The Washington times., 1901-08-01
80. - -.

a-uI.=. t.- I,-..1rt 1F f',.- -.-s. 81 ii-7f'',-
or ga...- -se 'trH-
lsa. .-agHs.-ls .-H7 INC, ana
DurIs.. -. d report to the Secretary of
the Navy. make sharp replies TO the re-
port of the other members of the Board
on Construction. Rear Admiral Bradford
and Captain Sigsbee. who made minor
ity report some time ago favoring the
adoption Of the superposed turret system.
! The Majority plan provides that bat
tleship shall have two single turrets ac-
commodating four twelre-fnch guns and
a broadside of twenty seven-inch guns
The minority report proposes an arTna-
ment of four twelye-inch guns. twelve
eight-inch guns, and twelve six-lnch guns.
Admiral Bradford claims that the OBJ
jections to the superposed turret are pure
ly theoretical. Commenting upon Admir-
al Bradfords report, the majority say
that the advantages claimed by the mi
nority are purely theoretical The ma
jority report declares that with the YES
sells now building there viii be. when
they are completed, seven battleships
having superposed turrets. which to the
majority seems as great a number as
is warranted in default of any but theo-
retical reasons therefor"
Included in the report is a statement
| by Rear Admiral Bowles, Chief Con-
structor, who recommends that there be
a practical test contemplating the con-
struction of a large Target at which the
kearsarge should fire her thirteen-inch
guns OF the forward turret the Alabama
fire one, and then bOth guns of the for
ward turret and the Brooklyn her eight
inch guns. The recommendation is CON
CURED In by the rest Of the ma iority
members. Admiral BOwles commenting
upon the minority report, says:
The four-gun turret as a weapon Of
defence is objectionable owing to the
greatly reduced efficiency per gun due to
the Interference Of one gun to another in
actual operation. The four-gun turret Is
also seriously Objectionable from the IN
creased target exposed and the liability
to having 4 large proportion OF battery
placed out Of action by a single we'll
placed shot OF small caltbre. For pur-
poses OF economy in the weights of
armor. turret supports upon mounting
ammunition hoists, or for economy of
room. and other reasons. guns are
mounted in pairs This necessarily de-
creases the efficiency per gun, because
the guns must train together and the
firing OF one gun necessarily interferes
with the firing of tho other.
when four guns are mounted in one
the double turret now in use the ef-
ftcIency per gun is further reduced. The
total gun efficiency OF the double turret
would be equivalent to two guns mounted
siugly. 4 plain comparison Of the guns
mounted sngiy and the four-gun turret
Is of the results which would be Oh
taincd by one sportsman shooting birds
with a four-barreled gun and four men
shooting with single-barreied guns. The
preceding considerations relate to the
subject from the point of view Of offence
but when the subject is considered from
the point of defence the four-gun turret
provides a very considerable economy OF
weight and space. but exposes more than
one-third of the battery OF the ship TO
disablement, either from one shot of the
enemy from slight arrangement of the
mechanical device IL contains"