The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-16
Three MIGHTY WARSHIPS
Naval Experts Nearly Agreed Upon
Preliminary Plans.
The Vessels TO Have a Displacement
OF 1880 TOnS-The Batteries to he
Composed of Twelve. Eight, and
SiX-Incb Guns-The Question of
TurretS DiScuSscd-New Cruisers

Within the next month tentative plans
Will be agreed upon by experts of the
Navy Department for the construction Of
three immense battleships which with
three armored cruisers and a number Of
smaller sstps. comprised last sessions
programme Of increase.
A member Of the board which has this
work under consideration expressed the
opinion today that the three leading
shipyards which have heretofore had the
exclusive privilege Of constructing the
larger Warships viii be informed Of the
general design and type Of the ships, but
after this three or four months additional
will be required to work out every detail
Of the big vessels before the department
viii be prepared 20 ask for bids.
II was believed last week that the yes
sells would unquestionably be fitted with
the superimposed turrets. but a reaction
seems tU have been brought about favor
able 10 the prevailing style OF gun install
lation on the battleships. and IL is yet IN
certain which method viii be employed
About the battery there continues some
doubt the main points involved being ever
aud 6-inch guns. there being no question
that the largest VIII be I2-iuch and no
heavier.
Several ordnance men advocated q main
battery, aside from the tweIves. all OF skies,
on the ground that their rapidity OF fire
is so much greater than Fights as 10 make
them more effective. even though the
Fights have greater penetrating power.
. ~ q h. srsrFr hold 81
/ opinion that 6-inch rifles are not amor
piercing. while Fights are. and for this
reason battIeships should not depend sole
ly on the Pinch guns 20 engage the heav-
ily protected ships OF their class.
In the circular which Will be issued the
general dimensions. as nearly as can be
estimated, Will be an approximate displace-
ment Of about 1850 tons. The beam
figures and required horse power 10 give a
speed Of is knots viii also be set forth.
There is some effort yet making to apply
triple screws 10 these vessels but the idea
meets with such little favor that it is quite
certain not TO be further considered.
Unless the board OF bureau chiefs again
switches around, the vessels viii have four
12-inch guns mounted in pairs. fore and
aft turrets. eight Fights and possibly
twelve skies. There are hundreds OF de-
tails, however, which must be decided IN
the actual drawing OF plans, but the build
ers will be given enough information re-
garding the general outlines to enable them
to submit independent designs il they de-
sire. OF improved plans on those Of the
department.
With the bsttleships disposed of by the
designers the three aTmored cruisers viii
be taken up. These ships Will be far
larger. Of greater speed and great steam
ing radius, and unlike any vessels in the
navy, except perhaps. the Brooklyn but
so much more powerful that they can
scarcely be placed in her class. A mem
Der of the board predicts that these yes
sells will not be contracted for until after
/ Congress adjOurns this summer, owing TO
! the controversies which viii be precipitated
in the construction board over the princi-
pal features.
Congress is literally disposed, apparent
1 ". toward the navy. and a programme
probably as large. or perhaps greater. than
I last sessions is eypected by the naval OFF,
Gals this year. The class OF vessels be-
lieved by then most urgently required now
! tor the countr. are battleShips and armOred
( cruisers. and more especially the latter
which is a type that the leading powers
/ now seem to De devoting special attention
/ to perfectlng None Of these vessels. how
/ ever, Authorized last session OF that may
/ be prov ided this year, can be completed or
more than half built until Congress dis
! poses OF the armo- question and the weight
and kind Of plate to be purchased are
/ definitely known to the department.