The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-11
CLASSIFICATION OF cRUIsERs
The Purpose and Character of the
Different Types.

Different Types.
Now that the war is upon US. it is he
coming that every one should have a
fair understanding Of the types Of YES
sells mustered In our defense, and know,
too, something of the duty cut out for
each.
OF the battleships and the monitor.
nearly every one has proper eoncep-
ton, and, too, Of the torpedoboat bat
of the three types of cruisers there is
only confused general knowledge.
The term cruiser used to apply, in the
days of sailing ships, to the frigates-
the type next most formidable to the
old line-of battle ships, and was intend
ed to compass the speedier Of the heavy
fighting craft delegated to the partieu-
lar service of hunting up the enemy or
preying upon his commerce, and, with
certain technical notifications, praeti-
calIy all Of our large, swim, unaTmored
vessels of the late war were so classi-
fed The gunboat was then and now
is the small vessel of moderate speed
and gun power unmarked for special
service by any peculiar characteristics
of either offense or defense.
With US the gunboat has a maximum
displacement or total weight Of some
thing just over 40 tons and a mini
mum of $50 tons the Castine and Ma
chias representing the major extreme,
and the little Bancroft representing the
minor extreme.
or the simple OF unprotected cruiser
type, we have three-the Detroit, Mar
blehead and Montgomery, each Of
trifIe over 1000 tons displacement.
When these vessels were first designed
they were officially known rs gunboats,
but the department wisely saw that a
limit must be drawn somewhere, and,
placing the gunboat limit Of size to
craft under , 600 tons, the three vessels
at once became dignified as cruisers.
Besides, their promised speed and their
fulfillment in reaching over eighteen
knots reasonably made them deserving
of the title in conjunction with their
pretty heavy batteries Of rapid-fire
guns. The simple or unprotected eruis-
er, in common even with gunboats,
has no protection in the shape Of arm
or for her ''vitals, as her engines, her
boilers and her magazines are called.
She has water-tight deck, though, Of
moderate plating, which extends from
side to side, and from bow 10 stern,
completely roofing over the "vitals."
While not proof against even moder-
ate shot, this deck prevents the admis-
sion Of water below which may come
in through breaks IN the plating above
this deck, and in that materially aids
in preserving the stability Of the craft
If pierced by the shells just above the
water line, but near enough to admit
water in careening. SO far as possible,
coal is placed above this deck and
against the sides as bulwaTk against
the attack Of an enemy, and while the
coal remains there it forms a good de-
Tense to guns ranging from one-pOund-
ers to six Founders. The armOred
shields borne by some of the guns or
the armor placed about some Of the gun
ports is not considered protection 10 the
craft herself, and while either may be
present on a simple cruiser, the fact
that her vitaIs remain Undefended
makes her an unprotected cruiser.
The protected cruiser is the next ad-
vance upon the simple cruiser. Here,
again, we have water-tight deck, but
this time it is supplemented with coat
of mail, and may range on the fat pOr-
tion from one inch to p inches, and
vary on the slopes at the sides from II
to a inches. This umor presents a de
Elective front 10 She passing through
the sides and threatening the mags-
zines and motive power, and, OF course,
gives the vessel the power of standing
up before craft capable Of dealing out
certain destruction to the simple cruiser.
Again, the coal Is slowed along the
sides, above and below the water-tight
and protective deck, and new defense
in the shape Of a band Of eellulcse
stands ready to take the first shock Of
attack and to plug automatically by its
own swelling all shot holes admitting
water. or course, it is not proof against
explosive shell which may displace it
rather than merely pass through or
the protected cruiser type, the Olympia
is by long odds the most typical vessel
in our service. Aside from her hull
protection, the guns Of her main bat
terry, four inch guns, Pre- mounted in
two turrets, an all around shelter une-
qualed by any ship Of like class and
size IN the world, and some notion Of
what this and the other phases of this
;, 5,sOO-ton ships defensive qualities con-
stitute may be gathered when il is real
lied that she could stand up and give
good account Of herself against either
the British Powerful or Terrible, ships
Of over 1900 tons displacement
The armored cruiser, represented ia
our service by the New York and the