Professional Notes

For convenience of reference these notes are arranged as follows:

 

A. Notes on ships of war, budgets and personnel, the notes appearing

under the head of the naval power to which they refer. Alphabetical arrangement is followed.

 

B. Miscellaneous Notes on Armor, Ordnance, Explosives, Torpedoes, etc. The arrangement is alphabetical and the principal heads are:

 

1. Ammunition                                         13. Fortifications
2. Armor                                                  14. Fuel
3. Boats                                                   15. Gunpowder and Explosives
4. Boilers                                                  16. Guns
5. Canals, Harbors and Water ways          17. Guns: Firing
6. Coaling Ship                                         18. Guns: Mounts
7. Coast Defense                                     19. Instruments Used in Action, etc.
8. Communications                                  20. Machinery (auxiliary engines) etc.
9. Construction                                        21. Operations (war or manoeuvers)
10. Docks                                                   22. Propulsion
11. Electricity                                             23. Small Arms
12. Engines                                                            24. Strategy and Tactics         

25. Torpedoes

 

 

 

SHIPS OF WAR, BUDGETS AND PERSONNEL

 

ARGENTINA

 

PERSONNEL:  The executive officers on the active list of the Argentine navy consist of t vice-admiral, 4 rear-admirals, 16 captains, 57 commanders, 52 senior lieutenants, 76 junior lieutenants, 28 senior ensigns, 82 junior ensigns and 34 midshipmen.

 

 

GENERAL ROCA AND GENERAL MITRA: ORDERED:  The Argentine government has ordered two more armored cruisers in Italy. They will be of the Garibaldi type but larger, the designed displacement being 8500 tons, I. H. P. 17,000, and speed 21 knots. They are to be named Roca and General Mitra. A large premium is offered for completion before the end of the contract time.

 

PLATA, ANDES: RECONSTRUCTION:  The old single-turreted monitors Plata and Andes (1677 tons, launched in 1875) are being extensively repaired and refitted.

 

 

SUBMARINE BOAT RICALDONI:  It is reported that the submarine boat Ricaldoni is under construction in Buenos Aires. Its length is stated to be 131.2 feet; beam 16.4 feet, speed, II knots and radius of action 435 miles.

 

 

AUSTRIA

 

VESSELS BUILDING

 

Name                           Displacement tons                   Where building             Remarks: date of

Battleships                                                                                                          completion

A (ersatz-Loudon)        10,600                                                                         Building

B (ersatz-Drache)         10,600                                                                         Ordered

   Babenberg                8,340                                      Pola                              Building to be lchd1902

Arpad                           8,340                                      Trieste                         Launched Sept 9, 1900

Habsburg                     8,340                                         “                                Launched Sept 11,1901

Armored Cruiser         

E(ersatz-Radestzkys     7,400                                                                          Building

 Protected Cruiser

Szigetvar                      2,340                                       Pola                              Launched Oct 29,1900

                                                                                                                         nearly completed

  River Monitors

I                                     450                                                                            Building

II                                    450                                                                               “

 

 

                                                                                               

 

BATTLESHIPS A AND B:  DESCRIPTION — These new battleships A and B (see plans on opposite page) authorized in the budgets for 1901 and 1902 respectively are supposed in theory to replace the Loudon and Drache (though the latter are merely small unarmored cruisers) and they are therefore temporarily styled ersatz-Loudon and ersatz-Drache. Their design is a development of the Habsburg type with heavier guns and somewhat thicker armor though the belt is not continued to the stem. The freeboard is moderately high 15 or 16 feet aft and 17 or 18 feet forward. A central superstructure, one deck high, rises above the deck amidships and is the full width of the ship; above its forward and after ends are commodious bridge decks. There are two masts,  the forward one is of military type, but short, and carries a single military top, above which there is a light mast carrying a search-light platform, two signal yards and a gaff, the after mast is a light one carrying two signal yards and a gaff. There are three smoke pipes on the fore-and- • aft midship line and a heavy boat crane on each side serves to handle the boats. The principal details are:

 

 

Armament:  Four 9.45-inch, 40-caliber Skoda guns in pairs in turrets on the main deck forward and aft. Eight 7.48-inch, 42-caliber Skoda guns in sponsons on the gun deck, four each side, forward pair firing directly ahead and after pair directly astern, the ship's side being cut away forward and aft above the gun deck to permit of firing ahead and astern. Six 5.87-inch, 52-caliber Skoda guns in armored sponsons on the main deck in the superstructure, three each side. Fourteen 2.6 inch (45-caliber or 6o-caliber) Skoda guns, of which ten are in broadside on the upper deck. Twelve

 r-pounders; one on each side forward and aft on the gun deck; two each side on the forward bridge deck; two in the military top and two on the after bridge deck. Four 8-millimeter guns; one each side on the after bridge deck and two at the forward end of the upper forward bridge deck. One submerged torpedo tube.

 .

 

 

Protection:  Partial water-line belt 8.27 inches thick at the water-line throughout, extending far enough to protect the bases of the turrets by means of a thwart ship bulkhead of the same thickness. Above this belt the side is armored up to the main deck from the forward 7.48-inch gun to the after one,  the thickness is 4.7 inches. The protective deck is 5.97 inches thick inside the belt and 2.76 inches before and abaft the

 

 

 

 

transverse armor bulkheads. The turrets of the 9.45 inch guns are 945 inches thick, they are supported by armored towers above the main deck and very large loading tubes below—the former 9.45 inches thick and the latter 8.27 inches. The side over the 7.48-inch guns is 4.7 inches thick but the sponson plating is thicker. The sponsons of the 5.87-inchguns are 5.5 inches thick. There are two conning towers, the forward one 8.7 inches thick and the after one 4.7 inches.

Motive Power—Twin-screw, triple-expansion engines of 14,000 I. H. P. designed to give a speed of 19 knots. Yarrow water-tube boilers.

 

 

Dimensions—Length, 390.4 feet; beam, 72.16 feet; draft, 24.6 feet; displacement 10,600 tons.

 

 

CHILE

 

CHACARUCO: PURCHASED—A protected cruiser of 4500 tons, building at the works of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Company, Newcastle, has been purchased by the Chilean government and is to be called the Chacabuco. The armament will consist of two 8-inch guns, twelve 4.7-inch, sixteen small rapid-fire and machine guns, and four torpedo tubes (two of which are submerged). The designed speed is 22.5 knots.

 

 

TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYERS: BUILDING—The two torpedo-boat destroyers of 321 tons, 6250 I. H. P. and 30 knots speed, building at the works of Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, have been launched.

 

 

PILCOMAYO: REPAIRING—The old wooden gunboat Pilcomayo (600 tons) is being extensively repaired at Talcahuano and will receive new boilers.

 

 

CHINA

 

 

SALE OF VESSELS—It is said that the Chinese government regards its navy as a costly and nearly useless defense. The burden is especially felt at present because of the indemnities which are to be paid on account of the Boxer uprising, and it is reported that a part of the Russian indemnity will be settled by the transfer of vessels of the Canton flotilla.

 

DENMARK

 

BUDGET FOR 1901-02—The total amount of the Danish naval budget 1901-02 is 6,796,495 crowns ($1,821,460.66-1 crown = $0.268), which is 54,954 crowns less than the amount for the preceding year. The sum of 5,134,144 crowns is for the navy proper and 1,662,351 for the expenses the ministry of marine, dependent offices, schools, etc. The principal items are: 1. Ministry of marine, 94,134 crowns; 2. Pay and other expenses for the personnel of the navy, 795,372; 3. Expenses of arsenals, including material, 2,877,240,  4. Provisions, 40,333; 5. Medical service, 49,000 6. Clothing, 63,534   7. Quarters, 113,041  8. Dredging; 9. Schools of instruction, 121,761  10. Armaments, 941,900  it. Miscellaneous expenses, ,736; 12. Instruction of enlisted men, 8o; 13. Pensions, 834;

Archives of nautical charts, 36,190. In Chapter 3, expenses of arsenals is given the credits for new construction which is 1,215,000 crowns, the same as for last year. The construction work comprises the building of the small battleship Olfert Fischer (4200 tons, a sister ship to the Herluf Trolle), the reconstruction of the brig Oernen, which is to be used as a training ship for cadets, repairs to the surveying steamer and the mine boats A, B, and No. 2 and new boilers for the gunboat Guldborgsund. Among the other large items are 99,000 crowns for the purchase of torpedo mines and 126,000 crowns for the equipment and supplies of the Herluf Trolle.

 

 

FRANCE

 

VESSELS BUILDING

 

 

 

BUDGE'T FOR 1902: REMARKS—The naval budget for 1902 has not yet been approved by the French Chambers. It should provide for laying

 

 

 

Jules Ferry

 

For description of the Jules Ferry, see description of Victor Hugo, a sister ship, in PROCEEDINGS No. 98, page 384.

 

 

down and completing vessels in accordance with the six-year program approved two years ago, but the Budget Committee have declined to sanction the very small appropriations asked for battleships Al2, A13, and A14. This in itself would not be very serious but part of the fight against the commencement of these ships was led by the members who are opposed to building any battleships and they may succeed in defeating the appropriations for them next year by joining with the deputies

who advocate delay for financial reasons. France is barely holding her place as the second naval power and in the next ten years she is likely to be outstripped by Russia, Germany and the United States, as the financial condition of these powers is likely to improve while that of France seems to be about stationary.

 

 

CONDE:  LAUNCH—The armored cruiser Conde is to be launched at the arsenal, Lorient, March 8. She is the last of the Gloire class to be laid down and is fully described in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, p. 156.

 

 

MONTCALM : TRIALS.—This armored cruiser had satisfactory trials in November last. The results of the full power trial were: I. H. P., 19,799; coal consumed per I. H. P. per hour, 1.89 pounds; speed, 21.087 knots. See PROCEEDINGS No. too, page 754, in regard to temperature of fire rooms. A full description of the Dupetit Thouars, a sister ship to the Montcalm, is given in PROCEEDINGS No. 99, page 59o, and a full page illustration of the Montcalm faces page 755 in No. 100.

 

CHATEAURENAULT:  TO BE PLACED IN SERVICE.—This fast protected cruiser is to be commissioned for service and will join the northern squadron. Her full-power trials are given in PROCEEDINGS No. too, page 754, together with remarks upon the heat in the fire-rooms. A six-hour trial, which took place in January, gave: I. H. P., 18,400; speed, 21.9 knots; coal consumed per I. H. P. per hour, 1.41 pounds. No attempt was made to exceed the horsepower developed, the object of the trial being to ascertain the behavior of the machinery at about 18,200 I. H. P., and the trial is reported to have been satisfactory in all respects. A 24-hour trial at full power was designed to take place early in February but no reports of it are yet received.

 

REQUIN: RECONSTRUCTION COMPLETED, TRIAL.—The alterations and repairs of the coast defence ship Requin (about 7000 tons displacement since reconstruction) are completed and she recently finished her steam trials. With eight of her ten boilers (Niclausse) the I. H. P. developed was 6350 and the speed 15.3 knots; all the motive machinery and appliances gave entire satisfaction. The battery of the Requin now consists of 274.4-millimeter (10.8-inch) guns in closed turrets, one forward. Cite aft; six 3.9-inch rapid-firing guns in the central battery, four at the corners of the superstructure and two in broadside; eight small rapid firing guns and twelve machine guns. See also PROCEEDINGS No. 97,

page 159, and No. too, page 754.

 

 

INDOMPTABLE, CAIMAN: ALTERATION—These two coast defense vessels are sister ships to the Requin (see preceding paragraph) and similar in the Indomitable are completed and she will shortly undergo her machinery trials. See PROCEEDINGS No. too, page 755. The alterations to the Caiman are still in progress.

 

 

DUQUESNE, TOURVILLE, IPHIGENIE: NAMES STRUCK FROM LIST—The names of the old cruisers Duquesne, Tourville and Iphigenie are to be struck from the list of the fleet.

