The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-06
THE TURRET CONTROVERSY.
The Naval Board on Construction
Makes Final Decision.


The Naval Board on Construction, as
sisted by seven line officers of high rank.
yesterday decided on the batteries of new
battleships. and submitted a report to
the Secretary of the Navy On Tuesday
the board decided that the new ships
should have each two supermposed tur-
rets. one forward and one aft The ques-
tion of the character and arrangement of
the rest of the battery was left open un-
til yesterday Ten of the twelve men,
bers of the board voted in favor of two
additional turrets, each containing two
eight-inch guns, to be placed in the
waists.
The two other members OF the board
Rear Admiral Barker, commandant of the
New York Navy Yard, and Naval Con-
structor Woodward, who was proxy for
Rear Admiral Hichborn. Chief Naval Con-
structor, voted against this arrangement
and submitted a minority report to the
Secretary.
When the question arose last year as to
the character of the batteries for the bat
| tleships New Jersey. Pennsylvania. Geor-
gia Rhode Island. and Virginia. there was
so much difference of opinion among the
five regular members of the Board on Con-
struction that Secretary Long appointed
seven other officers, all of the line, TO
consider the question with the members
of the regular board. Their delibero
tions resulted in a compromise. through
which New Jersey. Pennsylvania. and
Georgia were to have superimposed tur-
rets and the Virginia and Rhode Island
ordinary turrets. Recently there has been
a change of opinion among a number Of
officers who were opposed to the super
imposed structure, this change being due
mainly to the excellent showing made
with the turret guns of the Kentucky and
the Kearsarge on which the double-deck
structures are installed.
1t was deemed advisable therefore to
again designate special members of the
Board on Construction to determine
whether any change should be made in
the batteries of the Virginia and the
Rhode Island and the report made to the
Secretary of the Navy yesterday makes ii
certain that these two vessels will be fit
ted with turrets of the superimposed type
The report Of the majority of the board
was brief. 1t recommends that the main
batteries of the Virginia and Rhode Island
be made to conform to the plan hereto
fore decided upon for the battleships New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia-name-
ly, four 12-inch guns in two turrets, four
S-inch guns in two turrets superimposed
on Pinch turrets, and four S-inch guns in
two waist turrets. The majority report Is
and Bradford Captains Evans (represent-
ing Rear Admiral Rodgers), Taylor Clark.
Sigsbee Chadwick, Converse, and Walker.
Rear Admiral Barker and Constructor
Woodward say in their minority report:
''In view of the extreme Importance Of
this matter, involving the military value
of vessels of a total cost of approximately
$50, GOO COO, we believe that there should
be determined upon the appointment
of special board of officers to examine
the whole subject of batteries of battle
ships now under construction and for
/ those whose construction has commenced,
the board to make such Investigations as
may be considered proper with the Mas
sachusetts. Kearsarge. and Alabama.
I'VE are OF the opinion that in the su-
perimpOsed turret tyne, efiecting the pro-
lection for the S-inch turrets of practically
the same thickness as the armor on the
sides of the caseinates-six and six and
one-half inches-a decided element OF
weakness enters into the design of the
12-inch gun turrets. since shot which
might disable the upper turret might also
| lnjure the lower turret and thus disable
both
1--WE do not frd that any of the facts
| laid before the present board justify a
change from the conclusions reached by
the board which previously considered
| this matter. and the reports from the
| Kearsarge and the Kentucky. so far as
we are informed. simply show that the
| superimposed turrets installed i. these
vessels are mechanically satisfactory
, IN addition to the four twelves and four
teights in the superimposed turrets and the
| four eights in the ordinary turrets on the
sides the new battleships will have
| bi oadsides of six inch rapidfire rifles.