The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-02-26
J.M.C. in the Philadelphia (pa.) Ledger.

J. NJ. C. in the Philadelphia (Pa.l Ledger.
A letter received from Philadelphia asks
me to explain in this correspondence, ''the
difference between first and second class
battleship and cruiser. My correspon-
dent also asks the following questions
''W hat is protected cruiser? What is
meant by displacement in war vessel ?
What are the duties of torpedo boats, like
wise gunboats, and the difference between
the same? Are despatch boats armored?''
In presenting these questions the writer
expresses the belief that, except among
men learned in naval and military matters,
70 per cent. of the people are not informed
on the several points made the subject of
his questions. In reply to the questions l
have prepared, after consulting the experts
of the Navy Department, the following
answers
< The differences between first class and
a second class battle ship is simply differ
ence in degree of power, both offensive
and defensive. That is, the first class
battleship has more and heavier guns, and
more and thicker arror, and as a necessary
sequence * Il larger vessel The division
Of vessels Of war into classes is arbitrary and
dependent upon current size, and not the
same in all navipS What is today Il see
ond or third class ship was few years ago
first class ship; the largest vessels being
always designated as first class. First
class battle ships of the present day range
from 10, 900 to 14,000 tons in displace-
ment. The battle ship is vessel designed
for place in the first line Of battle, and
thus capable of withstanding heavy fight
ing with the least possible damage. Her
qualities are necessarily compromise of
different clements. and the art of the de-
signer lies in 50 proportioning the offensive
and defensive elements as to produce the
most formidable vessel possible Oh IL @iven
displacement.
Cruisers are divided into two classes
armored and protected. The former is a
vessel carrying moderate amount of ar
NOR, which, in modern vessels of this class,
is confined mostly to the gun positions and
armored deck. Her offensive and deten
sive power is less than that of the battle
ship, while her displacement may be nearly
the same or even more. \ greater pro-
portion of that displacement has been given
to weights of propelling machinery and
fuel, thus giving her a higher rate Of
speed and ability to make longer cruises
without recoaling.
The protected cruiser is Il vessel in which
these latter qualities are still more empha-
sized She must possess the highest rate
Of speed for sea-gOing vessels and the
greatest possible steaming radius or dis
tance which she can steam without recOal
ing. Her offensive and defensive quail
ties are reduced to the minimum for fight
ing vessels. In modern ships Of this class
the main battery seldom contains anything
heavier than 6-inch guns, but they are
rapid fire; that is, the projectile and pow
der charge are in one piece, like an exag-
gerated pistol cartridge, and the greatest
possible skill is required to so arrange the
ammunition supply from the magazines
that the maximum rate of fire Of which the
guns are capable can be maintained. The
defensive qualities of this class Of vessels
are confined to an armOred deck, which
in some vessels is as much as 6 inches
thick over the vital parts Of the vessel, and
ranges in most vessels of this class from 2
to 4 inches thick They are also usually
provided with local armor Or shields at the
Gun positions, which is seldom more than
inches thick.
BY displacement in war vessels, or in
any floating structure, is meant the weight
of water displaced by the immersed volume
of the vessel, this being equivalent to the
total weight of the structure according to
the weIl-known principle in mechanics that
a floating body displaces its own weight Of
water. This function in war vessels is the
foundation upon which the naval architect
must apportion qualities of offensive, de
fensive and motive power and general
equipment weights, and his skill in his
profession depends upon his success in
making combination of these qualities
WHICH Slldn COuIG illC hCd1Col W pShASNuI'i
in accomplishing the desired object.
GunbOats are vessels of less than 1000
tons displacement, which are designed for
service in rivers and shallow waters, where
they would not be likely to be opposed by
any considerable force. In effect they are
naval police, and usually carry little, if
any. armor and a moderate battery and do
not possess high speed.
Torpedo boats are vessels of Il still
smaller class, ranging in displacement from
fifty to 800 tons, but in which everything
is sacrificed to extreme speed, Their at
tacks must be sufficiently rapid to attain
their object before or very soon after they
are observed, otherwise they will fail, as
they have no defensive power at all, being
penetrable by musket fire in most cases.
While nearly all modern vessels of war
carry torpedoes, these carry nothing else,
except one or two light machine guns for
defence against boat attack.
Despatch boats are not armored and are
not considered as fighting ships, though
used for defence. They must have the
highest attainable speed in order that they
may convey dispatches to or from the fleet
in the shortest possible time.
NJ