 

 

PISTOLET, BELIER ORDERED—The torpedo-boat destroyers Pistolet and Betier have been ordered of the Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes. For description, see PROCEEDINGS No. 98, page 386.

 

 

FLAMBERGE: LAUNCH.—The torpedo-boat destroyer Flamberge, 303 tons, was launched at the arsenal Rochefort, October 28, 1901. She is a sister ship in all respects to the Pertuisane and Escopette, a description of which is given in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 157.

 

 

BOURRASQUE: TRIALS.—The torpedo boat Bourrasque, 162 tons, and which is fully described in PROCEEDINGS No 100, page 755, has completed her trials. On the full-power trial the mean speed maintained for one hour was 31.53 knots with 347 revolutions. On her coal consumption trial at a speed of 14.365 knots, the amount of coal used was 602.7 pounds per hour.

 

 

TORPEDO BOAT No. 254: TRIAL—This boat finished her trials in November. The results on the one-hour full-speed test were 25.015 knots and 342 revolutions. For details of No. 254, see PROCEEDINGS No. 100, page 757.

 

 

TORPEDO BOATS 255 AND 256: LAUNCH, DESCRIPTION, TRIAL OF No. 255—These two boats, which were built at the yard of the Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranean, Havre, are practically completed. No. 255 was launched on October 31 and No. 256 on November 29. No. 255 has completed her trials satisfactorily; the mean speed for the one-hour run was 25.61 knots with 345.25 revolutions. The dimensions of No. 256 are: Length, 121.4 feet; beam, 13.2 feet; draft, aft, 8.9 feet; displacement, 90.65 tons. The armament consists of two torpedo tubes and two 1-pounders. The engines drive a single-screw and are designed to develop i800 I. H. P. and give a speed of 24 knots; the boilers, two in number are of the Normand type; the coal supply (in the form of briquettes) is 12.5 tons. No. 256 and No. 257 are somewhat stronger in construction than the three preceding numbers built by the same company and have 8 inches less beam and 4 inches more draft, but they are otherwise practically the same.

 

 

TORPEDO BOATS 259 AND 260: LAUNCH—These boats are building at the yard of the Ateliers et Chantiers de la Gironde, Bordeaux. No. 260 was launched October 31 and No. 259 a few days earlier. They differ from No. 256 (see preceding paragraph) in having one meter (3.28 feet) greater length, in having Du Temple-Guyot boilers instead of Normand, and in having machinery of which the designed I. H. P. is supposed to be 300 less; but since the designed speed is the same the power on trial will probably be not very different.

 

 

TORPEDO BOAT 264; READY FOR TRIALS—This boat, which was built at the yard of Messrs. Dyle and Bacalan, Bordeaux, is reported ready for trials. Her details are the same as those of No. 256 (see second Preceding paragraph) except that she has 4 inches less draft and about half a ton less displacement.

 

 

KORRIGAN: LAUNCH—The submarine boat Korrigan of the Morse type was launched at Rochefort arsenal January 25. The dimensions and certain details of the Farfadet, a sister boat in all respects, are given in PROCEEDINGS NO. 98, page 387.

 

 ESPADON, SILURE: TRIALS—These two submergible boats of the Narval type have been undergoing trials. The Espadon is able to submerge itself in six minutes after steaming along the surface as an ordinary torpedo boat and it is expected that the Silure will do as well after her crew becomes well drilled. The Triton and Espadon have maintained an average speed of 10 knots during a forty mile run on the surface, and this is much faster than any submarine boat has been able to go for a long distance. The submergible type is not just now much in favor, however, as all the new boats are of a modified Morse (true submarine) type.

 

 

SUBMARINE EXPERIMENTS AT CHERBOURG.—" A great submarine boat demonstration has taken place at Cherbourg. The Bouvines and Cassini bombarded the forts from the west, the Trehouart from the east. As a defense against the first were the submarine Morse and submersible Narval; against the Trehouart, the Triton and Espadon. The Francais was held in reserve outside the breakwater, equidistant from either submarine group. On the west, the Narval failed to reach the Bouvines,

but the Morse torpedoed her at a hundred yards, firing a torpedo with a collapsible head. French accounts say that as, if charged, this torpedo— an 18-inch one—carries over 150 lb. of gun-cotton, the Bouvines would, in real war, have been "probably sunk." Undoubtedly, and—we fancy—also her antagonist, which certainly went too near. After torpedoing the Bouvines which she did by periscope steering entirely the Morse rose and was seen by the Cassini, which at once steamed away. In doing so she nearly ran down the Francais, submarine, which cut her off and torpedoed her. On the east, the submersible Triton got near the Trehouart, but a fishing boat intervened and upset her course apparently, as she rose to the surface to take bearings. The Trehouart steamed up firing and was given to have sunk this boat. At the same time the Espadon, submarine, advanced and torpedoed the Trehouart without being discovered. Both submarines—Morse and Francais—succeeded, all three submersibles failed. Hence an opinion that the former are far more efficient vessels for harbor defense."—Engineer (London), January 31, 1902.

 

 

SUBMARINE BOAT TRIALS AND EXPERIMENTS—" The new submergible boats of the 'Narval' type are continuing their trials, both the “Triton' and the “Sirene” having given, on the whole, satisfactory results; the “Sirene's”' last trial was for 24 hours, four of which were spent under water; her time for actual submersion from the beginning of the plunge was five minutes and her stability and habitability are reported to be good, but they are not considered by competent judges to be as good as the submarine boats proper like the “Morse”, “Francais” and “Algerian” which can be maneuvered with much more certainty. Their great one may say fatal—defect is the slowness of their submergence. If they are ever sighted by an enemy's cruiser, battleship, or destroyer, their doom is sealed. Under the most favorable conditions it takes fifteen minutes from the time they begin to fill their ballast tanks for submergence— and longer if attempting to go ahead. A destroyer can run 6 or 7 miles in fifteen minutes, and a cruiser or battleship at least 4 miles. The Narval ' type could, therefore, never approach within striking distance of an enemy without reasonable certainty of being destroyed, unless they operate as submarines. The “Espadon” the latest to be completed here, made her trial plunge on the 18th ult. She took 8 minutes to sink to a depth of 26 feet and she remained submerged for 2 1/2 hours; on rising she came to the surface at once, where her full speed is 10 knots. The “Silure”, the last of the four of this type, was launched on the 29th ult. and she is the eighth submarine now afloat at that port. She is of the modified ‘Narval’ type, and possesses the advantages of being able Morse ' type, to recharge her own accumulators, whereas vessels of the “Morse” type, such as the 'Francais' and “Algerian,” have to recharge theirs at some electrical station. There are at present no more submergible boats under construction at this yard. It is stated that the new submarine boats already commenced, or to be commenced this year, will have a double motive power like the submergible boats; that is to say, a vapor of gas engine and electric accumulators. They will not be, however, submergible boats of the “Narval” and “Sirene” type, but true submarines in the proper sense of the word; only they will have a motor for propulsion when at the surface and for recharging the accumulators— the latter being used only when submerged. In a word, they will realize up to a certain point the autonomous type of submarine boat. They will have a radius of action a little more extended than that of the purely submarine boat and will plunge more quickly than the ‘Narval' and ‘Sirene,' which are obliged to fill the ballast tanks between the hulls—a long operation as we know. The newer submarines, thanks to their small dimensions, will be easy to maneuver.  But one must not forget that, like all submarines, they are, above all, fair-weather weapons, and particularly weapons for use during daylight. At night, in a calm— or nearly calm—sea, they can still operate; but unlike the ordinary torpedo-boat, they are not an arm whose most effective work is night attack. The submarine boat ' Morse ' will very soon make a descent and remain submerged for 16 hours, in the course of which a tablet prepared by Dr. Gibrat will be tested. The tablet will be applied to the lips and nostrils in order to prevent the inhalation of toxic gases with which the air of submarine boats is charged. A submarine boat of a new type, designed by M. Romazotti, the designer of the 'Morse,' is to be built here. It will be an experimental boat, costing 499,400 francs (£19,976), and will differ notably from the other little vessels of this sort which are to be built."—Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, November, 1901.

 

 

Germany

 

BUDGET AND PROGRAM FOR 1902—The full text of the budget for 1902 has not yet been published. The total sum appropriated is 209,000,000 marks ($49,742,000 1 mark — $0.238), of which the sum of 112,800,000 marks is devoted to new construction and armament. The usual allotments are made for vessels and works already in hand and the following provide for new construction to be commenced this year: 3,300,000 marks each as first payment on the new battleships K and L; 3,800,000 marks as first payment on a large armored cruiser to replace the Kaiser; 1,260,000 marks each as first payment on the new small cruisers K and L and on one to replace the Zieten; 2,400,000 as first payment on a new torpedo division; 800,000 marks as first payment for gunboat B; 1,125,000

marks each as first payment towards reconstruction of the ships of the Brandenburg class; 400,000 marks for a river gunboat in China; 800,000 for the transformation of the old cruiser Marie into a gunnery ship; and 1,000,000 marks for preparing the cruiser Nixe as a cadet schoolship and the Sophie as a schoolship for boys. During the year one of the new battleships will be commenced at Wilhelmshavn and the armored cruiser will be commenced at Kiel. The new construction thus provided for forms part of the general naval program; in addition to the gradual augmentation of the fleet in carrying out the program the government thinks of constructing two other battleships, five cruisers and six torpedo boats and of requesting the approval of this plan by the Reichstag in a special legislative act.

 

 

VESSELS BUILDING

 

Name                           Displacement               Where Building                         Remarks; date of

Battleships                           tons                                                                      launch, etc.

Wittelsbach                       11,900                    Govt.Yd. Wihelmshaven                 Lchd.July 3,’00; compl.’02

Wettin                               11,900                    Schichau, Dantzic               Lchd.June 6,’01;compl.‘03

Zahringen                         11,900                    Germania Yard,Kiel             Lchd.June 12,’01;compl ‚03

Mecklenburg                     11,900                   Vulcan Works,Stettin          Lchd.Nov.9,’01;compl.‘03

Schwaben                         11,900                    Govt.Yd.Wilhelmshavn       Lchd.Aug.19,’01;compl.‘03

H                                       13,000                    Germania Works, Kiel         Laid down 1901

I                                        13,000                    Schichau, Dantzic               Laid down 1901

K                                       13,000                    (Either K or L will be laid

L                                       13,000                    down at Wilhelshavn)

Kaiser Karl der Grosse       11,130                    Blohm & Voss, Hamburg     Launched 1899compl 1902

Kaiser Barbarossa             11,130                    Schichau, Dantzic               Nearly ready for service

 

Armored Cruisers:

Prinz Heinrich                    8,868                      Government Yard, Kiel       Lchd. Mar ‚00;compl 1902

Prinz Adalber                     9,000                             „   „                             Lchd June,’01;compl 1903

Ersatz Konig Wilhelm        9,000                      Blohm&Voss,Hamburg       To be lchd.near end of

                                                                                                                  1902 Ordered.

 

Protected Cruisers

Thetis                                2,645                      Govt.Yard, Dantzic              Practically ready for service

Ariadne                                         2,645                      Weser Yard, Bremen          “                  “                 “

Amazone                           2,645                      Germania Yard, Kiel            Nearly ready for service

Medusa                                         2,645                      Weser Yard, Bremen          Lchd.Dec. 5,‘00compl.‘02

G                                       2,645                      Howaldt Co, Kiel                 Laid down 1901

H                                      2,645                      “          “          “                  “        “           “

I                                       2,645                      Weser Co, Bremen             “        “           “

K                                      2,715                                                               Not yet ordered.

