Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
FIRST OF ITS CLASS
THE BATTLE SHIP NEW HAMP.
SHIRE TO sURPAss ALL OTHERS.
Will Have the Heaviest Armor, Most
Powerful Armament and
Greatest Speed. =

BIDS Will be opened at the Navy Depart
ment at noon December Is for the construc-
ton OF the New Hampshire, a first-class
battle ship, carrying the heaviest armor
and most powerful armament for a vessel
OF Its class upon a trial displacement of
not more than 10000 tons, to have the
highmest practicable speed and great
radius of action. and to cost, exclusive of
armor and armament, not exceeding
S4,4oo.oOo The vessel is to be built, fitted
ana equipped complete for sea by the con-
tractor In accordance with plans and spe-
cificatons to be furnished by the Secretary
of the Navy, with the exception that the
armor, ordnance, ordnance outfit and sea
stores will be furnished by the government
but the contractor is to fit and secure ali
armor, ordnance and ordnance outfit The
failure to complete the vessel within forty-
two months will involve penalties as fol-
lows: $500 a day for the first month sue
ceeding the expiration of the period fixed
by the contract and $500 a day thereafter
until the vessel is completed and delivered
as prescribed by the contract
II the speed on the four-hour speed trial
falls below Is knots and exceeds 17h knots
an hour the vessel will be accepted. so far
as speed Is concerned, but at reduced
price, the reduction being at the rate of
$59,OoO a quarter knot deficiency Of speed
from eighteen to seventeen and three-uuar-
ter knots, and at the rate of 500 600 a
quarter knot deficiency of speed from sew
enteen and three-quarters to seventeen and
one-half. If the speed on the hour speed
trial tails below seventeen and one-half
knots an hour the vessel will, at the dis
cretion of the Secretary of the Navy, be
rejected, or accepted at reduced price to
be agreed upon by the Secretary and the
contractor In case of rejection, any money
that may have been paid the contractor on
account shall be refunded
The vessel will measure 45O feet in
length and seventy-six feet, ten inches in
rhn1 OF vno6 <<,,sN IT,.
total coal bunker capacity of about 1850
tons.
Her main battery will consist of four
12-inch breech-loading rifles, eight S-inch
breech-loading rifles, twelve 7-inch breech-
loading rifles and four submerged torpedo
tubes Her secondary battery will consist
Of twenty 8-inch 14-pounder rapid-flre
guns. twelve 3-pounder semi-automatic
two 3-inch field pieces, two machine guns,
having a caliber of 80, and two automatic
guns. also having a caliber of 80.
The hull Of the boat is to be protected at
Q feet 3 inches wide. having a uniform
thickness Of 8 inches amidships. gradually
decreased to inches at the stem and
stern. The boats coming tower will be 8
inches thick, door inches thick, and the
signal tower will be inches thick. There
will be a complete protective deck, extend
ing from stem to stern, the deck being fiat
amidships. but sloped at the sides through
out, and sloped at each end.
The engines will be of the vertical twin
screw, four-cylinder. triple-expansion type,
of combined indicated horse power of
1880, and arranged for outboard turning
propellers when going ahead. There will be
twelve water-tube boilers, placed in six
water-tight compartments
With the exception of the auxiliaries to
be operated by steam, all power on board
OF the vessel will be electric, as, for in
stance, refrlgerating plant, boat cranes,
deck winches, turret-turning motors. venti-
lation blower motors. etc. The vessel is to
be heated with steam throughout. and the
usual steam heating system will be provided
and installed by the contractor.
The vessel will have steel masts forward
and aft, the foremast having an upper and
lower top. the mainmast a lower top only
Masts are to be arranged for wireless tel
egraphy. There will be one signal yard on
each mast. also searchlight platform for
ward and aft. with lookout platform on
fOremast.