28 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



RAPID BATTLESHIP BUILDING. 



By WALDON FAWCETT. 



A VARIETY of influences, aside from the occasional exigencies of 

 actual war conditions, have, during the past few years, combined 

 to force upon naval architects and shipbuilders a conviction of the need 

 for more expeditious work in the construction of war vessels, and es- 

 pecially of battleships. As the modern fighting vessel has grown in 

 weight and complexity of design, the interval necessitated for its con- 

 struction has very naturally been lengthened. That this condition of 

 affairs would sooner or later induce a sentiment of dissatisfaction was 

 the more certain from the fact that throughout the world many gov- 

 ernment officers have to do with the construction and operation of naval 

 flotilla who are inadequately informed regarding technical details. 



The feeling of impatience on account of the time occupied in build- 

 ing a battleship has, of course, disclosed itself first of all to the ship- 

 builder, and the practical men of the industry have already set them- 

 selves to remedy the conditions in so far as it is possible. How much 

 has been accomplished in a comparatively brief space of time is elo- 

 quently attested by the records for time economy in battleship con- 

 struction which have been made during the past two years, particularly 

 in British and American yards. 



Although the shipbuilder has been able to accomplish much by the 

 introduction of improved tools and machinery, with the attendant 

 speedier methods of handling material, he is becoming more and more 

 an advocate of the simplification of the battleship. His contentions are 

 receiving the indorsement of many naval constructors of ability and 

 experience, who are impressed by the advisability of reducing the cost 

 of single ships, on the theory of the old adage against placing all the 

 eggs in one basket. Protests have been directed particularly against 

 the complication and multiplying diversity of function sought by 

 mechanical contrivances, but of late there have been on the part of 

 naval architects many expressions of opinion to the effect that the 

 auxiliaries arc not the only features of a battleship which might be 

 modified with profit. 



As was stated above, it is the shipbuilder who has first been brought 

 to a realization of the fact that he must keep pace with modern progress 

 by constant reductions of the time necessary to turn out a complete ar- 

 mor-clad. Thus the William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building 

 Company, of Philadelphia, has recently secured a contract from the 