L                                      2,715                                                               “          “          “

Ersatz                               2,715                                                               “          “          “

 

Gunboats

Panther                                          899                        Govt. Yard, Dantzic           Lchd.April 1,’01, compl.’02

B                                          ?                                                                 Not yet ordered

River gunboat                      ?                                                                  “         “           “

 

Torpedo Boats

S 102 to S 107(6 boats)     350                                    Schichau, Dantzic             All launched; comp. 1902

G 108 to G 113(6 boats)    350                                    Germania Yard, Kiel          Some launched;compl. 1903

S 114 to S 119(6 boats)     350                                   Schichau, Dantzic             Said to have been ordered

 

PERSONNEL: NUMBERS—According to the Army and Navy Gazette and other service papers the executive officers of the German navy on

 

 

 

Prinz Adalbert

 

 

January 1 ,1902, were: 3 admirals, 6 vice-admirals, 16 rear-admirals, 52 captains, 20 frigate-captains, 107 corvette captains, 206 captain-lieutenants first class, 323 captain-lieutenants second class, 203 lieutenants zur see, 339 fahnrich (ensign) zur see, 209 cadets. Total executive officers, 1484; total of other corps 539. (See Professional Notes in PROCEEDINGS No. 99, page 597.) The law of 1900 provides for an increase of 1212 officers in 20 years, and as the present arrangements are inadequate to supply the necessary officers arrangements are being made to augment the number of cadets at the Naval Academy at Kiel and on board the training ships. Though the budget gives no indication of the fact, the German newspapers say that a large training ship for cadets is to be built; it will accommodate 200 and will be fitted with study rooms, a museum, a gymnasium, a library, and a large saloon.

 

 

BATTLESHIPS H, I, K, L: SUPPLEMENTAL DETAILS—A partial description of these ships is given in PROCEEDINGS No. 100, page 761, but further details have been published. The protection is practically identical with that of the Wittelsbach class (sees PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 160; battleship G); the designed I. H. P. of the machinery is 16,000 but the speed remains the same, about 19 knots, the increase of horsepower being required by the enlarged dimensions of the new ships. The coal supply at load draft is 700 tons and the total bunker capacity, 1800 tons. The dimensions are: Length, 397 feet; beam, 75.46 feet; mean draft, 24.9 feet; displacement, 13,000 tons. The details given in No. 100 are, so far as known, correctly stated.

 

 

ERSATZ KONIG WILHELM, ERSATZ KAISER, AND PRINZ ADALBERT: REMARKS—The armored cruisers Ersatz Konig Wilhelm and Ersatz Kaiser are sister ships in all respects to the Prinz Adalbert, fully described in PROCEEDINGS No. 99, page 600, but the beam of the Adalbert is erroneously given and should be 65.6 feet.

 

 

PROTECTED CRUISERS K, L, AND ERSATZ ZIETEN: REMARKS.—It is reported that these cruisers will differ from their predecessors of the Gazelle class, and that their dimensions will be: Length, 360 feet;

beam, 40.3 feet; displacement, 2715 tons. The speed is to be 24 knots and the complement 260 men. The armament has not been decided upon but it will be more powerful than that of the Gazelle type.

 

 

ERSATZ ALEXANDRINE, ERSATZ BLITZ, ERSATZ PFIEL: REMARKS—It is reported that these cruisers are to be laid down this year but no mention is made of them in the budget extracts which have appeared. It is said they will have the dimensions given in the preceding paragraph for protected cruisers K, L, and Ersatz Zieten.

 

 

WORTH: RECONSTRUCTION—The first of the Brandenburg class to be reconstructed is the Worth, which will be taken in hand at the government yard at Wilhelmshavn. The rnidship turret with its guns and fittings will be removed and the upper deck carried aft, joining that of the superstructure which is between the two after turrets. In the new superstructure thus formed will be mounted a battery of 15-centimeter changed. The over-water torpedo tubes will be removed and replaced by submerged tubes. The ventilation, which is very bad below the protective deck, will be improved; all wood work will be removed; and some changes made in the interior compartment system.

 

 

KRONPRINZ: STRUCK FROM LIST.—The name of the old central battery battleship Kronprinz (5568 tons, launched in 1867) has been struck from the list of the navy.

 

 

TORPEDO BOATS SI03, SI04, S106: TRIALS—These boats, built by Herr F. Schichau at Elbing, are now all practically completed. On the 6-hour full-power trials the speeds developed were: No. 103, 27.5 knots; No. 104, 28.95 knots; No. 106, 28 knots on the preliminary trial.

 

 

SUBMARINE BOAT: UNSATISFACTORY TRIALS.—Reports from Berlin state that the Admiralty has postponed indefinitely the question of the adoption of a type of submarine boat for the German navy. The trials of the Howaldt boat are far from satisfactory and further investigation of the submarine question is to be made.

 

 

GREAT BRITAIN

 

BUDGET AND PROGRAM FOR I902-03.—The following is an abstract of the Estimates as submitted to Parliament and they are likely, as usual, to be approved with very few and unimportant changes:

 

 

 

ABSTRACT OF THE ESTIMATES

 

VOTES

 

 

 

The personnel is to be increased by 3875. The various reports in regard to the numbers of officers in each grade are not in accord; if these can be ascertained they will be published in No. 102. Of the new

building program, a battleship (No. I) is to be laid down at Portsmouth and an armored cruiser (No. 1) at Pembroke. There will be given out to contract one battleship (No. 2), one armored cruiser (No. 2), two protected cruisers (Nos.1 and 2), four scouts, nine torpedo-boat destroyers, four torpedo boats, and four submarine boats. The designs of all these vessels are yet to be prepared and few if any are likely to be laid down before January I, 1903, so they are not included in the table of vessels building.

 

 

Chart

 

VESSELS BUILDING

 

Chart

 

 

PERSONNEL: CARE OF ELECTRIC AND HYDRAULIC MACHINERY TRANSPERRED TO EXECUTIVE OFFICERS—" The Admiralty have quite recently decided—in connection with the care and maintenance of certain of the more important portions of the machinery supplied to British men of war— to make a change which may possibly have far-reaching results. The engineer officers of a ship have hitherto been required to undertake the. .charge of and to be responsible for the maintenance in a state of efficient working order, of the following among other parts of the Machinery: All steam and hydraulic pumping and other engines for loading and working the guns, for supplying ammunition, and for turn turret barbette platforms, and other forms of gun mountings; all Whitehead and other torpedoes, and submerged tubes and gear; and all electric light engines and dynamos. It has also been a special instruction to the captains of ships in regard to the torpedoes that the dynamos and engines for driving them are in charge of the engineer officer, who is responsible for their mechanical and electrical efficiency.' The result of this arrangement, by which one man was responsible for the effective working of a machine and another for its efficient use, was not always happy, and somewhat conducive to friction. Moreover, it had a distant bearing on the burning question of the position of the

engineer officers of the Navy, and has been one of the principal arguments used in the rather heated discussion which has arisen out of that matter. By the new regulations all this is to be altered. The gunnery lieutenant is in future to take charge of all the hydraulic machinery which is in any way connected with the gun mountings, while the torpedo lieutenant is to be responsible for the dynamos, motors, torpedoes, and all the fittings which have to do with the torpedo armament. All these matters have thus been removed from the care and control of the engineer officer, who will now be simply required to provide steam to work the dynamos and hydraulic engines."—Engineering, January 24, 1902.

 

ENGINEERING COLLEGE AT KEYHAM : STUDENTS TO ENTER THIS YEAR —" The officials at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham, have been informed that the Admiralty intend entering forty-six engineer students in July next. Of this number forty-two will be entered by open competition, two will be nominated colonial candidates, and two nominated service candidates. In the event of the colonial and nominated service candidates failing to qualify at the examination, their places will be filled by candidates from the open competition list. We understand that two studentships in naval construction will be offered to the most successful candidates on the open competition list."—Engineer (London),

December 27, 1901.

 

VESSELS OF THE BUILDING PROGRAM OF 1901-02: REMARKS—The vessels of the program for 1901-02 are, with one or two exceptions, not yet (February 15) commenced and many are not yet ordered, but it is expected that they will be ordered or given out to contract before April 1. Proposals for the ten new torpedo-boat destroyers have been asked. While the contractors will be given a free hand in regard to designs the requirements are likely to result in vessels of about 500 tons, much stronger and more seaworthy than the previously-built boats and of less speed-26 knots on a long trial in seagoing trim being about the requirements. The four new torpedo boats ordered from Messrs. J. I. Thornycroft & Company of Chiswick are to be exactly like Nos. 107 and 108, so that the parts of the machinery will be interchangeable. The keel of the battleship King Edward VIII will be laid at Devonport Yard in March on the slip from which the Queen is to be launched; the other two battleships are to be built in private yards but the contracts have not yet been awarded. The new armored cruisers will resemble those of the “County " class, but are slightly larger (to feet longer and foot wider); they will have about the same I. H. P. and are designed to have the same speed. The third class cruisers will be of about 3000 tons.

 

 

KING EDWARD VII: DESCRIPTION—The descriptions of this vessel that have so far appeared are fragmentary and incomplete: and they may be incorrect—if so, the correct particulars will be given as they transpire.

 

Line Drawing

 

King Edward VII

 

 

The general appearance is similar to that of the Formidable but there are certain marked differences. There are two masts, each carrying a single fighting top, a search-light platform, and a high pole topmast. The smoke pipes, two in number as usual, are on the fore-and-aft midship line. There is no superstructure, properly so called, but the main deck between the turrets is enclosed by a light rail rising at the ends to support bridge decks and bridges.

 

 

Armament.—Four 12-inch guns in pairs in turrets forward and aft; four 9.2-inch guns mounted singly in four turrets, one over each corner of the 6-inch battery; ten 6-inch guns in broadside, forward pair firing ahead and after pair firing astern; these guns are mounted like those in the New Jersey class and not, as heretofore in British ships, in separate casemates; about twenty 12-pounders and several 3-pounders.

 

 

Protection.—Complete water-line belt extending from stem to stern and rising a foot or more above water. This belt is 9 inches thick amidships, decreasing in thickness beyond the 12-inch turrets forward and aft; at the stem the main belt descends to the fore foot, covering the ram for several feet back from its point. Above the main belt the side is armored from a point abreast the after 12-inch turret to the stem; between the 12-inch turrets this armor rises to the main deck; it is 8 inches thick up .to the gun deck and 7 inches thick up to the main deck covering the 6-inch battery; beyond the forward 12-inch turret the side armor rises to the gun deck only and decreases in thickness towards the stem. The protective deck rises from the lower edge of the side armor, and below it there is a splinter deck. At the after end of the ride armor there is a thwartship armored bulkhead rising from the protective deck to the main deck. The barbette towers for the 12-inch guns are 12 inches thick and the fronts of the 12-inch turrets are to (or 12) inches. The barbette towers and turrets of the 9.2-inch guns are 6 to 7 inches thick. All turrets are balanced. There are two conning towers the forward one 12 (?) inches thick.

 

 

Motive Power.—Twin-screw, triple-expansion engines, designed to develop 18,000 I. H. P. and give a speed of 18 knots. Two of the ships of this class will be fitted with Babcock and Wilcox water-tube boilers; the third will be fitted with two-fifths boiler power in cylindrical boilers and three-fifths in Babcock and Wilcox boilers. The coal supply will be over 2000 tons.

 

 

Dimensions—Length, 420 feet; beam, 78 feet; mean draft, 26.75 feet;

displacement, 16,500 tons.

