Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-27
ARMOR BELTS ON WARSHIPS
AN ACADEMIC QUESTION WITH
ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
Rear Admiral Evans Gives His View
and Consensus of Opinion of His
Commanding Officers.

Secretary Metcalf has made public the
views of Rear Admiral Evans, command
ing tn. Atlantic fleet. regarding the loca-
ton of armor belt on the battleships.
which he has just received in a long re-
port from the admiral on that and other
subjects connected with the voyage of
the fleet. The admiral says:
Judging from the figures contained in
the several replies from commanding Off
GERS which relate to this subject. it would
appear that better protection might have
been afforded had these belts been origi-
nally placed between six inches and one
foot higher: this. on the theory that the
commanding officer would admit sutfi-
cient water before an action to sink the
belt TO within about eighteen inches above
the water line; but even this is open to
question. for it has been noted that even
when heavy laden and in the smooth to
moderate seas. which have thus far
characterized this cruise. the ships fire.
quently exposed their entire belt and the
bottom plating beneath 1t must be re-
membered that even five six-inch
shell (of which there would be d great
NUMBER. could inflict a severe and dan
gerous injury If it struck below the be.t
while otherwise the waterline, even with
the belt entirely submerged is. on ac-
count of the casemate armor and coal,
jectileS
An Academic Question.
The fact is that under the sea condi-
lions in which battles may be fought a
belt of eight feet in width IL considered
alone, is too narrow to afford the desired
protection, wherever it may be placed:
and the question becomes an academic
discussion, with certain arguments on
Z c md nn6 f,n1 o$~
ships this question is of little import as
the citadel armor is but one inch less in
thickness than that OH the waterline. and
for those ships already built it is be-
weights which will be landed when, war
breaks out are taken into consideration
the ship will rise to the six or twelve
inches which is believed to be the maxi
mum that it could be desired to raise
them"
Ships Below Belt Exposed.
Admiral Evans forwarded d report on
the same subject prepared by Naval Con-
structor r. H. Robinson. on duty with the
fleet. from which the following extracts
were made public:
LAS to the much-vexed question of
armor belt location. the weather and sea
conditions of this trip have been I'M
usually good; but even under these con-
ditionS the bottom OF the belt of the
various ships has been frequently visible.
due to pitching and rolling. and ii would
seem that the location of the bottom of
the belt was not excessively low. an
injury below the belt would be much
more serious than one above it. and could
be made by shell of any caliber when
the bottom of the belt is exposed
1T is realized that the conditions of
loading of the various vessels of the fleet
We're unusual, the single item of reserve
feed water ranging from 300 tons In sew
eral ships to as high as 800 tons in one
ship. in addition to which are unusual
spare parts. target practice ammunition.
etc.
1T would hardly be denied by any one
that il is desirable to have the greatest
area and thickness OF armor possible, and
it would seem that belt starting at the
level of the bottom Of the present belt
and made Of the maximum width and
thickness possible. at the same time as
signing proper protection to the turrets
and gun emplacements, is a reasonable
compromise