The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-06-21
NEWEST NAVAL.
FIGHTER Of U.S..
NAVY LAUNCHED.
ANOTHER FIFTEEN MILLION
DOLLAR BATTLEsHIP WAS
SENT INTO THE WATER FOR
THE AMERICAN NAVY At NEW
YORK.

" AMHAt& ~ AoAaa june ~ AatA0@AAsA
fifteen million dollar battleship was
launched FOR the American navy Sat
urday when the superdreadnaught
Arizona slid into the water az the New
York navy yard. She IS a sister ship
TO the Pennsylvania, recently launched
az Newport News. and in size and
armament one 81 the largest and
most powerful craft ever built for
any navy.
Ships of the line. like the Arizona,
are built Co give and receive punish
ment in sea battles. Their mission
has little in common with that Of the
battle cruisers which have been the
largest ships 10 engage each other
during the European war. Speed
is sacrificed IN the construction Of the
battleahips weight and armor and
against such a ship as the Arizona
with her broadaide FIRE from twelve
t4-inch guns and protection Of more
than foot Of the toughest steel that
can be made around the vessels vital
parts ike E wall, a battle cruiser
would be helpless and must depend
on her speed and seek safety IN fight.
There are few ships IN any navy IL
10 cope with the Arizona, ship 20 ship.
The range Of the Arizona's guns
is from ~ 70 rs miles as they win
be set in her turrets, or as far as
her gun-pointers and observers can
see IN brightest weather. As pre-
yious ships carrying the i4-inch guns.
the Arizona's main battery will have
maximum elevation 81 nearly twenty
degrees. IL would be possible. il Is
said. 70 almost double that elevation
and add miles to the range Of the
guns; but already they can shoot and
bic farther Il IS probable they would
ever be called upon % do.
The Arizona win carry the three
gun turrets which have been devel-
oped b. American naval constructors,
her twelve big rifles being housed in
four turrets. two forward and two
after. In addition she will have q
secondary battery Of twenty-five s.
inch, long range rifles fer defense
against destroyers, torpedo boats and
submarines. The big guns can be
fired over either broadside and
around the entire circle with the exc
eeption Of an are Of less than thirty
degrees directly forward for the after
turrets and directly astern for the
forward turrets. Four Of the sec
ondary battery guns, two on each
side. are 50 placed that they can mrs
three degrees across the ships bows.
taking the place of bow chasers OF
the old wooden ship days.
Compared to the Arizona the old
batleships Of the Oregon class ere al
most like TOYS. The new ship could
engage q feet Of three Of them az the
same time, turning upon each as
many guns as IL could bring % bear
and her guns would be bigger and
longer range. In addition she could
steam away from them or overtakc
them ne pleasure, developing "a knots
against their Is or IL. The remark
able thing about the great increase
in size and gun power, however, IL
that each Of the smaller ships would
need as many OF more men than the
Arizona which viii carry a complete
mcnt Of 9l5 in her crew.
The rev sea fortress as she took
the water cost more than seven
million dollars. That was for hull
and machinery alone. The guns and
armor win cost as much more AMI
other equipment necessary to nj her
for duty viii add another million "a
her total cost. She is longer and
wider than any but the newest trans.
atlantic liners. II Il Is desired 70 put
her through the Panama canal the
locks and bends in the channel v1l
be taxed almost 10 the limit % give
her passage way.
The Arizona Is the fourth battle.
ship 70 be built in government
yard and her place on the ways wil
Be taken az once By the California
= larger and faster but similarly
I