 

HOGUE: TRIALS—The trials of this armored cruiser of 12,000 tons have been completed satisfactorily. The Hogue is a sister ship to the Bacchante, fully described in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 168. The

following description of the trials of the Hogue is from the Engineering (London) of December 27, 1901: "The trials of the Hogue were carried out in an exceptionally short period, not the slightest hitch interfering with the program originally drawn up by the Admiralty, and she experienced sufficiently rough weather to establish her steadiness as a gun platform under adverse conditions. On the full-power trial the mean speed of four runs between the Lizard and Dodmans Point was 22.06 knots, the speed on the four runs being respectively 21.8 knots, 22.2 knots, 21.5 knots, and 22.75 knots, while the designed speed was only 21 knots. The maximum power was 22,154 indicated horse-power, and the mean on the four runs 21,432, while the contract called for 21,000 indicated horse-power. The results, therefore, are eminently satisfactory. On the trial of 30 hours' duration at what is termed the continuous steaming power-that at which the vessel must go as long as her coal lasts-the speed was 20.15 knots for 16,456 indicated horse-power; while at one-fifth power-the ordinary cruising condition-the speed was 13 knots for 4738 indicated horse-power. We tabulate the full results of all three trials:

 

Chart

 

TRIALS OF H.M.S. HOGUE

 

 

The trials, it should be stated, were carried out with a close approximation to service conditions. The coal was not hand-picked, nor was the stokers specially-trained men. The Hogue is an armored cruiser of 12,000 tons displacement at 26 ft. 3 in draft, her length being 440 ft. and her beam 69 ft. 6 in She has 6-in, armor on her broadside and her armament includes two 9.2-in breech loading guns, with twelve 6-in quick-firers and 17 smaller weapons. The Vickers mountings for 9.2-in guns have in their trials enabled five rounds (380 lb.) per minute to be fired. The machinery of the Hogue is of the twin-screw triple-expansion type, each set having four cylinders, respectively 36 in., 59 in and two at 68 in. in diameter, all having a stroke of 48 in.  The 30 water tube boilers have an aggregate grate area of 1650 square feet, and a heating surface of 51,500 square feet, and on trial the power was equal to practically 12 indicated horsepower per ton of machinery."

 

Chart

 

 

BACCHANTE: TRIALs.-The trials of this armored cruiser were completed December 7, 1901, with the following results:

 

Chart

 

 

SPARTIATE: UNSATISFACTORY TRIALS, REMARKS.—This unfortunate cruiser (11,000 tons) was commenced in 1897, launched in 1898 and has since been subjected to a long list of accidents. While her sister ships are completing their first three years of commission she has again failed on trial, and it appears that her condenser tubes must all be removed and replaced; during her last run many of them broke right across. It will therefore be some months before she can resume her trials.

 

 

MERLIN, ODIN: FLOATED OUT, DESCRIPTION—These two gunboats were built side by side in dry-dock at the Sheerness yard and floated out November 30, 1901. The keels were laid on the eleventh of February preceding. They are similar in general type to the Vestal and Rinaldo, are built for foreign service, and the hull is of steel, sheathed with wood and coppered. They are of the well-deck type with raised poop and forecastle, have a single smoke-pipe, twin-screws, and a barquentine rig. The complement is 113. The principal details are:

 

 

Armament—Six 4-inch guns, one each side on the forecastle and one each side on the main deck amidships. The secondary battery consists of four 3-pounders and three Maxim machine guns of .303-inch caliber.

 

 

Motive Power—Twin-screw triple-expansion engines, designed to develop 1400 I. H. P. and give a speed of 13.25 knots. The Odin will have Babcock and Wilcox boilers and her machinery has been built by the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company; the Merlin will have the Belleville boilers which were built for the Fantome, and her engines have been constructed at the Sheerness yard. The Merlin was to have had Niclausse boilers, but as they were completed some months before she was ready for them they were placed on the Fantome which has recently completed her trials.

 

 

Dimensions—Length 185 feet; beam 33.4 feet; draft forward 11 feet; draft aft, 11.5 feet; displacement at this immersion 1096 tons.

 

 

RINALDO, VESTAL: TRIALS, DESCRIPTION—These two gunboats of the Condor type have completed their trials. The Rinaldo was built at the yard of Messrs. Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, where she was launched May 29, 1900; the Vestal was built at the government yard, Sheerness, and launched February 10, 1900. These gunboats are designed for foreign service and have steel hulls sheathed with wood and coppered, and have a light barque rig, one smoke-pipe, and a single screw. They are well-decked with a raised poop and forecastle. The complement of officers and men is 130. The principal details are:

 

Armament—Six 4-inch guns: one each side on the poop and forecastle and one each side in the waist; all are protected by shields. The secondary battery consists of four 3-pounders and two Maxim machine guns of musket caliber.

 

 

Motive Power—Single-screw, triple-expansion engines designed to develop 1400 I. H. P. and give a speed of 13.25 knots. The boilers are of the Belleville water-tube type. Coal capacity, 130 tons.

 

 

Dimensions—Length, 180 feet; beam, 33 feet; mean draft, 11.5 feet; displacement, 980 tons.

 

 

The commission trials of both vessels took place in December with the following results:

 

 

                                                                        VESTAL                         RINALDO

 

Steam pressure at boilers                                 243                              234

Steam pressure at engines                               241                              216

I.H.P. total                                                        1438                            1424

Revolutions                                                        198                            199.2

Speed, knots                                                       12.4                            13.4

 

 

The speed of the Vestal is given in several publications as 12.4 knots but this is, nevertheless, probably an error. It is hard to see how greater I. H. P. and almost the same number of revolutions should give a whole knot less speed unless the vessel had different screws from the other or was badly trimmed.

                                   

 

FANTOME: TRIALS—The gunboat Fantome, a sister ship to the Espiegle (fully described in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 169), has completed her trials with the following results:      

 

Character of trial                      1-5 power                    3-4 power                    Full power

Duration                                   30 hours                      30 hours                      8 hours

I.H.P.                                           339                           1020                             1453

Revolutions                                 126                            177                                200

Speed, knots                             9.25                             12.5                             13.63

Coal per I.H.P. lbs.                      1.7                                 1.53                             1.53

 

                                   

The Fantome differs from the Espiegle in having Niclausse instead of Babcock and Wilcox boilers.

 

CENTURION: ALTERATIONS.—The battleship Centurion, 10,500 tons, is to be extensively repaired at Portsmouth dockyard. The ten 4.7-inch guns which she now carries are to be replaced by ten 6-inch of the latest model with Vickers breech mechanism. The six guns on the upper deck, which now have light shields only, will be fitted with armor protection.

 

 

MAJESTIC: NEW GUNS—The battleship Majestic is under repair at Portsmouth dockyard. The loading and training gear of her turrets will be improved and her 6-inch guns, which have old type breech

mechanism requiring three movements to open, will be replaced by others having breech mechanism of the latest type, while her Maxim machine guns of .45-inch caliber will be replaced by new guns of caliber .303-inch.

 

 

POLYPHEMUS: CONVERTED INTO A TENDER.—The old torpedo ram Polyphemus (2640 tons, launched at Chatham in 1881) is to be dismantled and converted into a tender to the torpedo school ship Vernon.

TERRIBLE: SPEED TRIAL AT SEA.—The following details of the recent speed trials of the protected cruiser Terrible, 14,200 tons, are derived from Engineering (London). The trials took place on passage from Yokohama to Wei-hei-wei.           

 

Duration of trial                                                                                    4 hours                                    20 hours

Draught of water          Forward                                                          27 feet, 5 inches

                                    Aft                                                                    29    “  , 10   “

Load on safety valves                                                                          260 lbs.

Pressure in boilers (mean)                                                       230 lbs.                        230 lbs.

    “        at engines (mean)                                                      200  “                              25 inches

Vacuum (mean)                                                                         25 inches                      25 inches

Cut-off in high pressure cylinders, p.c.                                                   70

Revolutions per minute                                                                            106.5                         94

Indicated horsepower                                                                   24,693                    15,129

Speed of vessel                                                                         21 knots                    18.5 knots

Force of wind                                                                               2 “                              2-4  “

State of sea                                                                                             Smooth

 “            “ ships bottom                                                                      Slightly foul

Coal consumption per hour per indicated horse power,

   Main engines                                                                             2.19 lbs.                   1.9 lbs.

Coal consumption per hour per indicated horse power,

all purposes                                                                                 2.3   “                      2.16 “

 

 

TEMERAIRE, IRON DUKE, INVINCIBLE, NEPTUNE, ACHILLES, GLATTON, CYCLOPS, HECATE, GORGON: CONDEMNED AND TO BE STRUCK FROM LIST or FLEET—These vessels have all been condemned and their names will be struck from the list of the Fleet. The first five are old type battleships. The Temeraire has a mean load displacement of 8540 tons; the Iron Duke and Invincible, 6010 tons; the Neptune, 9310 tons; and the Achilles, 9820 tons. The Temeraire was recently stripped for reconstruction but the plan was abandoned. The Achilles, which was extensively repaired some years ago, and the Invincible have been on the non-effective list for a year or more. The Glatton, 4910 tons, and Cyclops, Gorgon and Hecate of 3560 tons, are old monitors, built in 1871.

 

RACEHORSE: TRIAL—The torpedo-boat destroyer Racehorse completed satisfactory trials on December 12, with the following results: Speed for three hours' run 30.345 knots; mean of six runs over the measured mile course, 30.354 knots. The Racehorse has a mean load displacement of 396 tons; she was built by Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie & Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne, and was launched November 8,1900. During the summer of 1901 she attempted to go through her trials but was unsuccessful. The details of the Racehorse and of her sister boats, the Greyhound and Roebuck, are given in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 170.

 

 

BRITISH TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS: DIFFICULTIES WITH MACHINERY, UNSATISFACTORY TRIALS, DEFICIENCIES IN SPEED, ETC—" A Parliamentary return recently issued gives the names of the various torpedo boat destroyers built for the Admiralty, the dates on which they were ordered, and of whom, the dates when they were launched, the number of official trails to which they were subjected, and the dates when they were accepted by the Admiralty, or, in the case of unfinished boats, the expected date of delivery; also the number of preliminary trials of boats of 30 knots or over, and particulars of typical cases where those trials have been exceptional in number and have extended over considerable periods.

 

"The return includes the names of 113 boats, of which 19 were built by Messrs. Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead; 16 by Messrs. Thornycroft, of Chiswick; 16 by the Palmer's Company, of Jarrow; 12 by Thomson's, of Glasgow; the Clydebank Company, or J. Brown & Co., Clydebank; 9 by Messrs. Hawthorn, of Newcastle-on-Tyne; 9 by the Fairfield Company, of Glasgow; 8 by the Naval Construction and Armaments Company, of Barrow, or Messrs. Vickers & Co., of Barrow; 6 by Messrs.

Doxford & Sons, of Sunderland; 5 by Messrs. Yarrow, of Poplar; 4 by Earle's Company, of Hull; 3 by Messrs. Armstrong & Co., of Newcastleon- Tyne; 3 by Messrs. J. S. White & Co., of Cowes; 2 by Messrs. Hanna, Donald & Wilson, of Paisley; and r by the Thames Ironworks Company, Blackwall.

 

 

"Some of the trials were remarkably protracted. Those of the Conflict, built by J. S. White & Co., Cowes, lasted from the i6th August, 1895, until 9th June, I898; those of the Teazer, by the same firm, from 3rd January, 1896, to 22nd March, 1898; those of the Wizard, by the same firm, from 19th May, 1897, to 5th May, 1898. In each of these cases the delay was principally due to 'alterations to obtain speed.' Those of the Fervent lasted from 23rd August, 1895, to 4th August, 1899, and those of the Zephyr from 13th March, 1896, to September, 1900. In each case delay occurred through the substitution of water-tube boilers for locomotive boilers during the trials. The builders were

Hanna, Donald & Wilson, Paisley. The trials of the Zephyr, by the Thames Ironworks Company, were protracted from i6th December, 1895, to March, 1897, by the necessity of renewing the boiler tubes. The trials of the Otter (Vickers, Sons & Maxim) lasted two years and a quarter through 'alterations to propellers to obtain speed, and fracture of both crank shafts. The Brazen (Clydebank Company, Glasgow) was three years and a half under trials, owing to her inability to obtain speed, and she was finally accepted at 29 1/4 knots. The Express, tendered by Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, for 33 knots, had made 27 preliminary and 10 official trials between 20th October, 1898, and the date of the return (17th August last), but had been unable to realize the speed. The Albatross (Thornycroft) was 18 months under trial, and was then accepted half a knot under the specified speed. A number of shorter trials, yet extending to the best part of a year, were spun out by the difficulty of attaining the contract speed, and in several cases the vessels were finally accepted at a less speed. The ill-fated Viper underwent two official and three preliminary trials, and the Cobra two official trials only, but in neither case are any notes given of their performances. Of the later boats, in addition to the Cobra, the Petrel, Kangaroo (Palmer's Company), Thorn, Tiger, and Vigilant (J. Brown & Co., Clydebank) were purchased while building.

