2 NOTES ON THE ARMAMENTS OF BATTLESHIPS. 



This old phrase continually occurs in descriptions of naval battles of 

 the past, and it is no less applicable under modern conditions than it was in 

 the days of sailing ships and smooth-bore guns, or even in that more remote 

 period when naval warfare was carried on by galleys propelled by oa,rs and 

 manned by soldiers. Victory never has depended and never will depend 

 entirely upon the destruction or capture of an enemy's ships, but upon 

 their being brought into a condition of incapacity to continue the struggle — 

 that is to say, being put out of action. That result may be attained in 

 many ways, but it must be reached in some way before victory is secured. 

 All naval history confirms this statement; it is, in short, a truism. Look- 

 ing back upon the great wars of the eighteenth and beginning of the nine- 

 teenth century it is seen that ships were put out of action by the destruction 

 of or serious damage to their means of propulsion, by injury done to their 

 mobility and maneuvering power; by being set on fire; by slaughter of their 

 crews; by loss of morale; by panic arising from accident or damage which 

 prevented continued utilization of existing means of offense ; by overpower- 

 ing or seriously injuring the armaments, and in other ways that need not 

 be particularized. 



This statement of the case applies primarily to circumstances affecting 

 individual ships, and it designedly omits reference to the supreme influence 

 which naval tactics may exercise upon the result of a fleet action, or to the 

 skill of a commander in concentrating upon a portion of the enemy's fleet 

 an overwhelming attack. When the tactician has done his best, it still 

 remains true that the chief aim in a naval engagement must be to put an 

 enemy's ships "out of action" as quickly as possible, and that sinking or 

 destruction of ships is not necessary to secure that result, although it may 

 be an accompaniment of victory. 



From the point of view of this paper, the question to be considered 

 may be stated, therefore, as follows: — What description of armament is 

 likely to prove most eft'ective for speedily putting out of action modern 

 battleships, having regard to existing materials of construction, structural 

 arrangements, armor defense, means of propulsion and maneuvering; 

 as well as to the characteristic qualities of guns, projectiles, explosives, 

 torpedoes and mines now available for use? In considering this question 

 it will be assumed that, in addressing this Society, there is no need to recapit- 

 ulate the remarkable advances which have been made in all these features 

 of war-ship construction during the last half century. The facts are on 

 record, and the existing situation is well known to members. 



Certain features of the problem may also be assumed to lie outside 

 the field of discussion. It is generally agreed that future naval actions 



