548 



NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



An asterisk (*) attached to any data indicates 

 that it is more fully given in the " notes." The 

 first of the two amounts given in the column of 

 " coal capacity " is the number of tons that can 

 be carried when the bunkers are full, the second 

 is the normal supply with the vessel at her de- 

 signed load draught ; when the total bunker 

 capacity is on board, her displacement is greater 

 than that given in the displacement column by 

 the difference between the two coal supplies. 

 The coal bunkers surround the boilers and -en- 

 gines, and are, in general, arranged to give as 

 much protection as possible consistent with ac- 

 cessibility. The danger of shot-holes at the wa- 

 ter-line is reduced by cellular subdivision and a 

 protective deck ; in some vessels further secur- 

 ity is afforded by a belt of woodite or similar 

 water-excluding material extending around, or 

 partly around, the ship at the water-line. This 

 material will allow a snot to pass through with- 

 out resistance, but through resilience and elas- 

 ticity closes behind it again, leaving little or no 

 hole for the admission of water ; and, if water 

 should gain entrance, it reduces the space in the 

 cells that the water could fill, and consequently 

 assists to preserve the stability which otherwise 

 might be in danger from this cause. The boilers 

 are chiefly horizontal fire-tubular, though the 

 torpedo boats and the '' Monterey " (in part) have 

 the water-tubular type. The new armored ves- 

 sels, the " Monadnock " and the later cruisers, 

 have vertical triple-expansion engines ; the tor- 

 pedo boats have quadruple expansion, and the 

 other vessels have compound or triple expansion, 

 chiefly horizontal. With the exception of the 

 practice cruiser, none of the recent designs have 

 been fitted with sail power beyond a light fore- 

 and-aft or schooner rig. 



In the " Massachusetts," " Indiana," and " Ore- 

 gon" (see illustration) it is believed that the 

 United States possesses fighting ships that have 

 few equals and probably no superiors. They are 

 designated as " coast-line battle ships," which 

 means that they are primarily intended for the 

 defense of our coast, and their greatest fighting 

 efficiency is expected to be under conditions likely 

 to arise in such defense. To allow access to a 

 large number of harbors, the mean draft has 

 been kept down to 24 feet, considerably less than 

 that of vessels of like tonnage abroad. With 

 this draft 400 tons of coal can be carried, giving 

 a steaming endurance or "radius of action " of 

 about 4,000 miles ; but the bunkers will hold 

 1,800 tons, sufficient for 16,000 miles at 10 knots, 

 so that these ships maybe dispatched on distant 

 service. But they ought not to be sent out to 

 immediate action with the bunkers full, as, with 

 the consequent increased displacement, the top 

 of the armor belt is only a few inches above 

 water. Their batteries are the most formidable 

 of any yet designed for ships f war. The large 

 Italian and English guns of about 100 tons are 

 theoretically superior to the 13-inch guns of these 

 ships ; but they fire much more slowly, their ex- 

 cess of penetrating power is of doubtful value, 

 and recent developments have shown the English 

 pieces at least to be total failures. The auxiliary" 

 battery of 8-inch guns has no counterpart in 

 other navies. It is a complete answer to the open 

 barbette with thinly shielded gun, as well as to 

 the " Italia "type without water-line or machin- 



ery protection other than the armor deck. The ar- 

 mor protection is equally excellent : 17 to 20 

 inches (horizontally measured) over heavy guns, 

 10 inches (horizontal measurement) over 8-inch 

 battery, 17 inches on redoubts under 13-inch gun 

 barbettes, 5 inches on the broadside between re- 

 doubts as a protection against high explosive 

 shell, and 18 inches on the water-line. The 

 speed is fair. All three vessels are expected to 

 be ready for service early in 1894. 



The ' New York " is an armored cruiser of the 

 latest type. She is intended as a " cruiser 

 destroyer," a " commerce protector," and general 

 raider along the coasts of an enemy. These 

 roles she is able to play, since her speed is supe- 

 rior to that of all other armored cruisers, and it 

 is doubtful if any unarmored ones could escape 

 in other than the smoothest water, her size 

 (especially length) giving an immense advantage 

 over most vessels and affording the option of 

 compelling or refusing battle. The protection 

 to the hull consists of a steel deck 6 inches thick 

 on the slopes amidships; a water-line belt of 

 armor (including skin plating) of 5 inches ex- 

 tending from the protective to the berth deck 

 abreast the machinery ; a coffer-dam, or belt of 

 water-excluding material, with the same limits 

 above and below, extending completely around 

 the ship ; and lastly as much defense as possible 

 is derived from the arrangement of the coal 

 supply. Two of the 8-inch guns are mounted in 

 a 10-inch barbette forward in a 7-inch covered 

 turret ; two others are similarly disposed aft ; 

 the remaining pair are mounted, one on each 

 side amidships, in semicircular barbettes, and 

 covered with machine-gun-proof shields. The 

 complement of officers and men is 475. The 

 " New York " is expected to be completed in 

 1892. 



The " Puritan" is described on page 789 of the 

 " Annual Cyclopaedia" for 1888. Since that arti- 

 cle was written considerable changes have been 

 made in her design. The battery is now four 

 12-inch guns mounted in barbette turrets, with 

 the plane of fire 10A feet above water, which 

 will admit of its being fought in much heavier 

 weather than if in roller-base turrets. On deck, 

 between the turrets, is a superstructure in which 

 are the quarters of the officers. The former 

 quarters below have been given up to the crew, 

 affording additional space for their accommoda- 

 tion, which was much needed. The armor belt 

 is to be 5 feet 7 inches deep and 14 inches thick 

 amidships. The armor deck is 2 inches ; bar- 

 bettes, 14 inches ; and inclined turrets, 8 inches. 



The "Amphitrite" and "Monadnock" are to 

 be of the same type, but smaller, with 9-inch side 

 armor, 11 '5 inch barbettes, 7'5-inch inclined tur- 

 rets, and 10-inch guns. 



The " Terror " is to have roller-base turrets 

 12-5 and 11-5 inches thick, side armor 7 inches. 

 Similar in design to the " Miantonomoh." 



The design of the " Monterey " (as coast- 

 defense vessel No. 1 has been named) has 

 received important modifications. The armor 

 belt is reduced to 13 inches amidships, and the 

 barbettes to 13 and 11*5 inches; the turrets are 

 of 8 and 7i inches. The 16-inch and 12-inch 

 guns have been replaced by two 12-inch and two 

 10-inch, respectively. The dynamite gun and 4- 

 inch rapid-fire guns have been removed. The 



