The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
The New Armored Cruisers.

In the new programme OF naval construc-
ton no ships are more interesting than the
three armored cruisers. which in size are
to surpass those we have by a good deal
more than tho latest battleships will sur
pass their predecessors.
The Brooklyn displaces 9.215 tons, but in
the new trio we pass at once to a displace-
ment Of 10000 tons. This will allow n
length OF 400 feet, a beam Of 80 and a
mean draught OF 24la, so exceeding tho
Brooklyn by 90 feet In length, over 4 feet In
beam I'M 6 inches in draught. The speed ex-
acted will be not less than % knots against
the B%rooklyn's 2l.9l and the New York's
Fl, and it may be much more, since against
the 1s,769 horse power Of the Brooklyn,
under forced draught, we find an esti-
mate Of $4,000 for the new ships. This
power is to be developed by quadruple ex-
pansion engines and water-tube boilers,
like those to be supplied to our newest
hattleships. Az in the latter, also. the steel
hulls will be sheathed and coppered; and,
although the weight will thereby be in
creased, the greater freedom from marine
Erowths on the hulls will give higher speed
after a few months cruising, and, OF course,
longer service before being compelled to go
to the docks for cleaning. The coal capacity
will be 1900 tons, against 1.461 for the
Brooklyn, and at 10 knots the new cruisers
will have a radius Of action estimated at
1890 knots,
The thickness Of the armor may be intiu-
enced by the final decision between Krupp
and Harvey plates. The plans indicate,
meanwhile, a s-inch belt at the water
line, over the central portions OF the ship,
tapering to four inches at each end. tho
belt, as in the battleships, being II feet
broad. The barbettes will have 1O-inch
srmor In front and 6-inch in rear; the
balanced %turrets. with inclined IRON plato,
9-inch. The diagonal armor will be s.!nch ;
that Of the coming tower, lO-inch the
protective deck, six inches on the slope
and three inches on the fiat, as in the
Brooklyn and New York. The armor in
general is thicker than in these two earlier
vessels, whose sides, for example, have
only three inches and four inches re-
EFFECTIVELY; and Krupp instead Of Harvey
plates would make this difference still more
marked. Again. the turret armor in the
two earlier vessels is only 81, inches thick,
against nine proposed for the new cruisers.
These last, in protective strength, would
approach the battleship class.
In the matter Of batteries it has been said
that there would be four s-inch guns in
turrets and fourteen long 6-inch In broad
. side, the two end pairs in sponsors, so
' as to fire directly forward and aft, and the
others in V-shaped classmates, with the
apex, OF course. inboard. giving ample
room for gun crews of twelve men each.
and SO armored that u shell exploding
within a casemate will affect only one crew.
The Brooklyn carries eight S-inch and
twelve 5-inch guns and the New York six
S-inoh and twelve finch, so that II the
armament now spoken of should be EN-.
ployed, the new vessels will he much less
remarkable for that than for armor. But
in quality our guns are TO he improved, and
recent exp Renee favurs, for armored
cruisers, the S-inch and 6-.nch, against
an equal weight in larger ca!ibres. The
secondary batteries would be very effect,
iva, CONSISTING Of ten l2-pounders, ten
6-pounders, six FOUNDERS and six machine
kInA against twelve 6-pounders and ten
smaller pieces in the Brooklyn and a less
powerful battery in tho New York.
The limit 81 cost of the thrTe new armoreC
cruisers. cxclusiv" OF and armament
j. $4,000. 600 zach, ar Sl2, 900 600. Thai
~ the guns and plates, reckoning the latter
al the Harvey basis, $500 per ton, without
the royalty, is 81 400, 900 for each, or So,
100000 for the three, This makes a tota
II $4,000, 600, and il is close on that o
the new battleships, which are to cost no
{ more than $4,000, 900 each for hull AM
Il machinery, or SO, soo,O 900 for the three
tr'but 50, 2ao, 900 for the armor and guns o
use, $4,000 fol the three, making A tota
u