Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-16
THE 13,ooo-ToN BATTLEsHlPs.
The Plans Sacrifice Speed for Offensive
and Defensive Features.

Washington, June 15-The 13,000-
ton battleships Idaho and Mississippi,
sketch plans of which We're approved
by the Secretary of the Navy last week,
will each have length of 1915 feet, a
breadth of II feet. mean draught of
"a feet inches, 10000 horse power. and
n trial speed of from 161a to II knots.
In submitting the plans, the Board on
Construction informed Secretary Moody
that it had concluded that the 'intent
of the act would be best complied with
and the interest of the navy furthered
under this act, by retaining for the
vessels in question: as nearly as posi-
bic the offensive and defensive features
of the first class battleships, and reduce
ing the speed and power and the coal to
b. carried on trial to the amount neces-
sary, in order that the trial displace-
mcnt of 1900 tons may not be exceed
ed"
To this decision Rear Admiral Mel
Vile Engineer in Chief, while signing
the boards report of plans, took some
exception. while these vessels will
undoubtedly be quite efficient" he
wrote they would, i'm my opinion. be
very much more so if given more speed.
since l do not consider that Il very
heavy battery, comparatively low sized
and small coal capacity, with only nine
inches of side armol, make the best
possible combination. The disAace-
mcnt being limited to $4,000 tons makes
1t difficult. II not impossible, to produce
a thoroughly satisfactory and up-to-
date battleship."
Each vessel will have a battery of
four 12-inch, eight S-inch, ten Finch
and twelve 3-inch breech-loading rifles
and twenty other smaller guns. The
amor protection will consist of a water
line belt of . inches. tapering to Z inch
es at the bottom, and to rs and inches
NJ the ends. finch casemate athwart-
ship armor, 10 inches and inches on
the main turrets. 10, TX and 6 inches
on the main barbettcS and Q inches on
the coming tower.
In explanation of the principal fea-
lures Of the Idaho and the Mississippi,
the board compares these vessels with
those of the Connecticut class, which
are to be 16,0O0-ton battleshps. They
will have, as regards armament, the
same main battery. excepting only Il
reduction of the number of finch guns
IRON lWelNc " ttll. Twin " INV
reduction in length from $50 feet to
81! feet, the secondary battery is some
what less than the Connecticut's the
principal differences being in the re-
duction from twenty to twelve 3inch
and twelve to six 3-pounder guns.
Part of the reduction in the secondary
battery is due to the fact that in order
to secure the heavy main battery and
corresponding section of a first class
battleship it is necessary to omit the
after military mast and to reduce the
freeboard aft, as on the Maine class.
1t is accordingly not intended to fit
these vessels as f1agshipS.
The weight given to armor protect
icn will be 1877 tons, or $50 per cent
of the trial displacement, as against
1902 tons and 24.9 per cent for the Con-
recticut. The horse power of the main
engines will be 10000 against 16,500
The board is of the opinion that in
working out the final designs this
power will provide q maximum trial
speed of II knots.
Although the full coal capacity will
be about 1850 tons as against 1900 in
the case of the Connecticut, it's endur-
ance is estimated at about $3.50 knots,
as against about $500 for the Connect
cut, at ten knots under ordinary con-
ditions.