Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-31
Battleship Colorado
Queen of The Seas
Added u. S. Navy

Washington, Aug. 30 CA. P1-The
addition of the battleship Colorado,
which was commissioned at Camden.
New Jersey. today, to the United
States battle feet 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 So
000-ton II knot monster. electrically
equipped throughout and with the
ability to toss eight tons Of metal and
explosives 1850 yards, is without an
equal on any of the seven seas.
Formal acceptance of the Colorado
by the Navy Department today marks
the end of the work of rounding out
the first line of the United States bat
tie 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 first class naval
ship. In that year work will be begun
on ships to replace three of the pres
ent 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 peelers in
the galley. These will be tested ard
| uously and the results placed at the
| disposal of American shipbuilders for
| their guidance in building the nation-
al merchant marine and the future
navy.
Authorized in the navy bill Of 1918.
1t
| Camden Yards of the New York Ship
building Company on cost plus fee"
basis which brought her total cost to
| $27 900 900. Her main offensive arm
ament comprises eight 16-inch guns,
the largest permitted under the
WASHINGTON convention treaty.
mounted In four turrets. To make
these terrifically effective. there is a
system of fire control declared to be
superior to any yet emplaced either
at sea or on land. The main control
station is located at the top OF one of
the 140-foot cage masts, with sever
al duplicate stations In more protect
ed parts of the ship for use If the
mast is shot away in action. Prelim-
mary tests of the control resulted in
the sta tement by naval glnners that
the CoI0radOS entire brOadSide can be
released In less than one minute after
the cnemy's position is reported by
the ACCOMMODATING air force.
The defensive equipment also IN
cludes many innovations devised from
study of the Battle of Jutlard. which
has come to no the cnoch- date for
naval construction. Special install
ments will decrease to the minimum
the danger of disablement from
"pluneinC fire" from large guns, snb-
Dit bombs
12-inch main armor belt has been
supplemented by several lateral pro-
! tective decks and veritable honey
comb Of watertieht compartments.
| For dealing with airplanes, the COL
orado has four 3:inch randi fire guns
with a vertical range of two miles.
/ She will carry also several battle
nlanoS for direct defense" in meet
ing hostile attack from the air. The
air defense also includes in part the
entire secondary battery Of fourteen
5-inch guns. primarily designed to
! fight off destroyers.
Each of the prOpellers is driven nv
an 5000 horsepower motor. to whict
power is supplied by two turbine gem
orators. each of $1,000 horsepower.
/ Control of the propelling machinery is
centered in a small room in the most
protected part of the ship wherein
| half a dozen men have charge of
simple set of electric switches and
| valves. Ease of maneuvering is de-
clared to be feature of the new shin,
| tests having proven she can he
| brought to n full stop from a forward
! speed of 81 knots in 3 minutes and
run backward at not less than Is
| knots. This was impossible in the
steam turbine driven vessel.
The Colorado will possess all the
conveniences of a we'll equipped city.
, Within her hull are spacious quarters
! for her complement of 1869 officers
and men, as well as reading and writ
| ing rooms. a recreation room, special
| ladies' room for visitors, laundry
without limitation as to the number
! of pieces to be handled. barber shop,
q tailor shop. cobbler shop and NOV
( ing picture theatre.
| The vital statistics" of the Colora-
do follow:
| Dimensions
| Length over all, GA feet.
Breadth on water line, 81 feet.
I Normal displacement, 500 tons.
! Speed, q knots
Armament
Main guns, eight 16-inch, As calibre
in four turrets.
| Weight of projectile, 200 lbs.
| Secondary guns, fourteen 5-inch, 81
calibre.
Anti aircraft guns, four 9inch, so
calibre.
/ Torpedo tubes, two 21-inch, submer5-
ed
Propulsion
Main engines. two IS 600 horsepower
Westinghouse turbo-electric gen.
orators
| Propeller motors four 5000 horse
power Westinghouse motors, each
connected to a propeller shaft.
! Fuel, oil
General
Complement. &c officers, 1925 men, rs
marines
Built. New York Shipbuilding Co,
Camden. n. J.
Launched, March %, 1921.
| Cost. approximately s27, 100000.