The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-25

of operations, a supply of fuel and am
munition and AN opportunity to heal
wounds received i'm battle. Larger ships,
those of deeper draft necessarily, may
not enter or attack our ports at 1ighting
range, and this consideration was al
ways kept in mind by Chief Constructor
nichborn when the KeaTsarge and Ken
lucky were planned. That is the eXplana-
ton of the iact-a new one In naval de-
sign-that these ships. with a displace-
men, of l1.525 tons. draw only % feet .
inches of water, less than the armored
cruisers New York and Brooklyn, which
would not combined be equal in combat
TO one of the battleships. Light draft on
heavy displacement is only one OF the
many valuable qualities of the battle
ships though by no means the least.
Save the Indiana class, they carry the
heaviest batteries in accord with modern
naval practice, and with primary batter
les fully equal to that class they mount
secondary guns in such fashion as To
make the combination almost unequaled
i'm naval architecture. The big rifles, four
i'm number, are mounted in two turrets,
one sweeping the entire sea from directly
ahead. fully half way astern, the other,
with equal range, placed so as 10 COM
mand the sea from either bow straight
astern. These are of l3-inch calioer, yet
the British navy now confines its guns
to Finch. In inches the difference seems
small. yet the American gun has about
- per cent. more power.
AT this point in the armament OF the
ships the American designers have en-
barked i'm a bold and snterprising expert
ment. the result of which Will be awaited
with interest. Instead of descending at
one move from the heavy primary bat
terry TO the small caliber rapid-iire guns.
as is done i'm the case of cruisers, IL has
become the custom of naval architects
to interpose u battery of medium calber
guns. six or eight-inCh guns, for instance.
and these are placed in smaller indepenu-
ent turrets about the ship. IL occurred 10
the American designers that II they could
dispense with the weighty and space-con-
Stunning machinery attached TO these tur-
rets, such as the turning engines ana ma
chinery, independent ammunition hoist
shields and the like, much more engine
power could be placed in the hull OF the
ship and much more armor could De car
ried. They solved the problem by rigidiy
attaching the smaller t%urrets, each con-
tanning two eight-inch rifles. To the toI
of the big l3-inch turrets. The plan had
another advantage than weight-saNing
Theoretically IL tended to a terrible con
centrntion OF the fire of the ship; pfoba'
bly the craft does not float that would
survive the awful impact from the foui
guns OF one OF these combined turret'
upon one Sulth StNAiNh VI Tvs -
because they are trained in unison theil
proiectiles must strike close together.
With this saving i'm weight the design
srs were able To give splendid armor pro
lection 10 the ships. All of this armor d
of Harveyized nickel steel. of American
invention. and the best in the world al
To this date, as Is shown by the mani
Europcau efforts TO equal IL by other pro
crss,s of manufacture. Moreover. IL !
skilfully disposed. so as to make ever
ounce OF steel count for the protection @
the crew. The big turrets are IL inche
thick i'm front. diminishing i'm thicknes
10 Is inches in the rear. where they ar
less liable TO be struck, because In actioI
the guns are supposed always to be turn
ed toward the enemy. The smaller turret
above. for "A like reason, vary IN thlch
ness from II TO 9 inches. To make sur
no stray shot strikes the ammunitlo
hoists leading from the magazines 10 IN
|, urrets. the former are inciosed IN tupe
. OF hardened steel Is inches In thickness
, Mounted in this fashion the guns are a
4 most nvulnerable from the eight-lhch T
!, nes mounted high in the air with goo
, range and capable of piercing the wal
: of most armored ships at nghtins qual
ters. TO the big lS-inch guns that ca