The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-11
Of Dreadnought Type.

w men tut pitW VI ilC hS"
batlesbip North Dakota struck the wa.
tiers of Fore River, where she was
launched, the United States navy re.
ceived formally the bulky body OF
the first fighting ship of the so-called
Dreadnought class. Incidentally, a
new record for speed in the first stage
of battleship construction was estab.
lished, inaEmuch as only 2S2 work.
ing days have been employed from
the time of laying the keel until the
day of the launching.
AS the massive hull of the North
Dakota stood upon the ways ready
for launching it presented none OF
the warlike appearance OF the finish
ed battleslip Save for few tenn
porary fittings, the decks were bare
and lacked the martial aspect sup
piled by the great guns and second
stalled later. Even the great boil
ers of the fighting ship had not been
installed, in accordance with the US
ual custom of construction, and as a
part of the preparations for tie
launching. puffy little tugs were in
waiting to warp the gigantic yet help
less craft alongside the pier at the
yard.
Before the conclusion of the "a 1-2
months allowed by the government
for delivery, however, the hull launch
ed today will present a different as
pect. By that time, ten 12-inch
long range rifles will have been plac-
ed in position, az well as fourteen
5-inch rapid fire guns; four 5 pound,
and a like number of one-pound semi
automatic guns; two 3-inch field
pieces, two machine guns of so cali
hro- trrn tnr
pedo tubes. This constitutes the act
i've armament of the battleship. Pro-
tective armor to the extent of about
eight inches, will cover every avail
able spot which might be reached by
an enemy's guns. and as a result of
the recent naval conference, many
minor details of additional protection
will also be added.
$40 Feet in Length.
When placed in commission, the
North Dakota will be SO feet in
length on the load water line, with a
breadth of SIS feet, 2 SIS inches at the
same point. The length over all will
be about SIS feet, 8 inches. The bat
lsship will have a displacement OF
10000 tons, 1000 in excess of the
original British Dreadnought. 1t is
estimated that a speed of more than
II knots will be attained on her
trial, and that the battleship's horse
power will exceed $4,000. Unlike her
sister ship, the Delaware, which is
now under construction at Newport
News, Va, the North Dakota will be
htted with Curtis turbine engines. In
clDiing officers, the crew will num-
Der more than 900 men. 1t is esti-
mated that when formally taken over
by the government. the North Dako-
Ia VIII have cost at least $1,000 900,
the contract price of her hull and
machinery alone being s4.377 900.
Although the American battleship
construction record is broken by the
North Dakota's builders, 1t does not
closely approach that held by the Brit
ish navy in the construction of the
first Dreadnought- The keel of that
vessel was laid in July 1905, and on
October 2, of the same year. the YES
sci was launched. and exactly a wear
later the ship had its standariiza-
ton trial. Ii is expected that the
North Dakota will be ready for its
hrst trial trip about the latter part
of August. 1909. although the actual
placing the battlesnip into commits
sion may be delayed.
To Captain Charles J. Badger. L. S.
N, recently superintendent of the ma
val academy at Annapolis, Nd, will
go the honor of being the first con-
handing officer of the premier
Dreadnought' of the United States
navy