New-York tribune., 1909-10-24
THE DEL1W4RE, REC
ORD 2I.9S KNOTS.
Her Engines DeUelop More
than 10000 HOrsepOzcer-
E,rceedS Contract Terms.


ship Delaware, the first American fight
ing ship of the DreadnOught type and
the most powerful battleship in the
world. exceeded contract speed require
ments on her screw standardization runs
over the measured mile course in PenOb-
scot Bay to-day. The contract calls for
a speed Of 21 knots. but the Delaware
attained 4 maximum speed of 21.9S
knots and mean of 21.44. Tidal cor
rections are expected TO reduce these
figures very slightly.
In order to attain this high speed the
Delaware's engines were forced TO de-
velOp upward of thirty thousand horse
power, the greatest ever made by a first
class battleship.
The screw standardization tests of the
Delaware. which was built by the New
port News Shipbuilding and Drydock
Company, of Newport News. Va. began
yesterday after some delay and ended
to-day. Yesterdays tests included a
dozen runs at slow speed. but to-day the
engineers opened the throttle wide and
crowded the ship to her utmost limit.
Three runs were made at 10 knots. three
at 20.5 knots and five at the maximum
of 21.9S knots. After the last of the mile
runs the Delaware came into port. and
as soon as the necessary data had been
ascertained put to sea again and at
p m. began an endurance run of four
hours. starting off Monhegan Island.
This run will be followed by fuel con-
sumption tests in which both coal and
oil will be tried. Then will come TWEEN
ty-four hour endurance runs at 19 and II
knots, respectively. These endurance
runs will also be for coal and water
tests.
The big ship will not return TO Rock
land. shfter the remaining trials she will
go to Newport News
Although the indica,vr cards in the
engine room were not accurately read
after to-day's runs. sufficient data was
obtained to show that more than 10000
horsepower from her triple expansion
reciprocating engines had been developed
in reaching the maximum speed.
Captain Richard T. Mulligan. who has
for several years been detail officer of
the Bureau of Navigation In the Navy
Department, at Washington. is said TO
have been selected 10 command the Del
aware when she goes into commission.
The North Dakota, a sister ship of the
Delaware, will be tried over the same
course within the next ten days. and the
work of the two ships will be compared
with great interest. The North Dakota,
which was built by the Fore River Ship
Orr4v
equipped with Parsons turbine engines.
a test OF which is expected to have i'm
portant results.
1t is expected. however, that both the
Delaware and the North Dakota will
meet all requirements, and within six
months will take their places at the head
of the nations line of sea fighters, as
each is of 1000 tons greater displacement
than the ships of the Connecticut class.
which are of $4,000 tons. but carry only
four 12-inch guns. The Michigan and
the South Carolina. now building.
are of $4,000 tons, with eight 12-inch
guns. The Utah and the Arkansas. for
which contracts were recently awarded.
are of the Delaware class. with an in
creased tonnage.
In addition TO their great displacement
and high speed, the Delaware and the
North Dakota are 25 per cent stronger
for both offence and defence than any
European battleship. Their broadside
batteries can hurl 20 per cent more metal
than those of any other ship. and their
vitals are protected by the heaviest
armor carried by any vessel afloat-
The runs of the Delaware to-day were
made under favorable conditions, and the
weather was clear when the big ship
started on her four hour endurance test
this afternoon.
Not only is the Delaware far in the lead
of Great Britain's original 'all big gun
ship. the first Dreadnought, bug she out
classes the three latest British representa-
tives OF the Dreadnought type. the Bellero-
phon, the Temeraire and the Superb. The
Neptune however, lately launched in Great
Britain. will, when completed, exceed the
Delaware In the one item of tonnage. The
normal displacement Of the Delaware IS
10000 tons, and that OF the Bellerophon
1860. The Neptune will have dispIace-
ment OF 2O.25O tons
The two American ships of the Delaware
type, the OJdn ana Jne ATkdnSdSs YET 10 De
launched, will. however, surpass even the
Neptune. with a tonnage OF 21,500 each.
The contract horsepower OF the Delaware
is $4,000, of the Bellerophon $4,000, and
of the Neptune 245OO. In most other re-
spects the Bellerophon type and the Nep-
tune are equal. The speed Of all three is
about the same. from twenty-one to twenty
two knots.
All carry ten 12-inch guns In their main
batteries, arranged to be fired in one
broadside
In subsidiary batteries. however. the
American ship excels She carries fourteen
5-inch guns. four S-pounders. four 1-pound-
ers. two machine guns OF 80 calibre and
two 3-inch field guns. The British ships.
on the other hand. each carry only a sec
ondary battery of sixteen 4-inch' guns.
They have greater torpedo strength than
the American. however. each carrying four
tubes brOadside and one at the stern. The
Delaware has only two tubes.
The armor of the American easily leads.
with eleven-inch belts amidships. at the
ends and on the deck slopes. The others
have eleven inches amidships but only six
T. forward. four aft and two and
three-quarters on the deck slopes
The Delaware measures $40 feet on the
water line. ten feet less than the Bel
lerophon and twenty less than the Nep-
tune. but her beam OF eighty-fve feet Is ?
three feet more than that OF the Bel