Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
NEW BATTLE SHIPS
The Two Last Designed Are Navi-
gable Fortresses.
WILL Be MOST FORMIDABLE OF ANY
The Big Amor to Be Carried and
the Ammunition.
CREW OF SEVEN HUNDRED
Written for The Evening Star.


Written for The Evening Star.
Even though the continuance has had only
a peace time trial-and that not of the most
conclusive sort-it would seem as though
the nuch-mooted double-decked turret had
come to stay or at least, in a fair
way of MULTIPLICATION. After due delibera-
ton on the part of a pretty large board of
naval officers of several corps and divers
ranks and experiences, 1t was decided to
recommend that three out OF the five new
battle ships not yet given to the builders
should carry superposed turrets on the prin-
ciple of those on Kearsarge and Kentucky.
Theoretically and figured out on paper
of the plans these three ships will certain
ly be the most formidable battle ships yet
designed for any navy; and for the states
of Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island and Virginia will be left the
task of settling among them which are to
assume the sponsorship of these three yes
sells All five of the ships are to be bullt by
authority of the acts of Congress of March
8 1899 and June T. 1900. The act of last year
provided for three battle ships TO De
sheathed and coppered, while the act or
this year made provision for two battle
ships without STIMULATING that they be
sheathed and coppered.
In the circulars describing the chief char
acteristics of the double-decked turret
ships, they are put down as craft OF 40
feet long on the load water Unexpectedly
a twelfth of a mile in length-a trifie over
seventy-six feet broad at greatest beam
and representing, when ready for their
speed trials. a mass of 1900 tons of steel,
brass and miscellaneous ma terials. with
self-propelling power sufficient to drive that
bulk against wind and tide at a rate of
nineteen knots an hour Truly, one great
metallic idol of mans fabrication into
which he has breathed a Wonderful Slmu-
lation of the spirit of life but which he has
made obedient TO the Will of the daintiest
hand that wears glove.
Can Cruise in Shallow Waters.
That the ships may guard the shallow
harbored cities of the south, when deepest
laden they will not draw more than twen-
ty-six feet OF water. and under normal con-
ditions-which fairly represent their aver
age state in time of confiict-they will be
able to cruise in waters two feet shallower.
1t is this peculiar feature of all our latest
armOred ships that makes them distinctly
superior to any of their foreign classmates
one that gives them the double advantage
of greater reach in action and wider field
OF cover in case of retreat In pur-
pose all battle ships alike, but
III performance they differ much as one
pugiiist differs from another in his ability
10 strike quickly and hard and to get out
of the reach of his opponents retaliation.
These ships are qualified along the lines of
the skilled fighter, for not only will they be
able to maneuver at great speed, but the
blows they strike will be very hard ones,
rapidly delivered from behind defense of
the StouteSt sort.
Let US see with what these various de-
structive blows to be delivered First
there Is what may properly be termed the
main battery-a force of four twelve-inch
and eight eight-inch breech-loading rifles of
the newest make All of these guns are
mounted in pairs in turrets, four of the
eight-inch guns resting on top of the
tWelVe-fnch Ia nj
eight-inCh guns are placed amidships on
the main deck. Head or stern on the
ships can bring to bear upon an enemy two
tWelVe-lnch and six elght-inch guns, while
In broadside they can better that force by
two more Of the twelve-inch guns No ship
yet designed by a foreign power can do as
much, especially when that force can be
supplemented by no fewer than six rapid
fire six-lnch guns, such as are arranged
in broadside on each side the gun deck
These rapid-ire six-inch guns constitute
what is generally termed the secondary
battery of battle ship or armored cruiser
Great Bombarding Range.
The eight and twelve-inch guns, because
of the large angle of their turrets slant
ing faces. will be able TO elevate some
twenty odd degrees, thus efYecting bonn
harding range much in excess of that pos
stble to any other of our battle ships-a
feature much 10 be desired when attacking
towns and cities strongly defended by bat
teries having all the advantage of their
stabler platforms If one can realize the
meaning Of such figures, let him glory I'm
the fact that each of the twelve-inch guns
can be fired at intervals of a minute and a
half; that each shell weighs 500 pounds
that it leaves the gun at a velocity of . sOo
feet second. and, a thousand yards away
can bore its way undeformed through near
~ seventeen inches OF armor hardened nv
the modern krupp process. With soft
cap on It's point the same shell can nose it's
through al
thicker; and yet flesh and blood Is expected
10 face untiinchingly the coming of such a
dow The eight-inch guns of the latest
iorty-nve calibers length sends its DO
pound shot on It's mission of destruction at
the same velocity. and is able. uncapped to
get through, uninjured, eight inches of
hrupp armor two thousand yards distant,
with. OF course, the same percentage OF
greater penetration to It's credit when
capped, as is common to the tweIve-inch
pro1ectile. The eight-inch guns are each
TO be able TO fire at intervals of fifty sec
onds. The six-inch rapid-fire guns, with
their five shots minute, fire 1oO-pound
missiles at a velocity of 2 900 feet a second
nearly three times as fast sound travels,
ana a thousand yards away is able TO go
clean through $40 inches of Kr1,ppized
steel The power of this combined battery
or twelve. eight and six-inch guns may be
very comforting TO the complements of
these ships, but II IS not a welcome pros
pect to enemy.
There is an auxiliary battery of light
rapid-nre guns. the purpose of which is to
repel torpedo craft to riddle an enemy's
tops, smokestacks. exposed positions and to
pour perfect hail of small. explosive shell
into open ports leading to unguarded guns
rms force consists principally of twelve
fourteen FOUNDERS, dozen three-pounders
Tour automatic and four single shot one
Founders and eight smaller automatic and
machine guns With rate of fire ranging
anywhere from ten to two hundred aimed
shots minute. the possible storm from
such force is something appalling and II
was the wickedly searching quality of
these small guns that did so much dread
ful execution at Santiago de Cuba
Torpedo Tubes.
For torpedo service. each of these ships
will be fitted with two submerged tubes
well guarded from an enemy's gun fire