The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-08-31
MIGHTY BATTLESHIP
IS COMMISSIONED
THE COLORADO MOST POWERFUL
FIGHTING MACHINE AFLOAT-
MARVELLOUS EQUIPMENT

Washington-(A. P.)-The addition
of the battleship, Colorado, which
was commissioned at Camden, New
Jersey, to the United States battle
fleet once more places the navy in
undisputed possession of that trophy
of marine construction, the most
powerful fighting machine afloat."
Naval engineers of the principal
maritime powers practically without
exception have conceded that the 49,
000-ton, 21 knot monster, electrically
equipped throughout and with the
ability to toss eight tons of metal
and explosives 34,50O yards, is with
out an equal on any of the seven
seas.
Formal acceptance of the Colorado
by the navy department marks the
end of the work of rounding out
the first line of the United States
battle fleet as allotted by the five
power treaty. During the next eight
years-until 1931-no keel will be
laid in any American yard for a first
class naval ship. In that year work
will be begun on ships to replace
three of the present fleet.
The new queen of the seas is de-
scribed in marine circles as +" a vast
experimental laboratory The most
advanced designs in ship equipment
of every sort have been installed,
from her huge propelling motors to
the dainty electric potato peeIers in
the galley. These will be tested ardu-
ously and the results placed at the
disposal of American shipbuilders for
their guidance in building the ma
tional merchant marine and the fu-
ture navy.
Authorized in the navy bill of 1916,
CnIOr96n fod af
Camden yards of the New York Ship
building company on "cost plus
fee" basis which brought her total
cost to 27,000,000. Her main often
sive armament comprises eight 16-
inch guns, the largest permitted un-
der the Washington convention
treaty, mounted in four turrets. To
make these terrifically effective,
there is a system of fire control de-
clared to be superior to any yet en-
placed either at sea or on land. The
main control station is located at the
top of one of the 140-foot cage masts.
with several duplicate stations in
more protected parts of the ship for
use if the mast is shot away in
action. Preliminary tests of the con-
troll resulted in the Colorado's entire
broadside can be released in less than
one minute after the enemy's position
is reported by the accompanying air
force
The defensive equipment also in
cludeS many innovations devised from
study of the Battle of Jutland, which
has come to be the epoch-date for
naval construction. Special INSTALL
ments will decrease to the minimum
the danger of disablement from
g plunging fire" from large guns,
MI,
The 12-inch main armor belt has been
supplemented by several lateral pro-
tective decks and a veritabIe honey
comb of watertight compartments.
The Colorado will possess all the
conveniences of a well equipped city.
Within her hull are spacious quarters
for her complement of 1,469 officers
and men, as well as reading and writ
ing rooms, recreation room, special
ladies' room for visitors, laundry
without limitation as to the number
of pieces to be handled, a barber
shop, tailor shop, cobbler shop, and
moving picture theatre
The "vital statistics - of the Color
ado follow
Dimensions
Length over all, 624 feet.
Breadth on water line, 9 feet
Normal displacement, $4,000 tons.
Speed, 21 knots.
Armament
Main guns, eight 16-inch, As calibre
in four turrets.
Weight of projectile, 2,100 lbs.
Secondary guns, fourteen 5-inch, 81
calibre.
Anti-aircraft guns, 3-inch, so cali
ore.
Torpedo tubes, two 21-inch, sub
merged.
Propulsion
Main engines, two $4,000 horse
power Westinghouse turbo-e1ectric
generators.
Propeller motors, four 5000 horse
power Westinghouse motors, each
connected to propeller shaft
Fuel, oil
General
Complement, &c officers, 1928 men.
rs marines.
Built. New York Shipbuilding Co,
Camden, N j.
Cost, approximately $4,000, 600
n A