
on the load water line of 25O.9 feet, and
he Il raf iIlN fCy InIA
water line, gives her an extreme length
of about 254 feet. Other statistics of
the vessel are: Displacement under
normal coal supply, 2,155; tonnage, 5S2
extreme breadth, 435 feet; mean
draught, Is feet; indicated horse power,
5,O6S; speed, 1911 knots; capacity of
coal bunkers, 1920 tons. The Katah-
din is propelled by twin screws. Her
full complement consists of ninety men.
The most peculiar feature of the
Katahdin is her concealment under
water Only her smooth turtle back,
covered with armor plate and sur
mounted simply by small coming
tower and a smokestack, are visible.
The tower is made of steel, eighteen
inches thick, and unless squarely hit
by heavy shot at close range, is proof
against any attack. Aside from her
dangerous sharp beak of steel and her
covering Of armor plate, the Katahdin
is equipped with slight means of Of
fensive or defensive character. She
carries four siX-pounder rapid-fire
guns, which are intended as defence
against torpedo boats and boarders.
Her speed is low, hardly higher than
that of a battleship; but with her tre-
mendous momentum and powerful pro-
pelling force behind a sharp steel PROV
the Katahdin is calculated to do a lot
or mischief among the enemy's fleet.
The ram, being situated below the
water line, is directed at the most vul-
nerable part of battleship or cruiser,
where armor is either thin or altogether
wanting.
The commander of the Katahdin.
Captain Wilde. says: "I believe that
the Katahdin would prove to be a most
formidable fighter in case she could
have the opportunity to show what
Is in her. She lies under the water
where her offensive power is located
and the small part which is exposed
to the enemy's fire is practically invul-