Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02
NEWEST BATTLE SHIP
The Virginia is a Model Of
Her Glass.
Is HEAVILY ARMORED
TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT WEEK AT
NEWPORT NEWS.
Will Have Speed of at Least Nineteen
Knots j Her Powerful
Batteries.
IS HEAVILY ARMORED

Congress- In March, 1890, appropriated
money for three sea-gong coast-line battle
ships, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful armament for vessels of
their class and provided for two more by
the act of June I, 1900.
The bureau of construction and repair
fully carried out the evident purpose of
Congress- for the design of the Virginia
and class represents five most powerful
battle ships.
OF the five vessels appropriated for three
were required to be sheathed and coppered
and two without sheathing. Immediately
after being contracted for. however, the
Navy Department took that question I'M
der consideration and decided to omit all
outside sheathing and coppering, so that
each vessel of the class is now a counter
part of the other. except for minor modii-
cations incident to construction.
The general dimensions and chief charac-
teristics of these vessels are: Length on
load water line, 4S5 feet; breadth, extreme,
at load water line, rs feet 2la inches; trial
displacement, about 14,9iS tons; mean draft
at trial displacement, about % feet 0
inches; greatest draft, full load, about 26
feet.
In the Is 600 tons represented in the Vir-
ginia and her sister ships the many an
tagonistic qualities essential to a perfect
fighting machine have been compromised
and Incorporated in proportion which eX-
perience seems to have pointed out as the
most desirable and efficient. To begin with,
these battle ships will have a speed of at
least 10 knots. which compares most ia
vorably with any battle ships under con-
struction abroad. well as with any in
the projected stage.
Powerful Engines.
The Virginia will be propelled at this
l&t<~l.
four-cylinder. triple-expansion engines of
about 1900 indicated horse power having
a stroke of four feet, running. under con-
ditions of maximum speed at about 120
revolutions per minute. The steam neces-
sary to this power will be supplied at a
pressure of 80 pounds per square inch by
twenty-four Niclausse water-tube boilers,
placed four in each of six independent,
water-tight compartments
The Virginia VIII carry four Pinch guns
forty calibers in length. mounted by pairs
In balanced turrets. one turret being located
forward of the superstructure and the other
art, and each having a total arc train of
20 degrees. OF the eight S-inch guns As
calibers in length. which will be carried on
this vessel. four will be mounted by pairs
In turrets, superposed upon the Pinch
turrets above mentioned, and four in two
broadside turrets slightly forward of amid
ships. the amidship turrets having a total
arc of train of $50 degrees. In the Virginia
gun deck of twelve 6-inch rapid fire guns
fifty calibers in length. mounted six on
each side. each with total arc of train of
121 degrees. The secondary battery will
consist of twelve 3-inch fifty caliber rapid
fire guns, twelve 3-pound semi-au tomatic
eight 1-pound heavy automatic, two 30
caliber machine guns and six 30-caliber Colt
automatic guns. all mounted in commanding
positions and having large arcs of fire. The
Virginia will also be fitted with submerged
torpedo tubes.
enable her TO carry. with absolute safety in
all climates, the new smokeless powder
Provision will DE made in the magazines
for the stowage of at least sixty rounds for
each OF the Pinch guns, 125 rounds for
each of the S-inch guns, 200 rounds for each
of the 6-inch guns, 300 rounds for each of
the 3-inch guns and plentiful supply of
ammunition for the smaller guns.
Heavy Armor.
So much for the vessels offensive quail
As. To make her defensive qualities pro-
portionately great she will be provided with
a complete waterline belt of armor s feet
in width amidshps, IL inches thick at the
top and inches at the bottom, tapering to
a uniform thickness of inches al the ends
Of the vessel
She will also have a casemate armored
belt extending over about 245 feet of her
lergth of a uniform thickness of inches.
rising from the top of the main belt to The
upper or main deck. and Joined at its after
end TO the barbette of the Pinch turret by
O-inch armored bulkhead. and having at
Its forward end an armored bulkhead of q
inches thickness extending from side to
side. thus forming a citadel or redoubt
within which the 6-inch guns will he
mounted. Within this citadel or redoubt
and extending from the forward turret to
the after turret. light armor IL inches and
2h inches in thickness will form subdi-
visions of the gun Enclosures, Thoroughly
protecting the guns crews from flying
splnters and fragments of bursting shells.
The barbettes for the turrets of the Finch
guns are to be 10 Inches in thickness Tor
that portion outside of the redoubt or cita-
del reduced to ~ inches in thickness with
In. The turrets themselves will be pro-
tected by armor ~ inches in thickness.
The S-inch tuTrets will in all cases, whether
srperposed or independent be protected by
inches of armor. with 6ls-inch port plates,
and their barbettes will be protected by
similar armor. The coming tower and Its
shield will be inches in thickness. and the
armored tube Inches thick. will be of
sufficient size to receive all voice pipes,
wiring, SC. In addition to the coming
tower there will be. aft a second tower.
known as the signal tower, which will be
constructed of o-inch arnor. From the bot
tom of the water-line armor belt there will
rise a curved turtle-backed nickel-steel pro-
tGctive deck 1Is inches thick on the fiat and
inches thick on the sloping sides, to make
assurance doubly sure that no projectile of
the enemy finds its way into the vitals of
the ship. AS an additional protection to
stability cofferdam belt. 3 feet in thick
ness and packed to density of s pounds
TO the cubic foot. will be worked along the
two sides above the protective deck for the
entire length OF the vessel.
Little Wood Used.
The material of construction is the high
Quality of steel which has entered into all
the vessels of our navy. The main. or
upper deck. in addition to being built of
steel, will be the only one upon which wood
is to be laid The lower decks will all be
of steel, covered with linoleum. The use
of wood In the construction of this vessel
will be limited even more strictly than II
has been in the later battle ships. and all
sMocdwork above the protective deck, except