 

"The Parliamentary paper in question is calculated to convey a somewhat erroneous idea to the lay mind. The paper throws, perhaps, undue emphasis on the fact that the great majority of the. 30-knot destroyers were unable to attain the speed for which they were designed, and some of them had to be accepted as boats of less speed than 30 knots. The fact is likely to be overlooked that the Admiralty, in giving out contracts for boats of this class, make certain stipulations and then leave the designs entirely to the judgment of the contractors. If, then, the boat fails to attain her speed, it is not through any miscalculation or error of judgment on the part of Admiralty officials, but to the inexperience of the contractors who design and build the boats. There is nothing startling in the disclosure that a 30-knot boat never reaches that speed after she is in commission, and the causes are so well known that it is hardly necessary to point out that when on trial a destroyer is at least

100 tons lighter than when she goes to sea under the pennant. On the whole, the return is interesting, though it need not be alarming."— Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, December.

 

TORPEDO BOAT No. 108: TRIAL.—This boat, which failed on her first trial (see No. 100, page 768), completed satisfactory trials November 18. On November 12, during the three-hour run, the mean I. H. P. was 2876; revolutions, 385.5; speed, 25.36 knots. On November 18, the results were 25.4 knots on the three-hour run and 25.3 knots on the measured mile; the boiler pressure was 219 pounds per square inch and the coal consumption 2 pounds per I. H. P. per hour. The dimensions of No. 108 are given in PROCEEDINGS No. 97 (see "New Torpedo Boats Ordered," page 170).

 

 

VELOX, NEW TURBINE TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER.—" It seems highly probable that an opportunity will occur sooner than was expected for replacing the Viper and the Cobra. A torpedo destroyer designed for steam turbine machinery was launched from the Hebburn yard of Messrs. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., on Tuesday, February it, and has been named the Velox. The vessel is 210 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 12 feet 6 inches moulded depth. She is not, therefore, so long as the Cobra or the Albatross, but of about the same dimensions as the Viper. The propelling machinery will consist of two independent sets of Parson's marine turbine engines; one high pressure engine, and one low pressure

engine being on each side of the vessel. This gives four turbines, each of which has its own line of shafting, and as each shaft carries two propellers there are eight propellers in all. A set of ordinary reciprocating engines of the triple compound type are also fitted as a new feature, but these engines are only for use at cruising speeds when low power only is needed. This departure is particularly interesting as indicating what may very possibly happen in the near future in regard both to

boilers and to engines. The water-tube boiler is essentially a boiler to

raise steam with the utmost speed. The turbine machinery is only useful in its economical aspect when used at high rates of speed. May we not expect to see, therefore, the cylindrical and the water-tube boilers combined in the same cruiser with reciprocating and turbine engines? For harbor and ordinary use the Scotch boiler would be sufficient, but if it became necessary to raise speed in a hurry or for a spurt the water tube type would come into play. Again, when running at ordinary speeds what we may call the old-fashioned engines would be utilized, but for high speed the turbine. The result would probably combine many advantages."—Army and Navy Gazette, February 15, 1902.

           

                                                           

NEW TURBINE TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER: ORDERED.—According to statements appearing in Le Yacht, the Engineer, and other European papers, the Admiralty has ordered another turbine-driven torpedo-boat destroyer. According to Le Yacht it will embody the results of the experience •with the Cobra and Viper and will be more economical in the use of fuel.

 

 

SUBMARINE BOAT OF NEW TYPE: ORDERED.—A new type of submarine boat has been ordered from Vickers, Son and Maxim, the owners of the right to build Holland boats in England. This new boat, which is the sixth they have under construction, is very much larger than her predecessors, having a length of 100 feet-37 feet greater than that of the others. She will embrace some new departures in design and construction based upon experiments which have been made with the others and reliable information from abroad, and is to be ready and in working order at the Coronation Naval Review. Considering the difficulties which always attend the production of new types of boats her readiness for active service at such an early date is doubtful. It is not to be quite so fast as the French boats but will have special facilities for rapid rising and descending. One torpedo tube is to be placed at the extreme

forward end of the boat, while four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes are to be carried. The torpedoes may be discharged at any time—whether stationary or running, submerged or awash. Automatic means are provided to control the diving angle and prevent descent to undesirable depths.

 

 

SUBMARINE: TRIAL.—The first submarine to be launched had a trial in the Devonshire and Buccleuch docks on January 8, traversing them from end to end. She will soon be tried in submarine navigation in the open sea.

 

Chart

 

ITALY

 

VESSELS BUILDING

 

 

BUDGET, PROGRAM, ETC., 1902-03—The total amount of the naval budget as presented to the Italian Parliament is 127,165,963.72 lire ($24,543,-

 

 

Line Drawing

 

 

031.00; 1 lire $0.193). Of this total, 104,369,406 lire is for the navy proper; 16,630,594 lire for general expenses, pensions, and merchant marine; and 6,165,963.72 lire for "mouvements de capitelux." The last item is unexplained but a similar item in previous budgets is for (a) equipment

of ships in commission and (b) care of crown property given for marine purposes. The sum of 29,169,60o lire is to be devoted to carrying on the construction of the battleships Benedetto Brin, Regina Margherita, Vittorio Emanuele, and Regina Elena, the armored cruiser Francesco Ferruccio, a submarine torpedo boat, two torpedo-boat destroyers, two colliers and two tugs; also for commencing work upon the battleships A, B and C, of the Vittorio Emanuele class, four seagoing torpedo boats, a supply ship, two water boats of 80 tons and small craft for use at the navy yards. There is, in addition, an allotment of 1,000,000 lire for continuing the reconstruction of the Italia. The sum of 4,500,000 lire is allotted for the purchase of coal and 130,000 tons is to be acquired.

 

 

COATIT : ACCIDENT ON TRIAL—The torpedo cruiser Coatit, 1313 tons, a sister to the Agordat, which is described in PROCEEDINGS No. 98, page 399, commenced trials in the latter part of 1901. On her natural draft trial, while her engines were making 210 revolutions, the starboard began suddenly to race and had to be stopped. It was then found that the screw was broken. No further trials have been reported.

 

 

TURBINE: LAUNCH.—The torpedo-boat destroyer Turbine, a sister ship to the Nembo (see next paragraph), was launched at the building yard of Mr. C. T. T. Pattison, Naples, November 21, 1901.

 

NEMBO: TRIALS—The torpedo-boat destroyer Nembo has completed her contract trials and is now ready for service. The details of the boats of this type are given in PROCEEDINGS No. 99, page 610, but the immersion is somewhat deeper than there given. With 80 tons of coal on board the displacement is 360 tons, but the trials were made with nearly all weights removed. On the progressive trials, which took place October 9, the mean results of four runs over a measured base were: average time on course, 3 minutes 52 seconds; boiler pressure in pounds, 220; mean I. H. P., 5346; mean speed, 30.038 knots; mean apparent slip of screws, 11.22 per cent. The mean draft on this trial was 5.43 feet and the corresponding displacement, 252 tons. The full-speed trials took place on October 21 under the following conditions: mean draft, 5.57 feet; corresponding displacement, 264 tons; duration of trial, three hours; boiler pressure, about 200 pounds; air-pressure in fire-rooms, 1.2 to 1.57 inches; mean I. H. P., 5278; mean revolutions, 369.11; mean speed, 30.20 knots; mean apparent slip, 11.24 per cent. The six-hour coal consumption trial took place October 28. The displacement was 266 tons, corresponding to a mean draft of 5.6 feet. The boiler pressure was about

200 pounds; speed, 25.12 knots; revolutions, 311.24; I. H. P., 3314; apparent slip, 12.44 per cent. The draft was forced, the air-pressure in the fire-rooms being equal to about i inch of water. The coal consumption was 66.54 lbs. per square foot of grate area per hour and 1.95 pounds per I. H. P. The performance of the machinery during the trials was satisfactory.\

 

 

Chart

 

JAPAN

VESSELS BUILDING

 

 

NEW GOVERNMENT IRON AND STEEL WORKS AT WAKAMATSU.—" On November 18 the Imperial Japanese Government Iron and Steel Works were opened at Wakamatsu, the situation of which place will be better understood when it is explained that it is on the northern extremity of the island of Kyushiu, almost facing and about to miles by sea from Shimonoseki, on the main island. This position is not only well chosen because of its vicinity to the great coal and ore centers of Japan, but because it offers the best facilities for the reception of foreign ore, of which it is anticipated a considerable quantity will be imported from China and Corea.

 

 

The importance of these new works can be gauged from the fact that up to now they have cost the Japanese Government to build and equip 19,200,000 yen, or very nearly two million pounds sterling. This sum includes some £300,000 spent on acquiring certain mines. The works cover an area of 38,000 tsubo—a tsubo equals 36 square feet. The plant consists of the necessary machinery for turning out merchant's iron and steel, in the way of pig, plates, bars, rails, etc.

 

 

The machinery comprises, we are told, everything that is new and improved in the way of German and American machinery for this purpose; but, according to the japan Mail, 'there is not a single machine

of British make' anywhere in the works. This is very unusual in Japanese engineering works at the present day, but doubtless in a colossal factory of this nature, which is quite a novel experience for Japanese engineers, they will for some time to come be guided as to their methods of manufacture by foreign advice, and it is possible that from their point of view they have found it advisable not to mix too much the nationalities of such advisers. The foreign consultant who has had the leading position with regard to establishing these works is Herr Baltzer and doubtless his advice would be, to order the machinery, as far as possible, from the Fatherland.

 

 

Much of the plant is already in active operation. Pig iron is being turned out commercially already, and steel is being made under the Siemens-Martin and other processes. The opening ceremony was performed by a member of the Imperial family, H. I. H. Prince Fushimi in person, at a colossal lunch given in one of the factory buildings. To this repast 15oo guests sat down, including some thirty foreigners, the tables being arranged so that while eating no man turned his back on the Prince.

 

 

The promoters of this big engineering enterprise laid down, as one of its ultimate objects, that it should make Japan independent of the foreigner as far as the manufacturing of war material was concerned, and ere long, we are told, the manufacture of the most modern armor plates, and of the biggest guns, will be carried out in this factory."—Engineer, London, January 17, 1902.

 

SAGI, UZURI, KADIONE, HASHITAKA, AND OTORI : ORDERED—These five first-class torpedo boats of 120 tons and 28 knots speed have been ordered—the Sagi (Heron), Uzuri (Quail), and Kamone (Sea-gull) at the Government yard Kure; and the Hashitaka (Hawk) and Otori (Stork) at the Kawasaki Works, Kobe. The armament of these boats will be made at Kure arsenal and they will be built and equipped with material Produced in Japan. The contract price for the two Kawasaki boats is $306,000, and the boats are to be delivered in two years.

 

 

MIKASA: Tar—" The new battleship Mikasa, built by Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Limited, at their Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in- Furness, for the Japanese navy, has completed a series of official trials in the English Channel. On a deep sea measured course off the coast of Devon the vessel attained a speed of 18.6 knots, developing a mean indicated horsepower of 16,400, which is in excess of the guaranteed results—namely, 18 knots and 15,000 indicated horsepower. On a coal consumption trial of six hours' duration at four-fifths of the full power it was found that with 12,235 horsepower the coal consumption worked out to 1.53 lb. per unit of power per hour, while the guarantee was 2 lb. The boilers, which are of the Belleville type, were worked entirely by the Japanese crew. On the six hours' trial the speed was 17.3 knots. The engines worked most satisfactorily on all the trials. Progressive Speed trials were made on the measured mile course at Stokes Bay, and amongst the results obtained were that to knots could be maintained for 2000 indicated horsepower, and 15 knots for a fraction under 7000 indicated horsepower. The ship was at her full draft of 27 feet 2 inches on

 

 

an even keel, the displacement being 15,200 tons, and on the circling trials it was found that the diameter of the circle turned, as measured by a Barr and Stroud rangefinder, was only VA times her length, which is

 

 

Line Drawings

 

 

400 feet, her breadth being 76 feet. All the guns and torpedoes were tried, these including four 12-inch guns and fourteen 6-inch guns, with twenty 12-pounders, eight 3-pounders, and four 272-pounders, and four submerged torpedo tubes."-Engineer (London), January 31, 1902. Plans of the Mikasa face this page and a full description of the ship is given in

PROCEEDINGS NO. 96, page 706.

