The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1905-07-14
NEWEST UT BA1TTLESHIPS
SOME FEATURES OF ENGLAND'S
FIGHTER TRIUMPH.


culty-RaiIway for Housing the
Guns lnBoard When at Sea.
The great length of the Triumph,
436 feet between perpendiculars, is very
observable as one approaches her when
atoat, and gives the impression Of a
somewhat low freebOard. Such, how
ever is not in reality characteristic of
this war vessel. Her freeboard at the
bow is p feet inches, but as she
has rising sheer aft, the freeboard at
the stern is 10 feet 6 inches, and the
height of the centres of the two 10
inch guns forward above the load
waterline is 20 feet 6 inches, the cor
responding centre height aft being
about two feet less. The height Of
centres Of the main deck battery 10
inch guns is 10 feet 2 inches, or rath-
er more than that Of the main deck
battery 6-inch guns OF the King Ed
ward VII, making, however, the angle
of heel required to bring the centre Of
the muzzles to water level rather less
than that of the last named ship, in
consequence, Of course OF the much
greater length of the 75inch guns.
A striking feature OF the Triumph is
the main deck open battery contain
ing ten 75-inch guns II is enclosed
by finch Krupp steel armor on the
sides, with diagonal bulkheads of g.
| inch steel armor at the several gun
| positions, but there is no longitudinal
web Of this strength isolating the guns
in the rear, which is to be regretted.
The ammunition is brought up to each
separate position by electric hoists,
which can work with great rapidity
and are an immense Improvement on
the old whip hosting gear.
The guns are lifted up to the over
head railway to be run in for hous-
ing inboard, when the vessel is at sea,
by a small hydraulic engine, this re-
| placing the differential blocks and
hand chain gear for the C-inCh guns Of
Admiralty vessels. The ammunition
also has a hoist for carrying the pro-
jeCtiles into position, but, as matter
of practice, we understand that the
blue jackets prefer to lift the 200
pound shell by hand two men lifting
it, one at the point, another at the
base. Telescope sights are placed up
on the left side of the guns, which give
the most admirable results in firing
practice. The range covered by them
is from 10000 to IA 900 yards, but the
most effective range of the 7.5-inch
gun is rather within those limits. 1t
is needless to say that, with ten guns
of SO large a size and the mess tables
and all the fittings and gear of the en-
closed battery, the space is rather
crowded; but the tables fold up. so as
to economic room, and the covers Of
the ammunition hoists are compact
and we'll placed, The gun positions
themselves have plenty of rUOm. The
number of rounds fired from each
gun per minute gives an average Of
five without any difficulty, and the
officers on board speak well Of the rs
inch gun, as being quite as handy as a
G-inCh.
The 14-pounder guns on board are
practically similar to the ordinary L.
FOUNDER gun employed in our Admir-
atty vessels. and will, we understand, |
take the same ammunition. The g.
FOUNDER gun is a speciality, with a
breech face to the interior OF the gun,
SO that it could not possibly be blown
! hot
similar to that OF the ordinary r.
FOUNDER. Pompons are employed in
the tops and are not regarded with
equanimity ~ the bluejackets, owing
to their disagrceable noiso and habits
of jumping. This was found to be the
case in South Africa, where many of
the guns We're put out Of action by
the smashing of the pivot and jaws
by which the gun was secured to the
carriage. On the bridge of the TIL
these guns are fired.
The cranes for lifting boats in and
out are most serviceable. A steamboat
fifty tons can be picked up,
swung round, and dropped into the
water as easily as dingy. and the
hangover IS very far reaching. II IS
true that they present Il larger ST.
face to the fire Of an enemy than an
ordinary boom. but they are in dupii-
cate. in case one should be disabled.
Five large dynamos supply the cleo
ric power for all the requirements Of
he ship, and an iIfnity Of motors
All the ammunition hoists are operat-
ID by electricity, and many of the 9th
" movements On board are similarly
worked.
There is rather deficiency Of pow
n in the yentiating department on
BOARD. the fans employed and the ven
ilating trunks being OF smaller size
han these usually supplied to the Ad- y,
niralty- built vessels. In point Of fact,
heir c1sance in many places where
suaily found in our hatteships Is |
most conspicuous The result is that
.elCW the armOr9d deck the heat is
ntensc, and what this part OF the ship
vii be Ike when she is stationed in .
he trOpi1s--if ever-lt is impossible
o conceive. Even in this cool country
IS unpleasantly warm down below.
md the only workshop is buried down q
t a considerable depth. The result Z
{ this is that the portable and NOV
Bile part Of the reDertory OF tools is y
up to the main deck ana re-