The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-31
PLANS FOR NEW BATTlESH|PS
THREE HEAVILY ARMORED YES
Sells TO BE BUILT.
Will Cost Three Million Each, Ex-
elusive of Armament and Armor-
Armor to Be Sixteen Inches Thick

New York, May SO.-The navy de-
partment called upon ship builders to-
day to prepare to build three battle
ships authorized by the present session
of congress with limit of cost, ex-
Guiding armament and armor, of s., 000,-
900 each, says the Washington CORES
pOndent of the Tribune. Heretofore the
limit of cost was somewhat larger, as
it included armor, the navy always
building its. own guns. Proposals are
invited under two heads, the first on
the departmental plans and specifica-
lions and the second upon designs to
be furnished by the bidders which
must, however. fully cover certain linn
itatiOns laid down by the board of con-
structiOn. This board, after continued
sessions for a month, has decided that
the three new ships shall be almost
identical with the Illinois, the Wiscon-
sin and the Alabama, now building at
Newport News. San Francisco and
Philadelphia respectively. and in all
probability the new vessels will be
built at those places, the Cramps, the
SCOTS and the Newport News company
possessing the patterns which Will en-
able them to do the work more expedi-
tiously and at less expense than other
establishments.
1850 tons displacement, with a coal
capacity of 1900 tons on main
draught of % feet, length of 1858 feet
and y feet beam. The hull will be of
steel with double bottoms and close
water tight divisions, with ample free
board and berthing accommodations on
decks above water. There will be no
sails, but two auxiliary masts with
fighting tops. Two hfeboats will be
carried so as to be rapidly lowered in
all conditions of weather.
The side armor belt will be ~ feet
broad and 1612 inches thick through en-
CINE and boiler spaces, tapering to a
thickness of four inches at bow and
stern, and there will be transverse ar
NOR forward and aft II inches thick
BarbetteS for the 13-inch guns will
be Is inches thick, except in the rear,
where they will be 10 inches. The tur-
ret armOr will be IA inches throughout.
The ships sides above the armor belt
as far as the main deck will be pro-
tected by 512 inch armor, behind which
coal is to be carried for further Sc
curity. The vessels will have a pro-
tective deck throughout the entire
length, pa inches thick where fiat and
5 inches forward and 5 inches aft,
where it is inclined. A cellulose vat
Will be fitted along the sides for the
whole length The coming tower will
be 10 inches thick and there will be
an additional armOred station aft s
inches thick. All 6-inch guns will be
protected by 512-inch armor and by IL
inch splinter bulkheads between the
guns, and smaller guns will have shield
protection and extra side plating.
The vessels will be driven by twin
screws, with two vertical, triple-expan-
sion 4-cylinder engines, one on each
shaft and in separate Water-tight COM
partments. There will be s cylindrical
single end boilers with a working pres
sure of 210 pounds in four separate
water-tight compartments. The weight
of the machinery is limited to 1.130 tons.
These ships are to be completed under
heavy penalty within two and one-half
years. After they are delivered to the
their guns and other equip
ment will be installed. Their main bat
terry will be composed of four 13-inch
guns in two barbette turretS, one for
ward and the other aft and ten 6-inch
rapid fire guns in broadside on the
main deck and four similar weapons
on the upper deck. with the superstruc-
ture Two submerged tubes will be
provided with eight 17-foot torpsdoes.
Accommodations must be arranged
for complement of 500 officers and
men, The turrets and ammunition
hoists are to be operated by electricity.
A speed of Is knots is reqtired. with
heavy penalties for any deficiency and
If the vessel fails to make 10 knots she
may be rejected altogether.