Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-07
THE NEW
BATTLESHIPS.
Uncle Sam is Asking for Bids on
Three More Warships.
MAY BE BUILT HERE.
VIII Have Metal Throwing Capacity Ex-
cecding that of the Oregon and All 9th
or of Our Warships- They Will be Dif-
ferent from All Ba.tlcships Now In Ser
vice = Newport News Shipyard will
Probobly also Bid on tho Work.

Plans for the construction OF three
powerful sea- going coast line battle
ships. carrying the heaviest armor and
armam ent. and with 4 larger steaming
radius than any craft OF their class
yet built having been completed by the
naval desisners. circular letter was
isued by the Navy Department call
ing on the shipyards OF the country to
submit bids and counter designs. IL de-
sired for building these great warriors
of the deep.
In displacement and general effective
ness against powerful vessels these new
ships will be superior to any known,
and while not carrying as heavy guns
as the Oregon and other vessels of the
service their metal throwing capacity
far exceeds them. One great point in
which they will be superior to others
vessels of their type is high speed and
enormous bunker capacity. Taken in
all respects. they will be formidable
and great fighters. more complete in
every detail than any babtleship
afost and having more beam than most
warships In the world.
ARMAMENT AND TURRETS.
One OF the most important provisions
in the circular is that relating to ar
mament and turre.s. and by its terms
the question of gun calibre and style
Uf turrets may yet be again considered
by the authorities before final decis-
Ions are rendered.
To Admiral Sampson and Admiral
Bradford these subjects are of the deep
est concern. and ii is owing to their
IT, Tl1. car,fD fpr1c
saving clause renders it yet possible
that the superimposed turrets may be
applied 10 the new ships. This clause
is as follows:
The department reserves the right to
change. within a period of six months
after date of contract, the number and
caEbre of the guns, the arrangement
or the battery and turrets. including
the adoption of superlmposed turrets
and the thickness and distribution of
the armor. provided ouch change shall
not involve an increase of the weights
above Those herein specified for the
above-m entfoned purpose: such chan
see to be made without additional cost
to the government.
THE SHORTEST TIME.
In considering bids submitted the de-
nartment will. other things being equal,
give preference to such as guarantee
the shortest time for completion, and
in considering bids submitted under an
other class preference will be given
to designs best adapted for the naval
service which offer the highest speed
and greatest amount Of protection. No
bids will be considered which provide
for vessels of less than 1850 tons trial
displacement or of less than 10 knots
speed on trial, or having a bunker ca
Penalties are provided of $4,000 for
the first two quarter knots the yes
sci may fall below nineteen knots and
$4,000 for the remaining two quarter
knots to eighteen knots, and If the
speed falls below eighteen knots, the
vessel may be rejected or accepted at
a reduced price. to be detaTaf44i ed by
the department..
FIFTEEN SMALL BOATS.
Fifteen small boats and two military
mastss with fighting tops are TO be pro
videa far each ship, and the most i'm
proved facilities are required for hoist
ing In and out the cutters and launches.
The armor protection will consist of a
complete water line belt eight feet In
width. This belt is TO be of n maxi
mum thickness for a distance of about
100 feet abreast the engines and boilers
-ruhat is. nine inches thick at It's upper
edge and maintaining this thickness
downward for a distance of five feet.
from which point it tapers to six inches
at its lowest edge. Above the main belt
and covering the central portion of the
hull for A distance of about 1Sl feet the
Ships sides are to be protected by ar
NOR of a uniform thickness of six
inches. extending up to the upper deck
at the after corners, lower casemate
armor being Joined to the barfbettes of
the Pinch turrets by diagonal armor
OF six inches in thickness. thus forming
a central casernate of redoubt which
Will contain ten six-inch guns.
The two six-inch guns mounted on
the upper deck at the after corners of
the super structure are to be protected
with armor of six inches In thickness.
All 14-rounder guns are to be protected
by two-inch plates OF a sufficient area
10 form an efficient shield TO the crews
working them. The Finch baroette
turret armor Is to be twelve inches in
thickness, except where they are en-
closed in the easement. where the thick
ness Is reduced to eigh: inches The
turrets for the 12-inch guns are to be