The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-25
Pride of Uncle Sans Navy
Successfully Launched at
Philadelphia in Presence
of Big Crowd.
PRETTY GIRL NAMES
GREAT SEA FIGHTER
New Battleship Has Dis
placement of $4,000 Tons,
5000 Tons More Than New
English Dreadnaught.
(National News Association


Philadelphia. May 25.-Surpassed by
none and equaled only by her own
sister ship, which is not yet completed
Americas latest and greatest warship,
the battleship Wyoming. was launched
today at the yards of the Cramp Ship
and Engine Building company at Ken
sington. There was no untoward Incl
dent to mar the ceremonies, which
were witnessed by a distinguished
gathering of naval folk and official rep
resentatives of the state of Wyoming,
in honor of which commonwealth the
powerful sea fighter is named.
For the first time in many years
that the Cramps have been building
the big fighting machines for the Un-
tied States navy the general public
was barred from attending the launch
ing. No one was permitted to enter
the yards without card of admission.
The enforcement of the new rule was
due, according to the explanation of
the company officials, to extraordinary
conditions arising from the great size
of the Wyoming. So huge is the NAM
moth hulk that i, completely filled the
great shed built over the cradle and
rendered it impossible to build the
customary stand about the PROV for
the accommodation of spectators. Pro-
vision was made only for the chris
tening party and a few distinguished
guests. .-.-.
Miss knight Sponsor.
The christening party, headed by
Miss Dorothy Eunice Knight, daughter
Of a former chief justice of the wy
oming supreme court and sponsor for
the big battleship, took up their posi-
tions near the nose of the big ship. A
few minutes later there was a rending
sound and snap, the weakened under
beams gave way and as the Wyoming
moved down the ways Miss knight
hurled the bottle of sparkling wine at
the prov and exclaimed in a clear
voice, 81 christen thee Wyoming"
The gigantic battleship slid down
the tallow-greased ways with the light
herself far out in the stream and was
taken in charge by several tugs the
great crowd of spectators gave vent
to it's enthusiasm. To the cheers of
the onlookers was added the deafen-
ing noise of hundreds of whistles from
the factories and shops along shore
and many river craft.
The battleship Wyoming is declared
to have no equal afloat as first-class
fighting machine. She is of $4,000
tons displacement, or $500 tons great
er than the British battleship Conquer
or launched few weeks ago.
The displacement of the Wyoming
is 5000 tons greater than that of the
Delaware, which has been in commits
sion less than year. and nearly 200
tons greater than that of the Oregon
which scarcely more than a decade
ago was known as the Bulldog of the
Navy"
The armament of the Wyoming will
consist of twelve 12-inch and twenty
two 5-inch guns and broadsides of
twelve 12-inch and eleven 5-inch guns.
The twelve Pinch guns will be mount
ed in six turrets on the center line of
the ship, two forward. two aft and two
amidship. Each turret is to be protec-
ted by armor twelve inches and eight
inches thick. and supplied with am
munition by electrical hoists from the
magazines and shellrooms below The
entire handling of the guns will be
done by electric motors.
For defense against torpedo boat at
tacks there will be provided battery
of twenty-one 5inch rapid fire guns,
protected by armor of medium thick
ness. Close subdivision and strong
bulkheads will form additional protec-
ton against damage likely to result
from mine or torpedo explosions.
The principal dimensions of the big
battleship are as follows: Length on
load water line. 554 feet; length over
all. $50 feet; beam over armor, SO feet
IL 5-6 inches: trial draft, % feet. S
inches; trial displacement. 26, 900 tons;
trial speed. 201a knots an hour.
The main armor belt will be about
eight feet wide and will have an aver
thickness of ten inches. Above this is
to be another armor belt of ten inches
average thickness, and still higher
amidships, is the asement armor pro-
tecting the secondary battery and fun
mel bases. At the ends of the main
belt are transverse armor bulkheads
Each barbette is of armor varying
| from four inches to eleven inches in
thickness, which protects the entire
ammunition handling machinery for
the 12-inch guns in the turret above
A strong protective deck extends all
fore and aft
The Wyoming will be fitted for a
flagship and her complement as such
will consist of SIS officers and 1880
men. 1t is expected she will be ready
for commission By the end Of the year.