 

 

AKATSUKI: TRIALS.-This torpedo-boat destroyer was built at the works of Messrs. Yarrow & Company. The contract for her construction was signed November 5,1900; she was launched November 13, 1901; the preliminary trial took place the next day and the official trial on November 2I ; and the speed on trial was over 31 knots. This is a most remarkable record, but as regards interval between launching and official trial the Kasumi (see next paragraph) beat her by one day. The results

of the trials, which are derived from the London Engineering, are as follows:

 

 

Load carried, 40 tons; runs on the Maplin Mile; weather wet, fresh breeze; sea moderate. Left yard at Poplar, 8.45 A. M.; arrived at Gravesend at to A. M.; left Gravesend, 10.11 A. M.; returned to Poplar at 5.20 P. M.

 

 

Chart

 

 

Means for the three hours' trial, 230 lb. steam; 64 lb. in first intermediate receiver, 13 lb. in second intermediate receiver; 20.3 in. vacuum; air pressure in stokeholds, 1.3 in.; mean revolutions per minute, 404; mean speed during three hours, 31.121 knots; indicated horsepower, 6450; coal consumption on the three hours' continuous run, 1.97 lb. per horsepower.

 

 

The dimensions, armament, etc., of the Akatsuki are given in PROCEEDINGS No. too, page 771.

 

 

KASUMI: LAUNCH, TR1ALS-This torpedo-boat destroyer, a sister to the Akatsuki (see preceding paragraph), was also built by Messrs. Yarrow. She was contracted for at the same time; launched January 23, 1902; had her preliminary trial January 24; and her official trial on January 29. The official trial consisted of a 3-hours' continuous run with a load of 40 tons on board; the speed being ascertained by six runs at the Maplin measured mile. The following is a record of the six measured mile runs:

 

 

Chart

 

 

After these six runs were made, to ascertain the advance per revolution of the screw, a three hours' trial was proceeded with, with the result that a mean speed, during the three hours, of 31.245 knots was obtained.— Data supplied by Messrs. Yarrow & Co.

 

 

SHIRAKUMO: TRIALS.—"The torpedo-boat destroyer Shirakumo (White Cloud), which is the first of two vessels now being completed by Messrs. John I. Thornycroft and Co., Limited, for the Imperial Japanese Government, underwent a successful full-speed trial on Saturday, the 4th inst., in very boisterous weather, at the mouth of the Thames. In spite of the unfavorable conditions, the mean speed maintained during the three hours' trial was 31.030 knots. The results of six runs over the measured mile at the Maplin Sands were as follows, the conditions as to loading, etc., being very similar to those for British Admiralty vessels of this class:

 

 

Chart

 

 

 

 

After these six runs were made, to ascertain the advance per revolution of the screw, a three hours' trial was proceeded with, with the result that a mean speed, during the three hours, of 31.245 knots was obtained.— Data supplied by Messrs. Yarrow & Co.

 

 

SHIRAKUMO: TRIALS.—"The torpedo-boat destroyer Shirakumo (White Cloud), which is the first of two vessels now being completed by Messrs. John I. Thorneycroft and Co., Limited, for the Imperial Japanese Government, underwent a successful full-speed trial on Saturday, the 4th inst., in very boisterous weather, at the mouth of the Thames. In spite of the unfavorable conditions, the mean speed maintained during the three hours' trial was 31.030 knots. The results of six runs over the measured mile at the Maplin Sands were as follows, the conditions as to loading, etc., being very similar to those for British Admiralty vessels of this class:

 

 

Chart

 

 

It will be seen that the mean of runs 3 and 4 is over 32 knots, so that the Shirakumo is one of the fastest vessels in existence. The vessel proved a good sea-boat and noticeably free from vibration. “Engineering, London, January 24, tow. The dimensions, armament, and other details of the Shirakumo are given in PROCEEDINGS No. 100, page 771.

 

 

ASASHIO: LAUNCH—The torpedo-boat destroyer Asashio, also building at the works of Messrs. J. I. Thornycroft & Company, and a sister boat in all respects to the Shirakumo, was launched January 10, 1902.

 

NETHERLANDS

 

 

BUDGET FOR I902—The Netherlands budget for 1902 amounts to 16,689,195.38 florins ($6,709,056.54; 1 florins = $0.402). The principal items are: materials and construction work, 7,024,825 florins; personnel, 4,583,- 768 florins; buoyage, pilotage, etc., 2,526,993.50 florins; pensions, etc., 2,106,072.50. New construction is allotted 3,783,000 florins for work on the De Ruyter, Hertog Hendrik, and three torpedo boats.

 

 

NORWAY

 

 

BUDGET FOR 1901-02.—The principal items of the budget for 1901-02 are: Administrations, 75,000 crowns; officers of ships, 277.000; medical corps, 45,000; enlisted men and petty officers, 338,000; administration of navy yards, 151,000; naval schools, 390,000; exercises and cruising expenses (including the sum of 30,000 crowns for expenses of mobilization), 1,067,000; new construction, 250,000; maintenance of the material of the fleet, 185,000; torpedo mines, 100,000; ordnance, 100,000; hospital service, 19,000; material for construction, 168,000; expenses of navy yards, 292,000. The value of a crown is $0.268.—Mittheilungen aus dens Gebiete des Seewesens.

 

 

RUSSIA

 

 

BUDGET FOR 1902—Complete details of the budget for 1902 have not yet appeared. The total amount decided upon is 98,318,084 roubles ($50,634,276.76; 1 rouble = $0.515), of which 60,500,000 roubles is provided for in the ordinary expenses and 37,818,084 roubles in the extraordinary. In the detailed statement some items are missing.

 

 

 

Charts

 

 

NOTE—A serious fire occurred at the Galernaia Island yard on June 13, 1901. The cruiser Vitiaz, which was on the stocks, was completely destroyed, as were numerous small craft. The slip of the battleship Orel caught on fire but it was extinguished and the cruiser Aurora was slightly injured. See PROCEEDINGS NO. 99, page 611.

 

 

NAVAL SCHOOLS: CONSOLIDATION—According to Le Yacht, the Russian naval schools are to be reorganized and consolidated. The present establishments will be replaced by a single school divided into sections for the executive officers, marine engineers, torpedo officers, etc. This community of instruction is expected to augment the comradeship between the different corps.

 

 

NAVAL BALLOON SERVICE—" The minister of marine is going to develop a naval balloon service. For this purpose officers and petty officers will be detailed for special instruction in the parc aerostatique. This determination of the minister of marine has been taken because of the excellent results of the experiments recently made with balloons by the Black Sea fleet."—Moniteur de la Flotte, February 8, 1902.

 

 

OLEG: COMMENCED—The new cruiser of the Bogatyr type, which was recently commenced at the New Admiralty Works, St. Petersburg, will be called the Oleg. The armament consists of twelve 6-inch guns, six 3-inch, and six 3-pounders. The armor of the turrets is 5 inches thick and of the casemates 3.5 inches. The protective deck is from 1.57 to 3 inches thick. The designed speed is 23.5 knots. The length is 416.5 feet; beam, 54.4 feet; draft, 20.7 feet; displacement, 6600 tons.

 

 

JEMTCHUG, IZUMRUD: ORDERED—These fast cruisers of the Novik type have been ordered and are building at the Nevsky Works, St. Petersburg. The designed I. H. P. of the machinery is 17,000 and the expected speed is 25 knots.

 

 

OKEAN: LAUNCH—This vessel, which is referred to as a collier and school for firemen and briefly described in PROCEEDINGS No. 99 (page 613), was launched February 8, 1902.

 

 

POBIEDA: TRIALS.—The trials of the battleship Pobieda, 12,674 tons, which took place on October 14 and which are referred to in PROCEEDINGS No. 100, page 774, were very successful. The I. H. P. developed by the starboard engine was 5198; by the port engine, 5049; and by the central engine, 5245; total, 15,492, instead of 14,500, which was the contract requirement. The mean speed developed was 18.5 knots.

 

 

DIANA, PALLADA: TRIALS.—The full-speed trial of the protected cruiser Diana, 6630 tons, took place in the latter part of 1901. The

I. H. P. developed was 12,129-529 in excess of the designed power; and the speed was 19.3 knots with 131 revolutions. The Pallada's trials took place November 13. The speed maintained was 19.2 knots with 11,600 I. H. P. These vessels were designed for 20 knots speed with 11,600 I. H. P. but it is evident that not less than 13,000 will be necessary.

 

 

BOGATYR: PRELIMINARY TRIAL—The preliminary trials of the cruiser Bogatyr, 6750 tons, took place in the latter part of 1901. The I. H. P.

developed was 20,500 and the mean speed was about 24 knots. The official trials are expected to take place in April. A full description of

the Bogatyr with plans and illustrations is given in PROCEEDINGS No. 97, pages 177a, 182, and 182a.

 

 

NOVIK: DESCRIPTION, TRIAL SPEED.—" Ueberall gives some particulars of the Russian cruiser Novik, which has now been handed over to the

Russian Government by the firm of Schichau, after undergoing her trials, at which she made a speed of 26 knots. The type of vessel required was precisely laid down by- the Russian Admiralty, the chief characteristics demanded being a speed of at least 25 knots, an armament and armor as heavy as possible; combined with a small displacement and thorough sea-going qualities. With regard to the build of the vessel, it was to have a small freeboard and superstructure so as to offer but little target to the enemy's fire, as well as to prevent her being too readily observed. It was evident therefore that she was intended to be used for scouting purposes. But this, again, required a large radius of action and good accommodation for the crew. All these various requirements made it difficult for the Russian Government to find a firm willing to undertake the work, but finally the plans of Schichau were accepted as satisfactory. The weak part of the design is that it does not permit of the powerful engines, 18,000 horsepower, being entirely below the water-line. They 'cannot, therefore, be covered by the 50 millimeter (nearly 2 in.) armor deck, but protrude above it, where they are protected by an armored dome. The bunker capacity of 900 tons allows of a radius of action at full speed of 900 miles, that distance being travelled in less than 36 hours, or a radius of 5000 miles at a speed of 14 knots. Her armament consists of six 4.72-in., twelve 1.85-in., two I.45-in., and one 2.44-in. Baranovski gun, and also five torpedo, tubes. The three engines and the 12 water-tube boilers are of the Schichau type. Her trials were made in very rough weather, during which she proved herself thoroughly seaworthy. She has usually been spoken of as a destroyer of torpedo-boat destroyers. Her length is 347 ft., 8 in., beam 40 ft., and draft 16 ft., 5 in."--Engineering (London), February 7, 1902.

 

 

KEFAL : LAUNCH.—This torpedo-boat destroyer Of 312 tons was launched at the yard of the Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranee at

Havre, November 28, 1901. The Kefal is fully described in PROCEEDINGS NO. 97, page 183.

 

 

YASTREB: TRIAL—The torpedo-boat destroyer Yastreb, 240 tons, 3800 I. H. P., built at the Government yard, Ijora, has completed her full speed trials. The mean of two runs over the measured mile was 26.84 knots; and the mean speed during a 4-hour run was 26.50 knots with 352 revolutions.

 

 

TORPEDO BOAT SENT TO VLADIVOSTOK.—One of the torpedo boats of 150 tons of the Cyclone (French) type which are building at Nevsky

Works will be sent to Vladivostok in sections and put together there.

 

 

TORPEDO BOAT AT PORT ARTHUR: TRIAL—A small torpedo boat, which has been built, or partly built, at Port Arthur, has recently had

its trials, attaining a speed of 22 knots.

