The National tribune., 1909-11-11
BIGGER SHIPS, BIGGER GUNS
The Navy Department Delighted
at the Success of the North
Dakota-The New l4Inch
Gun.

Gun.
There is great eIation at the Navy
Department over the building OF greater
dreadnaughts and larger guns. The
North Dakota, after a trial trip Off the
New England coast, during which she
sailed 22.25 knots an hour, has estab-
Hshed a record that makes her the
most formidable of fighting ships in
any navy. Almost the same day there
was shipped from the Mfdyaie Steel
Company's works in Pennsylvania the
new 14-inch gun that weighs over &C.
tons and is expected to carry prolec-
tile weighing 1,400 pounds. With
charge of S65 pounds of smokeiess
powder this new and powerful weapon,
designed for such dreadnaughts as the
North Dakota, will send a projectile
forth with a muzZle velocity of $500
foot seconds, and a muzzle energy OF
6s,606 foot tons. There is probably no
gun it's equal now building for any
other navy of the world.
AS the United States Navy has fol-
lowed in the rear so long in the con-
struction of modern ships and modern
guns these two contemporaneous events
are calculated to silence criticism and
stimulate great pride, both inside the
ranks of the Navy personnel and among
the people generally. 1t will be some
1nDlInS kSI DtlOI6 ANOllii iIahO-o
goes into commission, and more months
before the big 14-inch gun can be
mounted upon dreadnaught deck. 1t
is doubtful whether the 14-inch gun
will be put aboard any ship till there
are more of them, SO that one ship can
be equipped with a battery of 14-inch-
ers. AS the newest ships are construct
ed. they will carry at least 10 OF those
guns and the effort will be to have a
battery of II such guns. But that in
wolves the question of the size of ships
in fact some rather formidable prob
lens as TO whether battleships here
after shall be even heavier than $4,000
tons.
The New 14-inch Gun.
The new 14-inch gun has been taken
TO the ordnance factory at the WASH
ington Navy Yard to be completed, af-
ter which it will be shipped down the
Potomac about a dozen miles to Indian
Head for a series of tests. The pene-
trating power of the projectile VIII be
tested by firing against armor plate.
These 14-inch guns, some OF which have
already been manufactured for the
army, carry little further than 12-
inch guns, but the chief advantage is
that given proiectiIe can be fired with
= given penetrating power at q given
distance with less wear and tear upon
fhe gun. than is the case with 12-
incheTs.
Congress has already authorized the
construction Of two dreadnaughts OF
$4,000 tons displacement each. BY the
time a battery of 10 or II of these IA
inch guns can be manufactured and
made ready for installation, these two
new ships will be well on the way to-
ward completion They will make the
best gun platform yet devised on war
ships for such a destructive aggrcga-
ton of weapons, but il is admitted that
the guns would be more effective and
conld be trained with greater accuracy
from an even more stable platform,
such as the deck Of $4,000 ton war;
ship would afford.
Still! Heavier Warships.
The officers of the Bureau Of Con-
strnction have puzzled a deal over
plans for still heavier warships- But
there is still some doubt as to the feas-
ibility Of such ships. and there is a de-
sire to have the 10000 ton ships tried
out Much has been said about the
draft Of 10000 ton ships because II
their draft is materially increased there
VIII be but few harbors they can safe
ly enter and very few drydocks capa.
ble of hold ng them. Another trouble
some problem has been regarding tht
readiness with which such sea mon
sters can be manuyered. The same
query was long raised about any war.
ships operated by turbine engines
using turbines and also burning OF
in stead of coal for fuel The NORTH
Dakota is up to date in those particu
lars. Her engines are of the turbine
type and provision has been made fol
burning OIL but some of the more con
servative officers are still shaking theIl
heads Sagely about the comparative ef
nciency Of the North Dakota and hel
sister dreadnauRht. the Delaware, II
sea manUvers The Delaware has re
ciDrocating engines.
The pessimists have been confoundel
70 degree by the success with twt
scout cruisers. equipped with turbines
that have been in commission now SOM
months and that have been put througl
very severe tests. Before Spring, o
soon after the North Dakota and tn
Delaware are in commission, there vii
be trials to develop something abou
the facility with which they can b
1nanuVered- If they respond as quick
ly TO the rudder and can be handle,
rs easily I'm a line of fighting ships a
the 10000 ton ships naval construc
tors win have lees fra, of error in ad
E0cating even 10000 ton craft Th
delaware and ~" rth Dakota have
displacement Of On 600 tons each. bu
they are only two-thirds as heavy a
:0.V9o ton 81 ps would he Congres
has OF late shown a disposition 10 au
tIerize the h"aF - pnss hIe sh ps, bu
come of the .~s IN naval matter
are still sFep.ira' AS I" whether an
progress in shat direction is wise
The Commanders.
The Captains Of the North Dakot
ali the Delaware have already beel
the subject of discussion in the Bureal
OF Navigation We're officers are giYel
their details There is great riyalr.
among the officers to obtain comman,