New-York tribune., 1901-07-20
THE BOWLES BATTLESHIP
NEW TYPE OF VESSEL DESIGNED BY
THE CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.I !

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I
washington, July 19.-The official plans for a
new type of battleship for the navy, completed
~ the Board on Construction this week. and
,s,e printed for the first time. present a marked
aenarture from the chief features of the Oregon
che Kearsarge, the Maine and other classes
,bich have preceded them in the United States
se-yice and emphasize the influence which
pear-Admiral Bowles is able to exert. although
he has been Chief Constructor less than six
months The design which was called for
bv resolution of the last Congress- is sup
rorted by Admirals Melville and O'Neill con-
sstuting with Admiral Bowles the majority Of
the Construction Board. but the credit of the
vrhole idea is given TO Admiral Bowles not only
50 FAR as the hull is concerned, but largely as
10 ordnance and engines, as well as other essen
tal military features
The ship has the unprecedented displacement
when ready for sea, of 1900 tons, or fully
900 tons more than any other American war
ship. Her 10000 horsepower exceeds by 1000
that Of any OF her predecessors She is fifteen
feet longer than last years battleships and.
with practically the same beam, carries her in
creased weight with no greater draught
through buffer lines and fatter cross section
Her trial displacement is 600 tons more than the
virginia Glass; of which 100 tons are given to
coal and 500 TO armor, guns, machinery and
auxiliaries.
NOVEL ARRANGEMENT OF BATTERY
Her chief distinction, after her enormous size.
surpassing that Of the latest European ships
lies In her novel battery, which constitutes the
greatest departure from what had come to be
known the American types. Not only have
the double turrets of the Kearsarge and the
Kentucky and of the five ships Of last year
been abandoned, but all broadside turrets which
were regarded invaluable features Of the
Oregon and Virginia class, have been laid aside
for broadside battery in casemates with lin
tied arc OF fire.
In favor OF the finch gun 1t is said that
its ammunition be most effectively handled
By two men, and the gun therefore can be
fred more rapidly than the S-inch hitherto
used. The distribution of armor, wider than
IN any other vessel is shown in the elevation,
and the gun arrangement in the deck plan
The rnuzzles Of the 12-inch guns are twenty
FIVE feet above the water line of one bank Of
sevens twenty-five feet, and of the lower sevens
fifteen feet. On each side there are eight sew
ems in the lower tier and two in the upper OF
the upper sevens two can fire dead ahead and
two dead astern, supplementing the fire of the
tWelyes. IN the lower tier the two forward sew
ems fire ahead and through angle OF 40 de-
grees, while the broadside sevens swing through
only 125 degrees. The big tweves IN turrets
have G range Of go degrees. but the majority
OF the board declare that during the Spanish
war there a general condemnation Of tur-
rets, being detrimental TO efficient gun
vice. The heat, lack of ventilation, contracted
spaces and great difficulty of seeing the enemy
commented upon at great length by Of
fcers who served IN turrets.' They are dis
posed TO throw out altogether this distinctively