Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
FIRST DREADNAUCHTS ARE
RELOCATED TO SCRAP.HEAP
Guns of Florida, Utah and Wyoming
Will Sound Own Death Knell
i'm Target Practice.

sariiy increased the tonnage, with It's
consequent reduction of speed.
The problem facing the naval archi-
tect when designing new types of ships
can be compared in a homely manner,
to the thrifty housewife who has q GER
tain sum Of money to spend. The dis
placement of the ship corresponds TO
the housewives budget and the archi-
tect can spend this displacement in
many ways-fuel capacity. armament,
armored protection or speed.
Having been allotted given tonnage
displacement, the naval architect can
only spend this amount and 1t rests
with him as to where it shall be all
lotted.
The results of the Russo-Japanese
War also affected the design of vessels
Of this period. Most naval authorities
agreed. after the fleet engagements Of
these two navies that the fastest feet
had won in each instance, with the re-
suit that Most ships built Immediately
following this war sacrificed some Of
fensive and defensive powers to the APP
parently all-important quality of speed.
Increase in Speed.
The increase in speed of dread
naughtS was due to improvements in
engine design (the steam turbine being
the foremoS), and also in boilers. The
water-tube boiler, equipped with appa-
ratus for superheating steam replaced
the time-honored Scotch (flre-tube)
boilers and provided the necessary
power with q minimum of required
space.
The Florida and Utah, sister ships,
carried ten 12-inch 45-caliber guns as
| their main batteries and sixteen 5-inch
51-caliber guns as secondary batteries.
Their designed speed was POTS knots
and the tonnage of each was 81 1875,
normal displacement: Both OF these
| ships used steam turbines for propulsion
| and employed four propellers. The
Wyoming carried twelve 12-inch So
caliber guns as main battery and
| twenty-one 5-inch 51-caliber guns as
secondary Her tonnage was $4,000,
normal displacement, and the designed
speed was eos knots. using turbines
connected to four propellers.
The United States was the first to
limit its dreadnaught speed, and APP
parently was satisfied with about 20
knots. The u. S. S. Florida was an ex-
cept.on to this. although her available
horsepower was not to the sacrifice Of
either armament or defensive qualities.
In the age Of speed the end of the
Florida's naval career sounds an odd
note, for she Is the fastest battleship in
Uncle Sans Navy. During almost 1s
| years of service she has held this dis
tinction. In the first trials q speed OF
22.08 knots per hour was attained, and
since her modernization (l926) q speed
of 1913 knots is credited her.
! Upon being commissioned In 1911, the
present Florida served with the Atlantic
Fleet until 1914, when she was ordered
to Vera Cruz, Mexico, during our inter-
vention in that country, remaining in
Mexican and Cuban waters during 1914
and 1915.
The striking of the U. S. 8. Florida
from the Nays list. upon her decom-
missioning, will mark the first time
since 1851 that the United States Navy
has not either had Florida in her list
OF ships or had one planned for con-
struction
The first Florida was a side-wheel
steamer OF 1,26l tons, purchased on Au-
gust IL, 1861, from 8. L. Mitchell g. Co.,
New York. She was 214 feet long, 35N
feet beam, 2215 feet draft and had q
maximum speed of 1919 knots. She
was Immediately fitted out after her
purchase as O warship.
Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman assumed
command on November Is. 1917, of
Battleship Division. o, composed Of the
| q. S. s. New York, flagship, Rear
Admiral Hugh Rodman, Capt. G. r.
Hughes; U. s. s. Delaware, Capt. A. H.
Scales; U. S. s. Florida. Capt. Thomas
Washington; U. s. s. wyoming, Capt.
Henry A, Wiley. s
Ready for Distant Service
These ships were Immediately fitted
out for distant service, and on the
afternoon of November IS. 1917, the
division left Lynnhayen Roads, Va, for
European waters.
They arrived at Scapa Flow, Scotland,
on December z, 1917. After q week Of
preparation, which included studies Of
British codes, plans, tactics and plain
fraternizing, the American division was
designated as the 9Th Battle Squadron,
British Grand Fleet, and was assigned
the position of fast wing.
The steam frtgate Wampanoag. built
at the navy yard, New York, at O cost
OF $1,575,643 was destined to become
the second Florida when the name was
so changed on May is, 1859. She was
355 feet long, 45la-foot beam and drew
10 feet of water.
The third Florida was classed as q
coastw1se defense monitor and her
keel was laid January %, 1899, at
Ehzabethport, N. j. Her name was
changed to the Tallahassee on June 90,
1908, to provide the name Florida to
the present superdreadnaught Of that
name.
The U. S. S. Utah, which will be
placed in the reserve status at the Nor
folk Navy Yard, is Familiarity called
the big u" and was in Cuban waters,
operating with the Atlantic Fleet, when
the United States entered the World
War. Returning to the Chesapeake Bay
area, she remained with the fleet until
August 30. 1918, when she sailed for
European waters, with Admiral H. T..
Mayo, commander In chief of the At
lantic Fleet. and members Of his staff
on board, who were en- route to Europe
for important conferences and inspec-
tions.
The trip across required II days,
during which mountainous seas and
heavy gales were encountered.
On September IL. 1918, the Utah
anchored in the fortified harbor of
Bantry Bay, Ireland. Her mission was
to guard against the possible escape
of German light cruisers from the
North Sea- and in case of their escape
| to protect the troops and material
transport lanes from their raids.
| During the time the United States
Utah steamed total of 1900 sea
miles-20, 900 land miles.
When built the Utah was the utmost
In battleship construction and arna-
ment. her main battery Consisting Of
! center-line turretS. She was the flrst
ship to boast successful large turbine
installation combination, with water
tube, coal and oil burning boilers. and
won the engineering trophy during her
first competition year.
At various times the Utah has been
/ &c -