The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-26
NAVAL EXPERTS
FIND CHANGE IN
DREADNAUGHTS
New Type of British Ship
Combines Lessons Learned
in World War

Washington, Aug. 26.-tP)-Pos-
scssing as they do many character
istics not found in any other capital
ships afloat. the new British dread
naughts Nelson and Rodney are be-
ing studied by naval constructors in
an effort to determine what effect
they should have upon the designs
of the replacement battleships to
be built under the terms Of the
Washington naval treaty, beginning
in 1881.
These vessels cmbody the lessons
the British learned from the naval
conflicts in the World War, and
naturally their plans are carefully
guarded by the British admiralty.
However, it is known that in many
respects their design is distinct
departure from the drcadnaughts
which preceded them.
No Armor on Hull
One Of the most noticeable changes,
and one puzZling naval officers most,
is the absence of any signs of pro-
tective armor on the hull. These
officers have about reached the con-
clusion that the main hull of the
ship is inside the she'll showing, and
that attached to it is the heavy armor
these ships carry.
This conclusion is predicatcd upon
the known theory of British naval
constructors that torpedo should
not first strike the major hull of the
ship. 1t was because of this that the
British adopted the blister as a pro-
lection to the main hull in it's older
craft. Torpedo protection for Ameri-
can battlcships is furnished in a
series of hulls within hulls with
short spaced blu kheads, to enable the
ship to keep afl6at.
The belief that the armor on the
Nelson and Rodney is placed on an
inner hull is further strengthened
by the appearance of a series Of
plates placed along the bulls of the
ships near the water line. Those
studying the vessels conclude that
these plates cover holes in the outer
hull and are merely boltcd on, with
the idea that if torpedo found its
mark the destructive gases from the
explos ion would force off the plates
and thus find their escape before
seriously damaging the inner hull.
Another Change
Another decided change of design
in the British ships is that of plac-
ing all of the big guns forward in
stead Of distributing them forward
and aft as heretofore. By thus con-
centrating the main magazines in a
single section of the ship, greater
armor protection can be given them.
This is an important matter, as a
single shell finding the magazine
room would destroy the craft.
All Of the big guns-nine 16-inch
rifles-have full range on either
broadside. but only six can be trained
dead ahead, as those in the third
middle turret. Of course, there can
be no big gunfire astern.
Still another departure from the
conventional design is the placing of
all Of the secondary defense rifles
-6-inch guns-near the stern and
the mounting Of them in turrets
which enables them to attain an ele-
walton Of seventy degrees with con-
seQuently increased range.
There are three of these turrets
on each side Of the ship and each
mounts two 6-inch rifles. This
gives fire Of six guns on either
broadsidc with an astern fire of
four on each side, as the middle
turrct is raised above the other two.
Forward Mast Gone
In these ships the British have
abolished the forward mast, with the
bridge in front, and have replaced
it with a castle-like structure within
which are the several navigating
bridges and on top Of which is placed
the fire control station, f
This arrangement adds to the. ex-
tremely odd looking appearance Of
the Nelson and Rodney. Astern il
the usual tripod mast with . single
bulky squat smoke-funnel between
the mast and the huge castle, which
is located aft Of amidships.
Since the Nelson and Rodney have
q speed Of % knots, greater than that
Of other dreadnaughts, other nations
in their replacement program un-
doubtedly will design craft Of u
great 4 speed.
The British shirs also are longer
than any other battlcships. measuring
735 feet. which Is more than 100 fee
longer than any American battlesh ip.
Some naval constructors say this Is