New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-08
PLANS FOR NEW WARSHTPS.
THE BAT"TIE-sHIPs WILL BE THE LARGEST
VESSELS N THE AMERICAN NAVY.

THE BATTLE SHIPS WILL BE THE LARGEST
VESSELS N THE AMERICAN NAVY
Washington. March THE plans for the three
big e-ships authorized by the Naval Appropria
ton bin tust passed are being worked out. The
general features OF the ships have been defined
subject TO the approval Of the Secretary. The
batte-ships will he a thousand tons larger than
the Maine and Missouri class. OF a total dsplace-
nent OF 1890 tons making them by Far the largest
ships In the American Navy and about equal in
dimensions to the best type OF battle-ships now
being constructed abroad under the new practice.
Though larger than the Maine. the ships will be
laid on almost the same lines being only A little
greater In every dimension. They VIII each carry
four Pinch IN turrets This calibre is an nch
less than the guns carried by the Oregon. but by
improved design they will be almost equal In pene-
trative power The S-nch guns OF the Oregon type,
although they did effective work at santiago and
Manila, have been abandoned But instead OF eight
s-inch guns the new ships viii have no less than
sixteen guns of e-inch calibre. all rapdfre. and
twenty 6-pounders. This battery represents the
ideal proportion taught by experience In the
recent war and that between China and Japan.
The speed OF the ships will he IS knots. an ad-
vance Of two knots over the Oregon class. but just
equal TO that OF the new Maine. For protection
me battle-ships will have belt OF armor seven
feet six inches broad running clear around the
waterlne three feet six inches above and four feet
below II originally planned 10 have this armor
sixteen inches thick. but the designers nave no"
reduced the thickness twelve inches This change
was made in order to strengthen the easements.
which Will be seven and half instead OF i've
inches thick Altogether there is notable absence
OF features IL the designs Of the batte-ships.
which taken in connection with the small amount
OF progress reported in the designs for the Maine
class, may be an indication that naval designers
have nearly Approached TIE Ideal batte-ship. 50
these SHIPS axe concerned, the iact tHat the
Navy Department Is limited 10 $500 d ton IN no
price OF amor makes Il Impossible 10 bulid them
in absence o. further losisla ION. and me De
partmcuf will be obliged to content IlStE win
the preparation OF detalled plans.
TIE : Of the undrmOred type provided
.Or can however he built and Chief Constructor
Hichborn mas already I, IN working out he designs
on lines approved 10y the Board OF Bureau Chiefs.
Il is The purpose OF the Navy Department 10 place
moment They represent a type OF cruiser which
would be of tie greatest value just now Tor foreign
service The plsns call for vessels Of about 700
tons. and they VIII be Improved Marbleneads, so
TO speak, being 600 tons larger than ships OF that
class and With better batteries and greater Goa
capacity most important consideration Is that
they VIII be sheathed IN wood over the steel hull
and fully cOppcred enabling them 70 keep the seas
even III tropical waters for many months without
being under the necessity Of seeking drydock.
The batteries Will be composed OF six 5-inch guns
The COS, is expected 10 be considerably more than
that Of the Marblehead. which $4,000 FOR the
This difference accounted for by the many i'm
prOvenents made in the designs. q notable one
being the OF water-tube boilers giving much
greater speed and economy