Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-15
Naval Experts plan
vast improvements
In New Battleships

Washington, Jan. IL - "a. ~
Naval engineers would hesitate to-
day to predict what the military
characteristics will be Of the first
American battleships to be built in
replacement under the Washington
limitation treaty. Aside from the
fact that they will be 25 percent big
ger than the present naval levia-
thans, West Virginia, Colorado and
Maryland, and carry not larger than
1C-inch guns, they are unknown
quantities.
The first two replacement ships
may be laid down in 1881, to be
completed in 1894. when the r.
inch gunners Florida and Utah
will go to the scrap heap. They will
be $4,000 tons, treaty measurement.
which means almost 10000 tons pre-
treaty rating. The West Virginia
class Of battleships. now the biggest
and hardest hitting vessels af1oat.
are 1000 tons, old rating.
Since the first post-treaty battle
ships will be the British Rodney and
Nelson, to be completed in 1925 when
four ships of the present British fleet
OF the King George Y class will go
to the junk man, wide interest pre-
walls in naval circles everywhere as
to what their armament, speed,
cruising radius. protection, method
Of propulsion or other -istics
will prove to be. Little is known
generally as to the British plans, de-
veloped since the Washington con-
ference.
But no naval officer is likely to
forget that the dreadnaught, first all
big-gun ship to be built. virtually
rendered obsolete every existing pre-
dreadnaught battleship Of any navy.
Nothing then afloat could compete
with her on anything approaching
equal terms, and the feverish build
ing of dreadnaughts on both sides Of
the Atlantic began.
American naval designers are stor-
ing away information on which plans
TO-: their own new ships will be based.
Experiments incidental to the sink
ing Of the hull of what was to have
been the battleship Washington were
conducted for this purpose to a large
extent. and much valuable data re-
suited.
For one thing. navy experts want
ed to know just how wisely they had
planned the increased deck protec-
ton of the Washington class of
ships. 1t has not been revealed def
nitely whether the Washington deck
armor withstood high angle fire, but
Secretary Wilbur announced at the
time that results of the experiments
had justified expectations.
That the new British ships will
have ample deck protection as well
as a new type Of 16-inch guns more
powerful than any yet afioat in any
navy, is taken as a forgone conclu-
sion. They will be the product of
the postwar years Of study BY Brit
lsh experts of bitter war experience
with fighting ships. 1t is to be ex-
pected. therefore. in the judgment Of
naval experts. that they will outclass
tne west Virginia class in the Amer
lcan navy by a margin beyond that
OF their 70 percent larger size.
size alone would permit their car
rying heavier armament, probably
a allowing them to carry twelve To-
inch guns each as against the eight
gun batteries of the American first
line trio, and the British guns. eun
for gun, will be better because Of
newer design. That would mean at
the very least If the guns were of
equal power. a SO percent superiority
IN broadside weight for the new Brit
ishers.