The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-04
TEST OF THE KENTUCKY.
The Report of the Naval Board on
iEspcctiOn.

| Inspection.
The recent test of the battlsship Ken
lucky off Newport showed that this mag
| nificent armorclad was perfect in struc-
ture and that her superposed turrets were
quite as advantageous as those of her sis
ter ship. the Kearsarge. In the report of
the Board on Inspection and Survey. which
conducted the final trial. the statement is
made that all the proiectiles fired in sal
vo from the after superposed turrent fell
| in the same line and appeared to fall in
the same spot"
The boards report was received by the
Navy Department yesterday. The trial
was to test the Kentucky in every partic-
ular to determine whether she had been
built in accordance with plans and speci-
fications and to decide whether any repairs
should be made by the contractors. AS
required by the contract the Kentucky
was kept at sea for forty-eight hours.
The machinery, both main and auxiliary.
worked well. and the average speed for
two hours trial run was 1875 knots an hour
The indicated horse power of the main
and auxiliary machinery was 1913. Coal
was consumed at the rate of IA 300 pounds
an hour or 1.S3 pounds per indicated horse
power.
Owing to defective polarization the fir
ing OF the guns III tie forward turret WIS
not satisfactory. Lieutenant Bernadou.
who had charge Of this turrent says in a
memorandum submitted with the boards
report that the turret had been fitted cleo
trlcaily for firing the guns individually.
ana temporary apparatus connected with
the Newport Torpedo Station was used
10 hre them in salvo. Owing to the defect
mentioned. the right 13-inch gun and the
right S-inch gun of this turret were dis
charged prematurely at different times.
In further test one OF the S-inch guns
was fired without intention
This shows, says Lieutenant Bernadou
that the battery should be carefully in
sulated from the ship. 1t also shows that
with the present arrangement, a ground
IN any gun may fire another gun"
In the upper turret the salvo was fired |
successfully. the 13-inch guns at 10. eco |
yards and the S-inch guns at extreme ele
WALTON 1t is Of this salvo that the board |
testifies that the projectiles fell in line |
ana apparently in the same place. No |
casualties occurred in the firing. although /
some bolts on the guns were broken The |
ooara says that during the turret tests |
the blast from the S-inch or upper tur-
ret guns did not Inconvenience the off
GERS and men at tie 13-inch or lower tur-
ret guns. The board obtained the follow
ing data:
forward turret: RecoiI of turret struct-
lre from right 13-tnch gun. 3-S inch: re-
suitant rotation of turret s 81 inches to
left; recoil from left 13-inch guns. 1000
yards elevation. 8 inches to right; recoil
rom left S-inch guns. 1900 yards eleva-
ion. Lie inch: rotation for same, lie
nch TO right. After turret: Recoil OF tur-
ret structure due to salvo guns at 4.ra0
ards elevation. 932 inch; rotation Of tuI.-
'et not given.
Several small guns failed to work prop
,rly The automatic 6-rnillimetre Colt
'uns in the tops failed to work properly.
;artridges damned and caused long de-
avs.
The board has the same criticism to
make of the Navy Departments action
n giving vessel its final trial too soon
liter completion as it Made. in the case OF
he kearsarge. The board says:
The board again desires to specially
ring to the DEPARTMENTS attention the
act that the benefits intended to be OBJ
aimed by the Government as a result of I
he final trial of the vessel were not
orthcomlng. the vessel being to all intents
nd purposes fresh from the hands of the
uiiders Instead of the Department hav-
ng the benefit Of FIVE months test of the
essel in all its appurtenances and fittings ..
nder service conditions. with the conse-
uent opportunity to develop defects and ,
emedies for same The trial board was ,,
new and uEtried vessel under ,
onditions Of hull machinery, etc. which i.
iore properly pertained to first accep-
ance trial tan these which should be 6
equired for the final acceptance trial" :
Recommendation is made that the first /
rial of vessel shall not take place until r
/ has been practically completed in all {
articulars. Generally the board reports /
hat there was no weakness and no de-
7ctive workmanship except in some insig- /
ifcant cases and that the machinery was h
4 good condition. there being no break
own or sign of deterioration. '