The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-03-03

WIN OtneT snlps IN "A me OI bdlllf. ~ 40
this was needed not only fghting power,
but manpuyring ability speed and handi-
ness and In order that these qualities
might approach homogeneouSness through
ont the fleet. and so promote action in con
cert, the acceptance Of a mean type va,
essential. 10 carry three decks OF guns,
a ship had TO expose above water a side
di,proportiona,cly high relatively TO her
length. her depth. and her hold upon ~"
water. She consequently drIftrd rapidly
when her side was turned 10 the wind:
while. If her length was increased. and 50
her hold on the water. she needed more
time n room TO tack and TO wear that
Is. TO turn around. Ships of this class
also were generally though not necessarily
slow.
ADVANTAGES OF III 14s.
The two-deckei ship was superior m
speed M IN hardness. and Tor that reason,
even when acting singly. she could put
forth such power a. she possessed more
quickly and more certainly. But these
qualities were most conspicuouslv valuable
when ship had to act with ship The great
~ - VI lllAllNN'iN W A'NFs WIN - N''l ~ W.
in masses. was in the hands Of the two
deCtcd ship. because in her were united
10 IN" highes' point n dividual power and
facility for combined action. And tins
wa tru" not only of two-dCckers in general.
tut of the particular species known a. the
7t-gun shin Ships below that rate lacked
individual 0chtlng power. Ships above II.
the 50 and -, lost manuuvring power
because Of their greater length and weight.
Under tho conditions Of sail a fleet of -
could get out the whole power ot the force
NOR" surely and more rapidly than tic
equivalent number Of guns in ships Of any
other kind. TNus onensly" power die
tatcd i'S survival To our own day ii reads
tho lesson that offensive power. tho siHc
qua non Of a military organization, los not
merely In tho greatest strength of The single
ships. but IN the uniformity If their action
and rapidly 81 their movements. ~ con
duciy" to IN" quick putting forth Of tho
strength of tho whole body ~ once ant in
mutual support.
II may ho asked naturally. why. then. were
'h"r" any 81 us bigger or smaller than This
favored tvpo2 tor smaller. tho answer :
THAT short sGirs Of Ighiar draught are best
suited for shoal or intricate navigation.
'"e N""''N :" I"''"" '"''",' navy ~"'N
- the Dutch Navy, materially reducing -
lighting strength. Before France entered
our Revolutionary struggle tho British
sen' only 6l> to "p"rat" uuo our compar
hiIN"Iy shallow coasts and har- A~sr'raris
bigger ships. they were useful exceptionally.
~ were ii-gun frigatns ani for the fol
loving reason. Every ''uo Of bath" has
three particularly dang ruI- points the
centre. hecaus" there ITO lin" If pierced
divides into the two smaller Fragments.
and tho TANKS or ends, because tho oNtrou-
II - are SUPPORTED less easily hv m" rest
Of the force than the centre is. ono extremity
being farther from the other than the centre
j. from either. Such local weakness could
uo' he rcmeliod by the Use ~ two ehirs.
for, If ia" line were properly closed. one Of
them could fire. AT the enemy only through
or over the other. The solo way u ciyjn.
the strength there required vaa by con
centrating II into in yidual shius. either
10y putting on the D. .,'iona, battery. which
gives n threc-do, o.. or by making the =
heavier. resulting IN an SU-gun shin on two
decks. These stronger vessels were there
fore stationed in the centre or on the TANKS
OF a line of battle.
llama
IN" particular iuh''l"tS' 'h' 'd'S"h u oT''
on N" 'hre' leading 'l"sS's ~~ilIS ~ war
III" slooP' u" irIga'" an0 the snap OF IN"
line have now been stated II remains
10 CIV" an account "f N" ''l't features ~
IA" armament carried on th'Ir hr'ad7l"'s'
"a described.
When The century began The batteries 81
SHIPS We're composed oi Two principal classes
OF cuns-the long gun and the snort gun,
or carbonate" Ia" Wheren'" between
these lay IN the way The weight Of metal
allowed for each was utilized The long
gun. as It's name implies, was comparatively
long and thick. and threw a small haI with
a. heavy Charr" OF powder. The hall. there
fore, flew swiftly and hal . lou range. \
Carronadc Of the same weight was short and
comparatively thin, could u~" only a small
charge of powder. lest II burst. and threw \
iarg" ball. It's shot, therefore, moved