The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-02
THE RAM IN
NAVAL BATTLE

D II. CdHticlu IN the Cnlcdgo IlmeS-Eeral0
The fight in Manila bay gave no oppor-
tunity for use of the ram, but the men
who built tho Ratahdin and those who
advocated her building are not discourage
ed They hold now, as then, that she is
the most fearful and certain weapon ever
placed within the grasp of "a sea power,
and they expect her to demonstrate it
when occasion arises. The Katatin, it may
DO explained Is ram pure and simple.
Her enormous beak of steel is capable of
crushing Its way through armor thicker
than any hull would float and she depends
upon it entirely for her offensiveness. She
is, Of course, protected by plating, but she
Is not heavily gunned. Any buoyant thing
struck by her while her thousands of tons
are ripping through the water at a speed
of more than twenty miles an hour Will
GO to the bottom. That much seems TO be
fairly a certainty.
Capt. Mahan calculates that in open sea
fleet action-action between fleets of APP
proximate strength and understanding
of the defeated fleet will be sunk and one
half captured OF those sunk he credits
two-thirds to the ram, one-sixth to the gun
and one-sixth to the torpedo. This calcula-
ram by naval experts OF the one-half OF
vessels to be captured the ram Is credited
with third. The value of the ram ex-
ceeds that of all the vessels guns at tho
opening of the duel in the single combat
which is expected to form so large a part
of the naval combats of the future. Later
in the action the ram becomes of less i'm
tance, and the guns are relied upon to
NH win I {- AJ,o1.er 7.t 10. ha
tain that as the world grows older and bat
tie ships more frequent feet actions will
decrease in number and single combats
and "twos to ones become more common.
The ram is designed specially for use in
affairs of this kind. 1t will not be used.
however, as was the original intention, to
administer the coup de grace. Its blow Will
be delivered, If possible, at the beginning
of the engagement. Tt will open the fight
and not close it. The rule in modern sea
fighting is to sink or destroy the adevrsa-
ry. Capture is a secondary consideration.
and does not enter into the preliminary
intention,
The force of the ram varies directly as
the weight of the ship and the square OF
the velocity High speed is, of course, an
essential Into ramming vessels are plac-
ed the most powerful engines, and to them
are attached the best models of propellers.
The ram itself is made as sharp as is
possible, consistent with massiveness and
crushing strength There is no ram now
afioat incompetent under fair condit ons
to tear a hole below water line OF the
strongest battle ship. In the shape of the
vessel everything Is sacrificed to strength,
speed and, above all, hardness. To be
able to get quickly under weigh. to attain
a high rate of progress In a limited DIS
lance and to turn quickly In response TO
the helm are absolute necessities. 1t is be-
Iieved that the Katahdin meets these re-
ouirements more fully than any boat own
ed by foreigners.
II Is evident that the success of the ram
In it's duels will depend almost wholly upon
the captain. 1t is not question of marks
manship or bravery, or even of high dis
cipline. It Is a question of GOODNESS, steadi-
ness, good judgment and skill in maneuver-
ing That vessel which strikes the broad
sid eehtfoteho BIZ Inn hmhm HIM hmhmhm
side of the other vessel head on, or even
partly so, Is the vessel which wins. The
ram may be likened to foil In the hands of
its commander, and he must know how to
use the weapon which his countrymen have
given him. He must know his ship. He
must know what she will do at various
speeds and with different helm angles
what she will do while backing with head
way on and while going ahead with en-
gines reversed. He must know her turn
ing area to a foot and the exact force OF
her striking capacity with given distance
and a number of screw revolutions. He
must practice. From her coming tower he
directs her every movement, and he alone
is responsible for the result.
If he commands a first-cass cruiser. but
has determined to open the engagement
with an attempt to ram, his bow guns will
be in the best working order and his broad
sides will be trained forward. He will make
straight at his enemy, and at the proper
moment will fire the bow guns, putting the
helm hard over. 1t will be his aim to strike
the foe amidshlps Owing to the distance
and the speed of the opposing ship his cal
culation must be of the utmost nicely. The
enemy's best recourse, having observed the
maneuver, will be to slow down for mo-
ment and then go full steam ahead. The
object of this, of course, Is to disconcert
aim. To turn tail would be fatal and his
attempt will be to get his bow pointed at
his attacker soon as possible. Each ship
will endeavor to avoid head-on collision
The point aimed at is the broadside or the
inflictlon of a glancng blow at worst. 1t
is the belief of students of sea power that
many actions of the future will be settled
by the ram, with a minimum use of powder.
The rules for arming, driving and steering
a ship which is to use It's ram to best adj
vantage few and simple. She should
have twin screws and steam or hydraulic
steering gear. The bow and stern fire should
be strong, and the bow guns should have a
wide arc 1t should be possible to discharge
both broadsdes or either from the coming
tower. There should be capacity for high
speed all through the action. The attack
should be made from windward, on account
of smoke from guns and tunnels yelling
movements. OF course, the first ship to
enter the turning circle of the other. obtains
an immense advantage, and 1t will be the
duty of the commander to get this advant-
age If he can. hundred years ago 1t was
the Anglo-Saxon maxim in sea fighting to
stPet the weather gauge and board Most