New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-30
PLANS OF NEW BATTLE-SHIPS
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT TO CALL FOX
BIDS ON THREE.
THEY ARE TO COST NOT MORE THAN 100000
EACH. AND WILL BE ALMOST IDENTICAL

THEY ARE TO COST NOT MORE THAN 100000
EACH. AND WILL BE ALMOST IDENTICAL
WITH THE ILLINOIS. THE VISION
SIN AND THE ALABAMA.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnrBuSE.l
Washington, May 29-The Navy Department
will coll upon shipbuilders tomorrow to prepare
to build the three battle-ships authorized by the
present session Of Congress. with limit of cost.
excluding armor and armament. Of S3.oOo,oW
each Heretofore the limit OF cost was some
what larger as it included armor. the Navy al
ways building its own guns. Proposals Will be
invited under two classes. the first on the de-
partmena plans and specifications, and the sec
ond upon designs to be furnished by the bidders,
which must however. fully cover certain limita-
tons laid down by the Board of Construction.
This Board. after continuous sessions for
month, has decided that the three new ships
shall be almost identical with the illinois, the Wis
consln and the Ala bama. now building at Newport
News. San Francisco and Philadelphia respec-
lively. and in all probability the new vessels
will be built at those places the Cramps, the
SCOTS and the Newport News companies possess
ing the patterns which will enable them to do
the work more expedtiously and at less expense
than other establishments. The circular which
will be issued tomorrow provides for vessels OF
1850 tons displacement with a coal capacity
Of 200 tons on mean draught Of % fee; a
length Of 36S feet and - feet beam. The hull
will be Of steel. with double bottoms and close
water-tight subdivisions with ample freeboard and
berthing accommodat tons on decks above water.
There will be sails. but two military masts
with fighting tops Two lifeboats will be car
ried so as 10 be rapidly lowered in all condi-
tons OF weather.
eid hall Ia far
1871 inches thick through engine and boiler
spaces taperins to a thickness of inches at
bow and stern, and there will be transverse ar
NOR forward and art l. inches thick. Barbettes
for the 13-inch guns will be Il inches thick. ex-
cept in the rear where they VIII be 10 inches.
The turret armor will be II inches throughout.
The ships side above the srmor belt az far as
the main deck viii be protected by 5i2-nch ar
NOR behind which coal is to he carried Tor
further security. The vessels Will have pro-
tective deck throughout their length =. inches
thick. where fiat. and inches forward and -
inches aft where 1t IS inclined. \ celulose DeIt
will be fitted along the sides FOR the whole
length. The coming tower Will be 10 inches
thick and there will he an additional armored
station aft q inches thick All G-inch guns VIII
be protected by 81 inch arrnOr and by li.-inch
splinter bulkheads between the guns The
smaller guns will have shield protection and eN-
ira side plating
The vessel will be driven by twin screws. with
two vertical triple expansion FOUR inder en-
gines one on each shaft and in separate water
tight compartments There VIII be eight GYM
drical snge-end boilers. with a working pres
sure OF 20 pounds. in four separat" water-uSht
compartments The weight OF machinery IS
/ limited 10 1870 tons.
These ships are to be completed under heavy
penalty within two and a half years. After they
are delivered TO the Government their guns and
other equipment VIII be installed. Their main
battery viii be composed Of four l3-inch guns In
two barbette turrets one forward and the other
aft and ten 6-lnch rapd-hre guns In broadside
on the main deck and four similar weapons on
/ the upper deck with the superstructure. Two
submerged tubes will he provided and eight Ia
foot torpedoes Accommodations must be- ar
ranged for complement Of 800 officers and men
The turrets and ammunition hosts are 10 be op-
Grated with electricity. speed of ~ knots Is
required. with heavy penalties Tor any deficiency
and II either vessel fails L. make ~ knots she
/ may De rejected altogether.