The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-03-16
WORLDS M|GH1|EST
WARCRAFT LAUNCHED
THE Pennsylvania Is CHRIS
TENED BY "swEEresT GIRL
IN KEYSTONE STATE.
(By associated Press.)

NeWpOTt news, va, March To-
When the new super-dreadnaught
Pennsylvania slipped from the ways
into the historic waters of Hampton
Roads here today she took her place
in the lead of the navies of the world
as the mightiest fighting machine
afloat.
In size and gun power the Pennsyl
vania is greater even than the Queen
Elizabeth of the British Navy, which
led the recent terrific assault OF the
Allies on the forts of the Dardanelles.
While the British monster carries
larger guns, her main battery is only
two-thirds the size of that of the Penn
sylvania in number and the American
battleship is 5000 tons greater in size.
The main battery of the Pennsyl-
vania will consist OF twelve l2.inch,
as caHbre rifles. set in four turrets,
three. guns to a turret, the plan of big
gun arrangements adopted In the sis
ter ships which preceded her, the Ne
vada and Oklahoma. Her tonnage
measurement is 81 400 against 27,500
for the Nevada and Oklahoma and the
Queen Elizabeth. The latter, however,
carries eight 15.inch rifles. As calibre
set two to turret, while the Nevada
and Oklahoma have ten 14-inch rifles
each in two 3-gun and two 2gun tur-
rets. In all these ships. including the
Pennsylvania, the turrets are all on
the center line to concentrate their
fire on either broadside.
Five battleships of the British navy
yet to be launched will have less ton.
mage than the Pennsylvania, the ships
of the Royal Sovereign class being of
24,500 tons displacement, and mono
will equal the Pennsylvania in arma-
ment. Each is designed to carry eight
l5-inch guns.
Details of four other British battle
ships, already authorized, are not
known here officially.
Five ships of the Japanese navy.
estimated for in 1914 and known as
the Fuse class. will not equal the
in tonnage with their
Of 10000 tons, but will
carry the same main battery OF twelve
l4-inch rifles, They will exceed the
in speed. estimates call
ing for 20 knots against 81 for the
The 1914 estimates for the German
navy call for three ships of the Kaiser
friedrich III class. with a displacement
Of $4,000 tons and carrying eight Is
inch rifles,
The British ships of the Queen Elis
abeth class greatly exceed those of
any other navy in speed, requirements
calling for 25, knots an hour, while
the Royal Sovereign class will make
at least s25 knots.
Since the outbreak of the war de-
tails as to foreign naval programs
have been jealousy guarded and It il
probable that Great Britain. Germany
and France have laid down many YES
sells of which no report has been made.
So far as is known, however, no YES
exceed in size the three American
ships of the California class, work on
which has barely started. These Will
nave displacement OF $4,000 tons
each and armament equal to that of
he Pennsylvania.
The cruising radius of the Pennsyl-
'ania will be considerably increased
~ the fact that she will be equipped
or oil fuel exclusively and will have a
apacity of 1922 tons Of fuel oil. The
queen Elizabeth has a capacity of
900 tons of oil because of her high
peed requirements.
From her enormous main battery
he Pennsylvania will be able to hurl
With the pressure Of a single firing
ever. IL tons of steel in either
roadside. In addition she will carry
secondary battery of twenty two 5. |
nch rifles for defense against torpe-
o boats. She will be ted also with
our submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes
nd her ships company will be com
osed of 65 officers. 1863 bluejackets
nd "a marines The shin rneacuraa