The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-05-27

Camden, N. j., May 27-The bat
tieship Michigan. the first of the all
Zig gun battleships of the United
States navy, was launched yesterday
al the yards of the New York Ship
building company in the presence of a
distinguished gathering of officials
from Washington and the state of
Michigan.
She is New Type
The Michigan, which is already half
finished, will be, in appearance and
armament, distinctly different from
any of the battleships now flying the
American flag. Her most noteworthy
feature will be her four great turrets,
cut of each Of which will protrude d
pair Of 12-inch guns Of the latest and
most powerful type. These trrrets,
which are SO arranged that every one
Of them can be used In broadside.
either to the port or starboard, will
be mounted on the axial line of the
ship, one pair aft and one pair for
ward of the superstructure. The tur-
rets are placed one ahead Of the other.
il being necessary to shorten the
Lperstructure, with the result that
inasts will be very close to each other.
Almost lmpregnabie Armor
The hull of the Michigan will be
Protected by a waterline belt Of ar
NOR varying in thickness from to II
inches in some sections, from II to
1C inches in some, and from IL to 3
inches in other sections Above the
armored belt line will be a easement
protection, which will be eight inches
thick at the top and ten inches at the
bottom, which in extent and thickness
has never before been approached in
any American battleship. At the af-
ter end of the belt armor will be an
sthwartship armor bulkhead the same
thickness, extending clear across the
ship. An athwartship casemate ar
NOR bulkhead will also be fitted be-
tween the shell plating and the bar
bettes the berth and the main decks,
which will be inches thick. The ar
NOR that will protect the barbettes
will vary in thickness from inches
&c 10 inches, dependenton whether or
7 OF it is flanked by the side armor of
the battleshtp. In the case of each of
the four turrets the side armor will
vary from IL inches to 8 inches, while
The plates on top will be ten and a half
inches thick.
Engines of 10000 Horsepower
The engines of the new battleship
are to have combined indicated
horsepower of $500, each engine to
be in a separate water tight compart-
nent. The twelve water tube boilers.
which Are to be fitted with super
heaters, will be in three water-tight
compartments, and the coal bunkers
are to have a maximum capacity OF
about 1900 tons. All the main COM
partments below the gun deck will be
provided with forced ventilation.
The turrets will be electrically con-
trolled, while the most complete ar
| rangements for obviating the dangers
of turret explosions and other acct
dents which have caused SO many dis
| asters in the navy will be used to
protect the men who will handle the
great guns on the Michigan.
Her Battery and Speed
| When completed the Michigan will
displace $4,000 tons. and will carry in
addition to her battery of eight IL
inch guns, % 3-inch guns and 16
small rapid fire guns. She will also
be fitted with two submerged 21-inch
torpedo tubes. On her trial trip, ac-
cordin gto the conditions of the con-
tract. she will be required>to develop
a speed of at least 1917 knots an hour.