The Washington times., 1919-11-20
AMERICAS BIGGEST
WARSHlP LAUNCHED
Widow Of Hero Of Belleau
: Wood Christens Mighty
Superdreadnaught.

MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD, Cal.
Nov. 20.-America launched it's great
est superdreadnaught here today.
The mighty U. s. S. California took
the waves with grace that befitted
her own slightly lines. slid out into
placid and sheltered bay amid the
tumultuous shouts Of thousands, and
was 'roped" by tugs who returned
her to the Government pier.
Mrs. Randolph It. Zane, daughter
Of Governor William d. Stephens, was
sponsor for the vessel She Is the
widow of Major Randolph T. Zane, U.
S. Nj. c., who died in France from
wounds received in the battle Of Bel
leau Wood in June, 1918. Little Mar
jorie Zane, their daughter. christened
the destroyer Zane at this navy yard
last August.
Major Zane had received the per-
sonal commentator of General
Fershing and was decorated by him
with the Distinguished Service Cross.
Great Armament Carried.
The greatest armament carried by
any vessel in the world is aboard the
U. s. s. California. Twelve fourteen
inch guns, nifty caliber breechloading
rifles they are called; four submerged
torpedo tubes. twenty-five two-incn
rapid fire guns. four six-pounders, two
one-pounders, four three inch anti
aircraft guns. one three-inch landing
gun, and two thirty-caliber machine
guns stand in readiness to protect the
American flag whenever and wherever
called upon.
One thousand and twenty men with
fifty-eight officers. will comprise the
normal complement of this mighty
superdreadnaught.
The keel of the California was laid
October rs. 1915, but during the war
work was rushed here and In a ma
jority of the Government yards on
smaller vessels to combat the sub
marine. For that reason not a rivet
was driven in the California for many
months. After the signing of the
armistice work was Immediately re-
commenced and today the vessel was
launched.
ships Dimensions.
Her dimensions are: Length over
all. 624 feet; breadth, 9e feet; depth,
AZ feet 2 inches; mean draft, 80 feet
3 inches: displacement at this draft,
32,0 tons; speed, Fl knots Q2
hours): fuel oil capacity, 1000 tons.
The great war enabled naval ex-
perts to devote considerable study TO
improvements for battleships and as
direct result of Americas expert
ence the California is declared abb
solutely immune against submarines
or miues. Her protection over and
above that of the best OF battleships
prior to the war would average 80
per cent
Her main engines are electrically
driven. the generators being driven
by steam turbines of $4,000 horse-
power. The steam is supplied by oil
burning water tube boilers.
Two firing cages. located in the
huge steel masts, control the work of
the great guns, an Improvement that
also was lesson from the world war.
Everything Electrical.
1t is an electric" ship. The firing
Of the guns. the ,ventilators the steer
ing gear, the machine that supplies
power to the driye shaft potato
peeling machine capable of handling
1000 pounds of murphys an hour,
laundry machines, printing presses.
ice cream freezers, kitchen and cake
machines, dough mixers and dish
washers-all electrically operated.
Authority for construction of the
California dates from March 3. 1915.
Assignment of the contract for it's
construction at the Mare Island Navy
Navy Josephus Daniels on January 0.
1916. The estimated cost for hull and
machinery alone was more than
$500. 900. The complete vessel will
cost more than s15,000,0 900. ii is esti-
mated.
The huge range of her massive
fourteen-inch guns would permit the
California to lie in wait" eighteen
miles off shore from any point of in
tended attack. below the horizon of
the ocean itself, and drop its shells
into a city. Coast stations could not
return the fire without the assistance
of airplanes. Before other ships
could reach her she could do extreme
damage and move away.
Immense Gun Power.
The power alone from one broad
side of all her guns is sufficient to
hurl six massive touring cars from
Sandy Hook to New York city.
If she fired a shell from one OF her
largest guns. pointing directly in the
air, ii would reach height of five
and three-fourth miles, or nearly
twice as high as Pixies Peak in Col
orado.
he keel of the superdreadnaugh
Montana will be laid Immediately on
the ways upon which the California
was born" At the time the con-
tract was awarded the keel Of the
L. S. S. Tennessee was laid in an
eastern navy yard, but, as stated,
work was delayed on the California.
Construction of the Tennessee pro-
ceeded and today that vessel holds,
with the New Mexico, the dintinction
of being the largest battleship afoat.
HELPING YANKs VISIT HOME.