 

 

KOUTEINIKOV-KOLBASIEV SUBMARINE BOAT: DESCRITTION—The Russian submarine boat, which is being built on the plans of Engineer

Kouteinikov and Lieutenant Kolbasiev, differs from all existing types. It is composed of nine sections joined together by bolts and which may be taken apart. Its length is 50 feet; diameter, 4 feet; and its displacement is 20 tons. The three middle sections contain the machinery. It will have six screws driven by electric power, the current being furnished by -accumulators of the Bari system, which will be placed in the three forward and three after sections. These same sections can be filled with water to sink the boat. The forward and after sections carry appendages in the form of wings which serve to steer the torpedo and keep it properly pointed. The armament -will consist of two torpedoes which occupy the length of three sections. All the sections are completed; three have been put in the water and have been subjected to high pressure with excellent results. The boat will be completed and make its trials at the end of the year. When it is inclined 90° it rights itself immediately.—Army & Navy Register, September 21, 1901.

 

 

SPAIN

 

 

BUDGET—The naval Budget recently presented to the Cortes appropriates about 11,000,000 pesetas for continuing the construction of vessels now building, and for improvements in the arsenals of Cartagena and Carraca, divided as follows: Armored cruiser Cardenal Cisneros, 933,000 pesetas; Cataluna, 2,262,500; Princesa de Asturias, 1,875,000; protected cruiser Reina Regente, 2,887,500; Estremadura, 192,500; torpedo gunboat Dona Maria de Molina, 97,500; Marques de la Victoria, 165,000; Don Alvaro de Bazan, 202,500. Concerning the budget, the Army and Navy Gazette of December 7, says: "The Spanish Ministers of Marine and Finance have at length come to an agreement, in regard to expenditure, with the Committee of the Cortes, and additional credits of half a million sterling are recommended as necessary for carrying out the work in progress on nine war vessels which are being built in the State yards. These credits are to be included in the ordinary Naval Estimates for next year, and are increased from under one million sterling to £1,450,000. The Government now feels more confident of getting the Budget voted and gazetted before January x. The naval arsenals are to be reorganized and specialized. That at Carraca, near Cadiz, will be divided into three distinct parts, one devoted to the smaller class of shipbuilding, another to ordnance, and the third to coaling and victualling. The arsenals of Ferrol and Cartagena will undertake nothing but naval construction, and at Carraca will be the sole artillery depot, all establishments having relation to ordnance being transferred. Ferrol will not, except in case of war, repair or put in hand ships of less than 5000 tons displacement, while Cartagena will be reserved for work upon smaller vessels, and there and at Carraca ships' boats are to be constructed. It is believed that these arrangements will enable needful economy to be made."

 

 

The ninth vessel, which is not mentioned among those for which money

is allotted, is the General Linares, a sister ship to the Rio de la Plata.

 

 

COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A NEW BUILDING PROGRAM—" The Rivista General de Marina publishes a Royal decree signed by the Queen Regent in the name of her son, creating a special committee, which, within as short a time as possible, is to propose to the Government a program for the constitution of a national squadron, indicating the types of various classes which should constitute it, as well as the approximate cost. The committee is also to consider whether it would be advisable to construct the ships intended to be built in the national arsenals or to acquire them from private constructors at home or abroad, or in what proportion the two methods might be adopted. The Government will submit to the Cortes the dispositions suitable for the creation of a squadron provided with the essentials for national defense, and will indicate proposals for the financial arrangements to be made. The same publication has an article, by a Lieut. Pasquin, of the Spanish Navy, upon the right constitution of a fleet for the nation, in which he asks for at least ten battleships of from 10,000 to 11,000 tons, and 100 various torpedo craft, besides some cruisers and scouting vessels. He believes that an outlay of 400 millions of pesetas would be involved."—Army and Navy Gazette, February 15, 1902.

 

 

ESTREMADURA: BATTERY—The battery for the new cruiser Estremadura

(2030 tons), consisting of eight tot-millimeter (4-inch) guns of so

calibers length, four 6-pounders, two I-pounders, two Maxim machine

guns, and two 75-milllimeter (2.96-inch) landing guns, will be supplied

by Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim. The tot-millimeter guns will

have a muzzle velocity of 3000 feet per second and the speed of fire is to

be to rounds per minute. Metallic cartridge cases will not be used for

these pieces.

 

 

SWEDEN

 

 

BUDGET.—The Swedish naval budget for 1902 amounts to 21,445,025 crowns ($5,747,266.70; 1 crown = $0.268), of which the sum of 10,461,982 crowns is placed in the ordinary expenses and 10,983,043 crowns in the extraordinary, the former being increased by 2,331,027 crowns and the latter decreased by 2,439,062. The items of the ordinary budget are:

 

 

 

1. Ministry of Marine, 93,400 crowns. 2. The fleet, 6,996,110—of which the personnel takes 3,851,740; materials, 1,685,000; schools, 53,400; armaments and practice cruises, 1,361,900; and medical service and hospitals, 44,000. 3. Coast artillery, 1,479,496. 4. Miscellaneous expenses, 1,479,496. 5. Merchant marine, 1,688,209. In the extraordinary budget, the fleet has a total credit of 8,932,765 crowns, of which 6,639,915 is for the acquisition of war material; 280,000 as a second allotment for the rebuilding of the monitors Thordon and Tirfing; 107,900 for the transformation of torpedo transports :into boats for patrol service; 1,206,000 as a second allotment for supplies and torpedo outfit of the armored ships A, B, and C; 15,000 for firing trials; 5000 for torpedo trials; 80,000 for acquiring reserve torpedo material; 50,000 for the purchase of torpedo mines; 50,000 for torpedo defenses; 290,000 for the purchase of coal; and 105,500 for the purchase of clothing, these two last-named items being for the mobilization. In the credit of 6,639,915 crowns for war material are comprised the new construction of which the allotments are as follows: 1,835,865 crowns for the completion of the armored ships A, B, and C; 598,050 as first installment for three first-class torpedo boats and two second-class boats; for the construction of a torpedo-boat destroyer; 2,813,000 as first installment for the construction of an armored ship of the first class; 181,000 for the purchase of a vessel to carry a balloon.

 

 

NEW ARMORED SHIP: ORDERED—This vessel, which is to cost 5,625,- 000 crowns, has been ordered of the Kockum Company at Malmo. She will probably closely resemble the Aran and Vasa class.

 

 

TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER: ORDERED.—The torpedo-boat destroyer •

mentioned in the budget has been ordered of Messrs. Yarrow and Company,

Poplar, England. The contract price is £48,300 ($235,051.95) and

the principal details are:

 

 

Armament —Six 6-pounders. Two torpedo tubes.

 

 

Motive Power—Twin-screw, 4-cylinder, triple-expansion engines designed to give a speed of 31 knots; for each quarter of a knot in excess of 31, an addition of  will be made to the contract price. The load on trial will be 35 tons and the air-pressure allowed in the fire-rooms not to exceed 3 inches of water. Four Yarrow water-tube boilers. Coal is to be used for fuel but provision is to be made for burning oil if desired.

 

 

Dimensions—Length, 220 feet; beam, 20.5 feet; draft, 6.5 feet; displacement, 320 tons.

 

 

ARAN, TAPPERHETEN, VASA: DESCRIPTION, LAUNCH—These coast-defense armorclads are all under construction in Sweden; the Aran at the Motala-Lindholm Works, Gotaborg; the Tapperheten at the Kockum Works, Malmo, and the Vasa at the Bergsund Works, Stockholm (Finnboda). They are all reported to have been launched between August and November, 1901. The hulls are of steel without sheathing, and the general appearance may be understood from the plans on the next page. The complement is 250.

 

 

 Armament—Two 8.27-inch guns in closed turrets, one forward, one aft. Six 5.9-inch guns mounted singly in closed turrets, three each side; as will be seen from the plans four of these guns can be fired directly ahead and four directly astern. Ten 6-pounders, one each side on the forward and after bridges and three each side on the superstructure. Two 1-pounders for boat guns. Two submerged torpedo tubes, one each side about abreast foremast. Four 35.4-inch searchlights are carried. The 8.27-inch and 5.9-inch guns are to be furnished by the Bofors Works and the smaller pieces by the Stockholm Vapen-Fabrik and the Finspong Works.

 

 

Protection—Partial water-line belt, 165 feet long and 6.9 inches thick. Complete protective deck, 1.9 inches thick. Turrets of 8.27-inch guns are 7.5 inches thick in front and 5.9 inches in rear; turret bases 7.5 inches, except after plate which is 5.9 inches. Turrets of 5.9-inch guns, 4.9 inches in front and 2.4 inches in rear; turret bases and loading tubes, 3.9 inches.

 

 

Line Drawings

 

 

Conning tower, 6.9 inches; conning tower shield, 3.9 inches. All armor is Krupp face hardened.

 

 

Motive Power—Twin-screw engines in, separate compartments; using steam at 209 pounds (natural draft), designed to develop 5500 I. H. P. and give a speed of 16.5 knots. Eight Yarrow water-tube boilers; total heating surface 15,610 square feet; grate area, 376.8 square -feet. Total weight of propelling machinery, including screws, shafts, boilers, pumps, etc., is not to exceed 947,978 pounds, and the coal consumption per I.H.P. per hour when developing 5500 I.H.P. is not to exceed 1.87 pounds. Coal supply at load draft, 250 tons; total capacity, 375 tons.

 

 

Auxiliary Machinery—Steam and hand steering gear. The electric installation consists of three generators; one of 200 amperes for interior lighting (281 incandescent lamps); one of 400 amperes for searchlights; and one of 500 amperes for motors.

 

 

Dimensions—Length at the water-line, .287 feet; beam, 49.3 feet; draft, forward and aft, 16.4 feet; displacement, 3650 tons.

 

 

Table:

 

 

UNITFD STATES

 

 

VESSELS BUILDING (March 1, 1902)

 

 

GIVING PER CENT COMPLETED OF TOTAL WORK REQUIRED TO BUILD THEM

 

 

Battleships

 

 

NAVAL ACADEMY: NEW QUARTERS FOR CADETS, ARMORY, AND BOATHOUSE— The contract for building the new cadet quarters at the Naval Academy was awarded to Neil & Thomas of Baltimore at their hid of $2,448,000, contract time two years. Work was commenced in January but the heavy snows and cold weather have delayed the actual building. The armory is now nearly complete on the outside and the boathouse is not very far behind. The Secretary of the Navy has extended the time for the completion of these two buildings until July 30, 1902.

 

ENGINEERING EXPERIMENTAL STATION—" The Navy Department will give its cordial support to a plan, originating in the bureau of steam engineering, which contemplates the erection and equipment of a building at a cost of $400,000 for experimental work in the Navy. It is proposed to establish an institution at Annapolis on the Naval Academy reservation, where will be conducted work and instruction in engineering science. It is planned to have this station operate in conjunction with the post-graduate course of engineering and which will undoubtedly soon be established by the academy. There are many important questions awaiting investigation, and it is to the consideration of these that the proposed experimental station will devote its labors. A few of the questions which will be presented to the station when it is ready for work are the means of utilizing liquid fuel, the value of the steam turbine

for naval purposes, the form, size, location and shape of propellers, the employment of electricity in the Navy, the corrosion of boiler and condenser tubes, the form and type of water-tube boilers, the use of compressed air as a motor, the balancing of marine engines, the development of the storage battery, the improvement of the gas engine and other technical questions of vital import to the Navy. Incidentally, it is proposed by Rear Admiral Melville that the station at Annapolis shall be used in the testing of the numerous patented appliances which are offered by the inventors for government test, the examination and trial of which may prove of benefit to the naval service. The Navy Department will, therefore, report favorably upon the project and will use the influence of its recommendation in behalf of the institution."—Army and Navy Register, January 11, 1902.

