New-York tribune., 1899-12-30
THREE FIGHTING GIANTS.
BATTLESHIP DESIGNS ADOPTED BY THE
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BOARD.
NEW VESSELS TO EXCEED IN FORMIDABLE
ITY ANYTHING NOW AFLOAT-SWIFTER
AND LARGER THAN THE OREGON.
[RY rELEGRArH TO TIE TRInuNE.l

ITY ANYTHING NOW AFLOAT-SWIFTER
AND LARGER THAN THE OREGON.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Washington, Dec 29.-Designs for the greatest
battleships ever projected for the American Navy
agreed upon by the Naval Board Of Con-
structlon to-day after several months Of discus
sion over the important questions of battery,
armor. speed coal capacity and displacement
The three new vesses-to be called the Georgia,
the New-Jerscy and the Pennsyvana-wlll equal
in formidabilIty the finest line Of battle vessels
yet laid down by any foreign Power. and. with
the addition of typical American improvements
will surpass in fighting force any ships now
ahoat
The salient features Of the design contemplate
n displacement OF approximately l4.ooO tons. as
compared with the Oregons 1000 or the new
Names 1900 The speed is to be "at least
nineteen knots" with coal bunker capacity of
1000 tons
There Will he two superlmposed turrets, one
fore and the other aft each containing two IL
inch and two S-nch guns Of the new elongated
bore and high smokeless powder velocity. Jne
remaining guns Of the main battery Will consist
Of twelve 6-inch quick fire In hroadside Ihls
arrangement Of battery has been finally adopted
for four 12-inch guns in turrets and sixteen g.
inch broadsidc, which had been put forward to
avoid the expedlent of superimposed turrets
The two-story turrets which are dtstinctlVely
American innovation as applied to the Kear-
sarge and the Kentucky. are regarded as no
longer of doubtful success, and IT is known that
foreign Governments are preparing 10 adopt
them 10 secure the concentration and angle or
fire they secure which is unapproached by any
other expedent
The Board also definitely determined upon
the use Of the most modern Kruppized armor
for the new vessels. it's precise distribution 70
he decided upon after the Chief Constructor has
made sufficient progress with tho actual plans
10 determine the proper arrangement OF
weights The armor problem has been the most
difficult to solve and 10 this cause is attribut-
able the delay in planning the ships. The act
authorizing tho vessels was approved on March
of this year. and It stipulated that no contract
should be made for any portion of the vessels
until a contract was made for the armor CON
grcss having limited the cost Of armor to the
ridiculous price of $500 ton. It was evident
from the beginning that no satisfactory snip
could he built under such restriction. and Tor
that reason the plans have been discussed with
unusual dcliberaton.
AS the weight ~ armor entering into these
ships was very large item. the question ot the
adoption ~ Krupp or the Inferior HarNeyizea
material was extremely important This can De
readily appreciated from the fact that roughly
600 tons OF the former the approximate
weight required for each battleship) Is equrVa-
lent. as regards resistance to penetrauon' 10
1000 of the latter. The adoption. therefore, OF
the material treated by the Kru7p process
meant that LOO tons OF weight would he avail
able for distribution among other vital charac-
,cristIcs Of n battleshlp-weight ~ propelling
machinery (spced) armament. coal carrying ca
pacity and draught.
The total cost OF each Of these three SHIPS
when ready FOR sea will exceed $IOOoOW each
They will cruise seven thousand miles straight
away. and there will not he three ships OF sim
nar offensive and defensive strength IN the
fleet of any possible enemy.