Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-20
ANOTHER big
SH||IPDRNE|'|l'||B|'|Y !.
ELECTRICITY


Vallejo. Cal, New. 4A.-ThA ~
Observation-Disclosures superdrcadnaueht
Wa added TO the United States navy
nSloat today when the California was
launched at the Mare Island navy
yard here.
In tho use 81 electricity 81 means
Of propulsion, the new fighting mp
follows the example get In The build
Ing Of the New Mexico and Tennessee.
/ The California u expected 70 COST
more than $15,o00.o 900 and win carry
twelve 14-inch guns. Besides being
electrically driven, the new warsndp
will be electrically operated her
AZ the great craft slid into. the wa
ter she was cheered BY Governor VIII
liam D.. stephens Of California, his
daughter, Mrs Randolph ]. Zane.
who sponsored the wal vessel and
thousands Of spectators. While her
berth was stiu warm the keel OF q
great companion superdreadnaught,
tho Montana, aselaid within It
Designed by master minds sharp
encd by the urge of war. the CaNfor-
mia represents the ultimate In fighting
fitness. Bulked alongside the fret
work Of the ways whore she a beer
pulled by tuEs after the launching. the
great vessel showed herself to be the
embattled floating city that she is.
All that has been learned in the wax
in fregard to the fitting up Of dread
naughts has been put in this latest
addition to the American navy.
The California's keel was laid DC
tober is, 1915, but during the war the
men who fabricated her turned their
tools to the knocking together OF 9th
fight the submarine. For two years
no a rivet was driven but upon the
signing Of the armistice the great hull
ngain swarmed, clanked and rang
with life and it was heated, beaten
and turned into the mighty craft thai
was launched today. :.
In commission, the California viii
have q crew OF 1922 men and So or
ficers. full complement. She has ;
Of So feet and a depth Of 47.2 feet
Her. displacement at her meal
draught Of 30.5 feet would be $4,000
tons. She has an estimated speed o
~ knots an hour and a normal tue
capacity of 1900 tons.
1t is estimated that she is fully 81
3per cent better protected tina nan,
other vessel in the United States navy
not excluding the New Mexico.
Her great turbines Of 2s,0 900 horse
power are the principal unit of tn
California's electric system. The gun
will be fired by electricity. Her ven
tiTation, steering. supplying of powe
to the drive shaft Wandering, print
Ing, ice cream freezing, cake-makin
\ and dishwashing all will be electrical
lyss operated. Although this hs
brought her total cost to somethin
in excess of $15, 10000 q saving !
fuel is expected quickly to offset TIL
cost. Her hull alone cost $4,000
In armament the California wi
rank high. Besides her twelve II
inch guns, she will carry four SUI
merged torpedo tubes, Is two-inc
rapid fire guns, four 6-p9k1nders. tw
1-pounders, four 3-tnch knti-aircra
guns, one 3-inch landing gun and tn
30-caliber machine guns. She will
q fitting example of the last wore
In battleship designing and fittin
and will he tha firstsShSps OF her ola
20 be turned u IN q Pacific Goa
Ehipyard.
The award for the California W,
made at the same time the Tenness
was contracted for. The Tennessee
built in an eastern shipyard, was to
a sister ship Of the California, b
she was launched before many Of Il
improvements going into 3the Califo
MIA were reduced to the efficiency tn
they hold today.