The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-08-06
RAMS IN NAVAL BATTLE.
MOST FEARFUL WEAPON IN The
GRASP OF A SEA POWER.

The Katahdin Is Expected to Demon
strate Terrible Effectiveness When the
Opportunity Comes Mountaineering the
Coup de Grace to an Enemy's Fleet.
The fight in Manila bay gave no OPP
portunity for use of the ram, but the
men who built the Katahdin and those
who advocated her building are not
discouraged. They hold now, as then,
that she is the most fearful and GER
tain weapon ever placed within the
grasp of a sea power, and they expect
her to demonstrate it when occasion
arises. The Katahdin, it may be ex-
planned, is a ram pure and simple.
Her enormous beak of steel is capa-
bic of crushing it's way through armor
thicker than any hull would float, and
she depends upon it entirely for her
offensiveness. She is, Of course, pro-
tected 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 certainty.
Captain Mahan calculates that IN
open sea fleet action-action between
fleets of approximate strength and
numbers-one half of the defeated
feet will be sunk and one-half cap
tured. OF those sunk he credits two
thirds to the ram, one-sixth to the
gun and one-sixth to the torpedo.
This calculation shows the Importance
attached to the ram by naval experts.
Of the one-half of vessels to be cap
tured the ram is credited with a third.
The value of the ram exceeds that of
all the vessels guns at the 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
Importance, and the guns are relied
upon to achieve victory. 1t is thought
to be certain that as the world grows
older and battleships more frequent
feet actions will decrease in number
and single combats and ''two to OF O."
become more common. The ram is
designed specially for use in affairs OF
this kind. It will not be used, how
ever, as was the original intention, to
administer the coup de grace. Its
blow will be delivered, if possible, at
the beginning Of the engagement. IT
will open the fight and not close it.
The rule in modern sea fighting is to
sink or destroy the adversary Cap
ture is a secondary consideration and
does not enter into the preliminary in.
tention.
The force of the ram varies directly
as the weight Of the ship and the
square of the velocity. High speed
is, of course, III essential. Into ram
ming vessels are placed the most
powerful engines, and to them are at,
tached the best models of propellers.
The ram itself is made as sharp as is
possible consistent with massiveness
and crushing strength. There is nc
ram now ahoat incompetent under fail
conditions to tear hole below thu
water line of the strongest battleship
In the shape of the vessel everything
is sacrificed to strength, speed, and
above all, hardness. To be able t.
get quickly under weigh, to attain {
high rate of progress il limited dis
lance and to turn quickly in response
to the helm are absolute necessities
It is believed that the Katahdin meets
these requirements more fully thar
any boat owned by foreigners.
1t is evident that the success of tn,
ram in its duels will depend almos
, wholly upon the captain 1t is not
question of workmanship or bravery
or even of high discipline. 1t is
question of GOODNESS, steadiness, goo
Judgment and skill in maneuvering
That vessel which strikes the broad
side of the other vessel head on, o
even partly so, is the vessel whicl
wins. The ram may be likened to
8 foil in the hand of its commander. an,
he must know how to use the weapon
which his countrymen have given him
He must know his ship. He mus
, know what she will do at variou
speeds and with different helm angle
what she will do while backing wit
Roadway on and while going ahea
=, with engines reversed, He mus
know her turning area to foot an
the exact force of her striking capaC
ity with given distance and humble
of screw revolutions. He must prat
, tice From her coming tower h
q directs her every movement, and h
:, alone is responsible for the result.
The rules for arming, driving an
steering ship which is to use itsra
J to best advantage are few and simple
- She should have twin screws and steal
y or hydraulic steering gear. The DO,
: and stern fire should be strong, IN
the bow guns should have wide arc
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