Smyrna times., 1929-01-09
BRITISH WARSHlPS
PUZZLE THE EXPERT
No Protective Arnor Seen;
Guns Concentrated.

WaShlngJOn.-HO possessing as IHey 10
many characteristics not found in any
other capital ships afioat, the new
British dreadnaughts Nelson and Rod
ney are being studied by naval con-
structors in an effort to determine
what effect they should have upon
the designs of the replacement battle
ships to be built under the terms of
the Washington naval treaty, begin
ming In 1881.
These vessels embody the lessons
the British learned from the naval
conflicts in the World war, and nat
urally their plans are carefully guard
ed BY the British admiralty. How
ever, it is known that in many re-
spects their design is a distinct de-
parture from the dreadnaughtS which
preceded them.
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 Of
ficers have about reached the con-
clusiOn that the main hull of the ship
is inside the shell showing, and that
attached to it is the heavy armor
these ships carry.
Protection Against Torpedoes.
This conclusion is predicated upon
the known theory Of British naval
constructors that a torpedo should
not first strike the major hull of the
ship. 1t was because of this that
the British adopted the blister as a
protection to the main hull in Its
older craft. Torpedo protection for
American battleships is furnished in
a series of hulls within hulls with
short spaced bulkheads to enable the
ship to keep afioat.
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 hulls of the ships
near the water line. Those studying
the vessels conclude that these plates
cover holes in the outer hull and are
merely bOlted on, with the idea that
If a torpedo found its mark the de-
structive gases from the explosion
would force off the plates, and thus
find their escape before seriously dam
aging the inner hull.
Another decided change of design
in the British ships Is that of placing
all Of the big guns forward instead
of distributing them forward and aft,
as heretofore. BY thus concentrating
the main magazines in a single sec
tion of the ship greater armor pro-
lection can be given them. This is an
important matter. as a single shell
finding the magazine room would de-
strOy 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 tur-
ret are below the superimposed mid
die turret OF course there can be no
big gun fire astern.
Elevation of 6-Inch Guns
Still another departure from the
conventional design IS the placing Of
all Of the secOndary-defense rifles
G-inch guns-near the stern and the
mounting of them in turrets which
enable them to attain an elevation
Of 20 degrees, with a consequently
increased range.
There are three OF these turrets on
each side of the ship and each mounts
two 6-inch rifles. This gives a fire
Of six guns on either broadside, with
an astern fire of four on each side, as
the middle turret is raised above the
other two.
In these ships the British have
abolished the forward mast, with the
bridge In front, and have replaced it
with a castlelike structure within
which are the several navigating
bridges and on top of which is placed
the fire control station.
This arrangement adds to the ex-
tremely odd-looking appearance OF
the Nelson and Rodney. Astern is
the usual tripod mast with single
bulgy squat smoke funnel between the
mast and the huge castle, which is
located aft of amidships.
Since the Nelson and Rodney have
a speed of twenty-three knots, greater
than that of other dreadnaughts,
other nations in their replacement pro-
gram undoubtedly will design craft of
as great a speed.
The British ships also are longer
than any other battleships, measuring
735 feet, which is more than 100 feet
longer than any American battleship.