The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-20
THE RHODE ISLAND LAUNCHED:
AN UNEXPECTED DISASTER THAT
Ma NOT CAUSE DAMAGE.
The Vessels Stern Was Forced Int
a Mud Bank-DetaiIed Description
OF the Battleship.


ship Rhode Island was launched today
at the yards OF the Fore River Ship and
Engine Company.
After the vessel had left the ways,
the launching crew experienced an IN
expected disaster. The great craft had
attained such Roadway that b could
not be stopped in deep water and her
anchor failing to hold, her stern was
forced into a mud bank. Three tugs
made fast to her as soon as possible,
but the tide fell rapidly and they were
enable to move her. a naval inspec-
tor. who was on the scene, expressed
the opinion that as the bottom was soft,
the ship would not be damaged in the
least.
Congress, in March, 1899, appropriated
money for three seagoing coast-line |
battleships carrying the heaviest armor
and most powerful armament for YES
sells OF their class. and provided for
two more by the Act of June z, 1900.
The Bureau of CONSTRUCTION n Re-
pair carried out the evident purpose
OF congress. for the design of the
Rhode Island and class represents five
most powerful batleships.
OF the five vessels appropriated for,
three were required to be sheathed and
%Ai0 wv AN0
Immediately after being contracted
for, however, the Navy Department
took his question under consideration
and decided to omit all outside sheath
ing and coppering. so that each vessel
Of the class IS now a counterpart of the
other. except for minor notifications
incident to construction.
The general dimensions and chief
characteristics of these vessels are:
Length on load waterline &. d. :. 435 feet,
Breadth. extreme, at load wa
terline 76 feet 2a
Total displacement. about =. 1898 tons.
Mean draft at trial displacement,
Greatest draft, full load, about Is feet.
In the 5000 tons represented in each
Of these vessels, the many antagonis-
tic qualities essential to a perfect
| fighting machine have been compromis-
| ed n incorporated in proportion which
! experience seems to have pointed out
1 as the most desirable and efficient.
To begin with these ba~ttleships will
| have a speed of at least 10 knots which
| compare most favorably with any bat
tleships under construction abroad, as
we'll as with any in the projected stage.
The Rhode Island will be propelled at
this high speed by twin-screws driven
bv two-cylinder, triple expansion en-
gines of about $4,000 indicated horse
power, having a strike of 4 feet, running
under conditions of maximum speed
at about 120 revolutions per mute
The steam necessary TO this power will
be supplied at a pressure of $50 POUNDS
per square inch. by q Niclausse water
tube boilers, placed our in each OF six
independent watertight compartments
The Rhode Island will carry four l.
nch guns. forty calibre in length, anc
MOUNTED by pairs in balanced %turrets,
one turret being located Onward of the
s~uperstructure, and the other aft, and
each having a total arc of train of &c
degrees. Of the eight S-inch guns. 4,
calbre in length, which will be carried
on this vessel, four will be by
pairs in turrets, superposed upon the
| Pinch turretS mentioned, anC
four in two broadside turrets having
a total arc of train of $50 degrees. In
the Rhode Island there will be a broad-
side battery on the gun deck of twelve
6-inch rapid-fire guns, fifty calibre in
length, and mounted 6 on each side
each with a total arc Of train of ID
degrees. The secondary battery WI
consist of twelve 3-inch Social. r. F
guns, twelve 3-pdr. semi-automatic
eight 1-pdr. heavy automatic, two 60
cal. machine guns and six 30-cal. Col
automatic guns. all mounted in com
handing positions n having large
arcs Of fire. The Rhode Island will al
so be fitted with submerged torpedo
tubes.
The magazines will be specially fit
ted to enable her to carry, with abso
lutte safety in all climates. the new
smokeless powder. Provision will b.
made in the magazines for the sSowage
Of at least sixty rounds for each o
the Pinch guns 125 rounds for eacl
of the eight-inch guns, 200 rounds 70
each Of the 6-inch guns, 300 rounds TO
each of the 3-inch guns. and a plenti
full supply OF ammunition for the small
Ter guns.
So much for the vessels Offensiv
qualities. To make her defensive quail
tiles proportionately great, she will b
provided with a complete waterlin
belt of armor, s feet in width amid
2 ships, IL inches thick at the top and
, inches at the bottom, tapering to a uni
form thickness of 4 inches at the end
= of the vessel. She will also nave
= casemate armored belt extending owe
about 245 feet of her length, Of a uni
form thickness of 6 inches, rising fror
the top OF the main belt to the upper @
4 main deck. and joined at its after en-
to the barbette of the 12-inch turret b
: a 6-inch armored bulkhead, and havin
= at its forward end an armored bulk
head OF 6 inches thickness extendin
from side to side, thus forming a eta
$ del or redoubt. and extending from tn
forward turret to the after turret, ligh
- II a. illol LIZ olo III II
[ will form Subdivisions of the gun en-
: closures. thoroughly protecting tn
! guns crews from flying splinters an
fragments of bursting shells. The bar
e bettes for the turrets Of the 12-inc
= guns are to be 10 inches in thickness
: for la portion outside OF the redout
Of citadel. reduced to Z 1-2 inches j
e thickness within. The turrets them
4 selves will be protected by armor
inches in thickness. The S-inch turret
will. in all cases, whether superpose
e or independent. be protected by 6 inche
OF armor, with 6 1-2" port plates, an
: their barbettes will be protected b
similar armor. The coming towe
and its shield will be 8 inches in thicl
o ness, and the armored tube, 5 inche
y thick, will be of sufficient size to II
ceive all voice pipes. wiring, etc. ]
d addition to the the coming tower, thel
will be aft, = con tower known q
e the signal tower. which will be cor
g structed OF 5-inch armor. From II