The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02

projected stage As all the vessels pre-
viously designed by the bureau have
shown excess Of speed over that called
for. 1t may be expected that this figure
will be exceeded by from quarter TO a
half knot
high speed by twin screws driven by two
4-cylinder, triple-expansion engines OF
about $4,000 indicated horse power, hav-
ing stroke of four feet, running under
conditions of maximum speed at about
120 revolutions minute. The steam nee
essary to this power will be supplied at a
pressure Of $50 pounds square inch by
twenty-four Babcock & Wilcox straight
water tube boilers. placed four in each OF
six independent water-tight compartments.
Each ship Will carry four 12-inch guns,
forty calibres in length, mounted in pairs
in Hichborn balanced turrets. having an
arc of train of 27O degrees, one forward
and one aft in each vessel. OF the S-inch
guns, forty-five calibres in length, which
will be carried on each Of the three
sheathed vessels four Will be mounted in
turrets of the Hichborn type. superposed
upon the 12-inch turrets. and four in two
turrets amidships, having an arc Of train
of $50 degrees, and in the two unsheathed
vessels all S-inch guns will be mounted
in four Independent turrets, having an
arc of train of 1I5 degrees, placed two on
each side at the ends of the superstruc-
ture, thus forming a quadrilateTal. In
each vessel there will be a broadsde OF
twelve 6-inch rapid fire guns, fifty cali
bres In length, mounted six on each side
on the main deck, each with an are of
train of ITO degrees. and each will also
have twelve 14-pounders and twelve j.
Founders mounted in commanding posi-
lions and having very large arcs Of fire.
In the two lower tops there will be four
automatic 1-pounders and in the upper
tops four single-shot 1-pounders.
Experience having SHOWN that above wa
ter torpedo tubes are not only inefficient
weapons but also menace to their pos
SCISSORS. the vessels are fitted only with |
submarine torpedo tubes. Two of these |
are located in one compartment, one on |
each side. fitted for the discharge of the |
large 1s-iuch Whitehead torpedo, and |
the torpedo room six of these formidable
engines of war.
The magazines OF the vessel will be spe-
cially fitted to enable them to carry, with
a bsolute safety in all climates, the new
smokeless powder, and with this end in
view. provision is made for their artif-
cial cooling by pipes from the cold stor-
lge system of the vessel. IL such cases rs
nay be necessary. Provision will be made
in the magazines for the storage of at
east sixty rounds for each Of the l2-inch
guns, representing a weight of about IA
ons; 125 rounds for each of the S-inch
guns, the weight of which will be about
$50 tons; 800 rounds for each of the j.
FOUNDER and 1-pounder guns, and an al
most inexhaustible supply of ammunition
or the smaller guns.
So much for the vessels offensive quail
ties. To make their defensive qualities
great, they are TO have a
complete waterline belt of armor, eight
zee in width amidships, eleven inches
kinck at the top and eight inches at the
bottom. tapering to uniform thickness
II four inches at the ends of the vessel.
they will Alison have an armored belt eX-
ending over 245 feet of their length, of a
inform thickness of six inches, rising
rom the top of the main belt to the up
Ter or main deck, and Joined at its after
md TO the barbette of the Pinch turret
" a six-inch armored bulkhead, and
aving at its forward end an inclined ar
mored bulkhead from side to side six
inches thick. thus forming citadel or
'edOubt within which the 6-nch guns will
,e mounted. The barbette for the turrets
If the Pinch guns are to be ten inches
n thickness for that portion outside of
he redoubt or citadel. reduced to six
inches in thickness within.
The turrets themselves will be pro-
ected by armOr ten inches in thickness
he port plates however. being eleven
nches. The S-inch turrets will in all
asses. whether superposed or independ-
mt, be protected by six inches of armor,
18th 6 l-2-inch port plates. and their bar
cites will be protected by similar armor.
he coming tower and its shield will be
inc inches in thickness. and the armored
ubes will be protected by six inches Of
rmOr and will be Of sufficient size not
My to receive all the voice pipes. wiring.
tc., but also to permit of their being used
S a passageway. il necessary. In addi-
ion to the coming tower there will be aft
second tower known as the signal tow
r, which will be protected by 5-inch ar
Tor.
From the bottom Of the waterline ar
nor belt there will rise curved turtle
acked nickel-steel protective deck one
nd ne-half inches thick on the fiat and
hree inches thick on the sloping sides.
o make assurance doubly sure that no
of the enemy shall find its way
ntO the vitals of the ship. AS an addi-
ional protection TO stability, Golfer
am belt, three feet in thickness and
acked to a density of eight pounds to