Evening star., 1903-10-26
COULDN'T USE TuRRET GUNS.
Capt. Bradford on Defects in Some of
Our Battle Ships.

In recent report in regard to plans for
the new 13,000-ton battle ships, Capt. Brad
ford, formerly chief of the bureau of equip
ment, refers to the inability Of some of the
best United States battle ships to operate
successfully their turret guns, and even
their broadside batteries, in a heavy sea-
way.
There are two important qualities of the
design of the Idaho and the Mississippi -
said Capt. Bradford, now recommended
/ by the majority of the board, which l be-
lieve should receive serious consideration;
first, the relation of the speed of this de-
sign to the speed of shipbuilding, and sec
ond, capacity for sea fighting.
"If the speed of the Idaho and the Mis-
Sissppi corresponds to that of the old bat
tie ships, then they must be relegated for
service to the old battle ship class, and the
first line of defense, composed of battle
ships of the latest and most powerful type
with speed of eighteen knots, is not
strengthened. There is no doubt of the
Importance of increa sing this first line of
defense as much and as soon as possible.
Should the slow Idaho class be added to
the Maine, Virginia and Connecticut
classes then the speed OF the fleet would
be reduced one and one-half to two knots.
Even if this sacrifice should be made the
Ida no class would still be useless in mod
crate seaway owing to low frecboard.
lull discussion or TINS GueStIDn VIII
be found in Commander Sims report Ref
erence is further made to report of the
commanding officer of the kearsirge, which
ship has higher gun positions than the
Idaho IT is stated in this report that dur
ing SiXty-One days of summer cruising the
turret guns could not be used. and that for
at least one-third of that time the broad
side guns could not be used. both on ac-
count of the condition of the sea. The
Maine has not only eighteen-knot speed.
but higher gun positions than any of the
battle ships thus far designed.
Il consider the individual opinions of the
officers to whom the department referred
the subject matter of designs for 1900 ton
battle ships very important Most OF them
are logical and contain much informa ton (:
they are from officers of established repu-
tation. The reports from Capts. Converse
and Manney especially valuable. owing
to the recent experience in command OF
battle ships; the reports from Lieut.. Com
manders WhttleSey and Sims also ex-
ceedingiy valuable. The discussion of the
latter as to the relative height of the gun
ports above the deep load water line of
ships is very important
II concur in the Introduction of two SUBJ
merged torpedo tubes in the two 13, 600 ton
battle ships Because I am in favor of in
Producing torpedoes in all large ships, be-
hind armor and under water, and have con-
sistently urged their installation In the
past. The inference, however. that they
are not necessary in eighteen-knot or
faster ships is not concurred in. England
| IS building very powerful nineteen-knot
battle ships, and our eighteen-knot ships,
| II pitted against them, would require tor
pedoes, even on the principle enunciated in
paragraph IA. AS matter of fact, the
| locomotive torpedo has recently become
such an accurate long-range weapon that
| it's presence is important to all ships OF
large size, whatever their speed.