New-York tribune., 1900-04-08
TEST OF THE KEARSARGE.
INSPECTION BOARD PRAISES THE
DOUBLE TURRETS-SOME MINOR
DEFECTS POINTED OUT.

Washington, April THE Naval Board of
Inspection, of which Rear Admiral Frederick
Rodgers is president. has submitted a report to
the Acting Secretary Of the Navy the recent
trial of the battIeship Kearsarge off the Virginia
Capes. The most interesting, and to naval peo-
pie the most important, feature Of the trial was
the test OF the superimposed turrets OF the bat
tleship, made primarily to determine the stabil-
ity OF the vessel and the structural strength Of
the turrets Concerning the turret tests the
Board says:
During the afternoon of April the four guns
in the forward turret were fired simultaneously
at four thousand yards range. and three of the
projectiles apparently fell in the same spot; one
fell about three hundred yards beyond but in
line The four guns from the after turret also
were fired simultaneously, and in this case three
projectiles fell in the spot; one S-inch pro-
jectile fell to the right. During this test the
blast from the S-inch guns in superimposed tur-
ret did not Inconvenience the people in the 10
inch turret
Careful observation in the forward turret
structure showed the following horizontal defiec-
ton Of the upper portion OF the turret support,
the measurements being taken at level Of turret
roller path and Immediately in rear of guns.
the fixed point Of reference being on the armored
barbette: DETECTION due to firing simultaneously
two 13-inch guns and two S-inch guns, I-l6
inch. DETECTION for one 13-inch gun, 0-32 inch;
rotation of turretS under this condition, meas
urements being taken at roller path 9 inches.
DETECTION for S-inch gun, 1-16 inches.
Rotation of turrets under this condition very
slight but approximately one-ha1f inch.
After these tests all Of the guns Of the main
and secondary batteries were fired at extreme
elevation and at level. No injury done to
the structure of the ship the gun mounts by
these tests except breaking glass and bolt
The Board notes that on firing the automatic
Founders in the military tops the vibration
and jump to the mount great as TO make
any further firing Of those guns dangerous. The
searchlights failed to give satisfaction, due to
their unfinished condition. The Board itemizes
some unfinished work due to putting the vessel
in commission before she was quite completed,
and some minor defective work. which will be
made good by the contractors. Owing to the
fact that the electric plant had not been COM
pIetely installed the ammunition hostS were
subjected to the extreme tests. 1t is pointed
cut that the turrets insuffciently lighted,
and corrective recommendations are submitted,
The Board calls attention to the fact that the
vessel was taken from the contractors before she
had been thoroughly completed and says that
on this account the benefits intended to be at
tanned by the Government the results of d
final trial not forthcoming 1t is recon-
mended that the first official trial of a vessel in
future be made until the vessel has been
practically completed in all particulars. In con-
clusion, the Board reports that no weakness or
defect in the fittings equipment due to de-
fective workmanship materials etc, appeared
except the minor noted; that the machin-
cry was in excellent condition and worked well.
The speed attained with a mixture Of slack and
soft coal 80 knots hour.