The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-12-28
new TYPE OF
FIGHTING CRAFT
England Considering a Semi
submarine BattleshIp.
IN PLACE or DREADNOUGTS.

Novel Features Of Proposed Form Of
Warship-Fitted With Ten Torpedo
Tubes and to Speed Twenty five
Knots Ia Cruising Trim.
Plans for new type Of battleship.
designed as an alternative to the cost
ly Dreadnought, are being examined
by the British admiralty. 1t is ex-
planned that the idea for the new ship,
which may be described as semi
submarine, originated with layman,
but the detailed plans have been
drawn up by professor Of naval ar
chitecture.
The hull is shaped more or less like
that of submarine boat, but the up
per surface is heavily armored. On
this upper surface are two turrets, one
at each end, each containing two
guns of II or 1876 inch caliber. The
turrets are placed at the top of an
inclined glacis Of steel, raising them
above the actual level OF the deck.
The whole of the deck between the
two turrets is covered with a curved
shield of steel. leaving only narrow
level passageway on either side. This.
too, is heavily armored. The curved
deck shield is pierced in six places on
either side for four inch guns for re-
polling the attacks of torpedo craft.
These guns do not project permanent
ly beyond the armor, but may be run
out or housed, as required.
The only fixed projections above the
armor are the navigating bridge, chart
house and coming tower, the funnel
and the mast. The turrets are armored
with ten inches Of Krupp steel.
The remainder of the exposed por-
ton, including the glacis of the tur-.
rets, is covered with five inches of
armor. AS this could never. in all
probability, be struck a direct blow,
but only an indirect or glancing one,
it is calculated that this is equivalent
to at least double its thickness in its
power of defense The ends of the
vessel beyond the turret glacis are pro-
rected above by three inches Of armor
Armed With Ten Torpedo Tubes. a.
The offensive powers of the ship are
completed by ten torpedo tubes, twice
as many as are carried by the Dread
nought. Five are placed on either
broadside, two forward, two aft and
one amidships, and each would fire
the improved torpedoes, which are ca
pable Of maintaining speed Of close
upon 80 knots over a distance of 1000
yards. The idea of mounting so many
tubes is that an enemy's ship would be
compelled to come within a compare
lively short distance to obtain rea-
sonable chance of getting a hit home,
For ordinary cruising purposes the
vessel would steam in much the same
trim as an ordinary battleship The
whole Of the deck would be exposed,
and the noselike stem and stern would
be at or just below the water level.
On approaching an enemy water would
be admitted to ballast tanks in the
double bottoms, and the vessel would
sink until the bases of the armored
glacis were about foot below the wa
ter.
In this condition the target presented
would be about 100 feet long-to the
extremities Of the turrets-and about
six feet high f0rAthe most part. but
Increasing to about twenty-five feet at
the extremities and at the coming
tower. All these parts would be pro-
tected with or the equivalent OF at
least ten inches Of armor The whole
of the ships company would be either
behind this thick armor or well below
the water level.
The speed designed for the suggested
new type is Is knots in cruising trim
and 10 or 20 knots when submerged to
the level Of the armor. Her compile
ment would number about $50 officers
and men, or less than third Of that Of
the Dreadnought,
Costs Less to Build Than Dreadnousht.
The cost of the ship is estimated by
the architect who drew up the plans at
$2,500.O0O, or just one-fourth of the
capital cost Of the Dreadnought. This
means that for the cost of one Dread
nought carrying ten heavy guns there
could be built four Of this new type
Of ship. carrying altogether sixteen
guns, but the smaller vessels would be
more expensive in the cost of upkeep,
for they would require 1000 men for
four to the Dreadnought's 800.
The only objection raised against the
suggested new warship, 1t is declared,
is its low freeboard or height above
water. This is, however, only matter
of 1--WE or six feet. When in cruising
trim the guns would be much higher
than in an ordinary battleship.
The low freeboard would be some
disadvantage in fighting trim in rough
weather, but it is pointed out that even
the Dreadnought herself is not en-
tirely free from this disability. In the
smaller ship it would be largely out
weighed by the smallness of the tar
get presented and the comparative i'm
punity with which she could approach
her adversary
GRAND, DUKE MlCHAEL'S LIFE.