 

HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE: NEW BUILDING.—" Secretary Long will make an effort during the coming session of Congress to have an appropriation of $230,000 made for the purchase of land and the erection of a building for the use of the naval hydrographic office."—Army and Navy Register, January 4. The present quarters are divided between the basement of the navy department and an old building at the corner of 17^th Street and New York Avenue and are not only inadequate but very inconvenient. The division of chart construction is in the rented building and every chart plate has to be carried back and forth when needed for printing in order that they may be stored in a fire-proof building. The other divisions have about reached the limits of their present quarters and the crowding of the shelves and floor space is seriously interfering with the work.

 

PEARL HARBOR NAVAL STATION—" Condemnation proceedings are being conducted by the civil courts in Honolulu with a view to the acquirement by the government of a tract of land at Pearl Harbor. The managers of the plantation now occupying the territory estimate the value of their leasehold interest at about $400,000. One of the questions submitted to the court was the dock rights of the defendants, but the court, after inquiry, ascertained from the government records that an original treaty was made between the United States and the King of Hawaii in 5887 when the King granted to the United States all the water rights of Pearl Harbor then known as Pearl River. The court has held that the United States owns all riparian rights at that place."—Army and Navy Register, February 1, 1902.

 

Arrangements are being made for the establishment at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands of a naval station, roughly estimated to cost the government $5,000,000. The preliminary surveys are now being made under the direction of Civil Engineer U. S. G. White of the Navy. The reports which have been received indicate that land suitable as a dock site can be obtained at a moderate cost. The Navy Department is at Present allotting sums of money for the temporary quarters and barracks for that part of the Navy which is stationed in the Hawaiian Islands. It is hoped to receive the reports from Pearl Harbor in time to make the

estimate to the present Congress."—Army and Navy Register, January 11, 1902.

 

 

POLLOK NAVAL STATION—" The Navy Department is developing its new naval repair station at Pollok which is situated on an indentation of the western coast of Mindanao, P. I. This is the first time that most people have heard of a naval station at that place but it seems to be a promising establishment, possessing a crippled machine shop and a broken down dry dock. It belonged to the Spaniards in that time of lackadaisical administration which fell like a blight upon all public institutions in the Philippines or any where else that the Spaniards maintained

a repair or construction plant. The Navy Department has allotted small sums of money for the carrying on of the work at Pollok, and Rear Admiral Remey has this week asked for the detail of a civil engineer. E. 0. Maxson of the corps, who has been on duty in Boston, is now en route to the Philippines, where he will be completely occupied with the work at the naval station at Cavite and will not have time to superintend the repair work at Pollok. Secretary Long has promised to consider favorably the detail of a civil engineer for Pollok, but there are no civil engineers available for that or any other extra duty. The dry dock at Pollok is a small affair but it will be useful in the docking of such types as torpedo boats, tugs and the small gunboats."—Army and Navy Register, December 21, 1901.

 

 

NEW BATTLESHIPS AND CRUISERS—The general features of the new battleships are given in No.100, page 779. The full details are now available and will be published in No. 102, together (if possible) with the general plans and illustrations of the ships as they will appear when

completed.

 

 

Missouri: LAUNCH—The battleship Missouri, 12,300 tons, was launched at the yard of the Newport News Shipbuilding Company on December 28. She is a sister ship in all respects except minor details and boilers to the Ohio and Maine, fully described and illustrated in

PROCEEDINGS No. 98, page 403

 

 

FLORIDA: LAUNCH—the monitor Florida, 3235 tons, was launched at the Crescent Shipyard, Elizabeth port, N. J., November 30, 1901. She is a sister ship in all respects to the Wyoming, fully described in PROCEEDINGS NO. 96 page 717.

 

 

ILLINOIS: FINAL ACCEPTANCE TRIAL IN COMMISSION—The report of the Board of Inspection and Survey on the final trial of the Illinois has been submitted to the Navy Department. In regard to the trial the Army and Navy Journal of February 22 says:

 

"A report of the Board of Inspection and Survey on the trial of the U.S.S. Illinois on Feb. II and 12 from Hampton Roads to New York has been submitted to the Navy Department. With the exception of a few minor details the hull, machinery, and workmanship are found to be in good condition, and there was no failure or break down. The members of the board present were Capt. C. J. Train, Capt. J. N. Hemphill, Naval Constr. J. J. Woodward, Comdr. C. R. Roelker, Comdr. C. E. Vreeland, and Lieut. Comdr. T. S. Rodgers. We make the following extracts from the report:

 

 

"During the two-day' trial, the Board made a complete examination of all parts of the ship. No parts of the machinery were found to be defective nor showed any deterioration other than that due to fair wear and tear, except that the port H. P. cylinder stuffing box was leaking

excessively and that the starboard H. P. cylinder piston rings were evidently leaking, but neither of these defects are apparently due to defective -material or workmanship and therefore not chargeable to the contractor. No work on the machinery, required by contract and specifications and authorized changes therein, is at present unsatisfactorily completed.

 

 

"During the 'two-hours' full-power speed trial under natural draft, the following "was among the data of the performance of the engines taken: Mean revolutions of both engines, 101.4 Steam pressure in boilers, 161 lbs. Pounds of coal (New River) per hour, 16,170 lbs. Temperature, fireroom 83. Grate surface in use, 685 sq. ft. I. H. P. main engines,

4524.4-4127.5. I. H. P. both engines, 8652.0. I. H. P. auxiliaries, '150.0. Aggregate I. H. P. during two hours' trial, 8802.0. 'Mean draft at beginning of trial, 25 feet 6 inches. Displacement, 12,700 tons.

 

 

On account of the extreme cold, the guns and their mounts being covered with "ice, it was considered inadvisable to fire the guns and the report of the firing of Dec. 4, 1901, was accepted by the Board as satisfactory evidence that the guns, gun-carriages and their fittings and appurtenances work properly, and that the vessel is sufficiently strong

to stand the shock caused by firing. On the morning of the second day, a test was made of the rapidity of fire of one of the 6-inch guns, and six unaimed shots were fired in three minutes—the ammunition being at the magazine door, at the commencement of the trial.

 

 

"The Board recommends changes, not chargeable to the contractors, be made at the first convenient opportunity. These deal with increased ventilation, electrical whir hoists, wood work -in store room, etc. "There are also certain items of work to which it is desired to call

the Department's attention, as affecting the design of similar fittings in vessels under construction. These relate to guns and fittings.

 

 

"A number of additions in electrical department are recommended. "Finally, the Board reports that during the trial no weakness or defect in the hull, fittings -or equipment, due to either defective workmanship or defective materials, or in the fitting, fixing, placing and securing of the armor, due to defective workmanship :appeared, except as noted in the report.

 

 

"That the machinery and all parts thereof was found to be in good condition with respect to workmanship or materials, and that there –was no failure, breaking down, nor deterioration, other than that due 'to fair wear and tear, of any part or parts of the machinery, engines, boilers or appurtenances."

 

 

Photo:

 

 

 

 

U. S. S. NEW JERSEY

 

FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PROCEEDINGS No. 96

 

 

DECATUR: TRIAL—The torpedo-boat destroyer Decatur, 420 tons, had her final trial in Chesapeake Bay on December 12. The average Speed for the two-hour' run was 28.144 knots. The Decatur is a sister ship in all essential respects to the Bainbridge, which is described in PROCEEDINGS NO. 100, page 781.

 

 

PLUNGER: LAUNCH—The submarine torpedo boat Plunger was launched at the Crescent Shipyard, Elizabethport, N. J., on February 1. She is a sister: boat in all respects to the Moccasin, which is fully described in PROCEEDINGS NO. 99, page 622.

 

 

NEWARK, BALTIMORE: RECONSTRUCTION—The protected cruiser Newark, 4098 tons, is being very extensively repaired and refitted at the Boston Navy Yard_ Her coal capacity will be increased and her battery changed. Her twelve 30-caliber 6-inch guns on gravity return carriages will be replaced by new 6-inch 40-caliber guns on pedestal mounts. In the case of the Baltimore, her old battery of 6-inch and 8-inch guns will be removed and a new battery of twelve 6-inch will be supplied. The Baltimore's smaller pieces will be six 3-inch of 50 calibers, six semiautomatic 3-pounders, four 1-pounders, four Colt guns of .30-inch caliber, one 3-inch field piece, and one gatling of .30-inch caliber.

 

 

MAHOPAC, MANHATTAN: SOLD—The old monitors Mahopac and Manhattan have been sold, the price bid being $15,218 in each case. They were appraised at $8736 and $8516 respectively.  The Vermont was offered for sale at the same time, but as the highest bid was $3000 less than the appraised value she was not sold.

 

 

AMMUNITION

 

NEW ARMOR-PIERCING SHELL FOR U. S. NAVY: TEST—" The Naval Bureau of Ordnance has recently conducted tests at the Indian Head Proving grounds of an improved shell for the Navy. It is said that this shell is capable of perforating armor of a thickness equal to its own caliber and carrying a heavy charge of high explosive. The shell was fired in the test from a six-inch gun at armor plate six inches in thickness. It went completely through the plate, but broke into small pieces on the other side. Officers of the Navy, who were present, believe that the defect of breaking immediately upon passing through the plate can be overcome."—Army and Navy Journal, January 4, 1902.

 

 

Davis ARMOR-PIERCING SHELL—The following description appears in Arms and Explosives: "An explosive shell for ordnance, so designed that it shall give a maximum perforating power consistent with a maximum capacity for an explosive charge. It is necessary, in order that the character of this invention may be grasped, that the action of projectiles

upon impact on face-hardened armor plate should be understood. When the point of the projectile meets the hard face of the armor plate, an elastic dishing of the surface is caused. The stress of the impact is transmitted to the tough back of the plate, and the whole area of depression is concentrated to resist the advance of the projectile. This resistance tends to stop the projectile, or materially to reduce the velocity in a short space. The projectile is thus caused to expend its energy upon itself, the tendency being to break it up along its weakest lines.

 

 

"The patentee has observed that when an ordinary shell strikes a plate which it cannot penetrate, it is first bulged. It then gives way along longitudinal lines in strips evenly distributed, around the circumference of the bourrelet. Disruption along transverse lines follows, the tendency to complete rupture being enhanced by the rotation of the projectile. Sometimes, when the point of the shell enters a plate, the head is held fast, and the tendency of the body to continue to rotate causes a break-off at the rear of the apex.

 

 

"From these observations the patentee concludes that the increase of metal in the walls of the shell causes the bulging, when the velocity of the shell is checked in a short space. Therefore, he so designs the interior of his shell, that while the capacity for containing a bursting charge is increased, the penetrating power is increased. Roughly, to obtain this improvement, the weight of metal is concentrated in the line of attack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"In the accompanying drawings, a represents the shell, b the fuse, and c the driving band. The interior of the shell consists of a large chamber d, terminating in the front half of the shell with four longitudinal chambers e, which are separated from each other by the webs f, which connect the central portion g with the body of the shell. The construction will be easily understood on referring to Fig. t, which is a longitudinal section along the lines 1—1, Fig. 2; and to Fig. 2, which is a transverse section along the line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. It will be noticed that the interior of the shell is as free of angles as is possible, the points of connection being curved, as at h,i.j.

 

 

"The advantages claimed for this form of shell are: increased penetrating power for the same weight of shell; increased capacity of the interior to contain a bursting charge; improvement in quality due to its form, which makes it more susceptible to treatment from a metallurgical aspect; and improvement as regards disruption upon ignition of the

bursting charge, whereby the shell will break up into a relatively greater number of pieces. British patent accepted Dec. 7, 1901."

 

 

GUNPOWDER FUZES FOR SHELL: KRUPP SYSTEM—Krupp's British patent (No. 1322, accepted November 13, 1901) is briefly described in Engineering as follows: "In order to diminish risk in handling and firing shells, one part of the fulminate—namely, that heretofore used locally to detonate the charge—is dispensed with, and in its place a series of frangible vessels, containing gunpowder and in close relation to each other, is used. It is stated that "the fuse is made to explode first the front portion of the igniting charge (which may be conveniently enclosed in a thick-walled chamber), this immediately explodes the second portion, and so on, the explosions thus obviously becoming more and more violent, so that the last is sufficiently violent in its action to readily detonate the bursting charge."

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

SHELL FUZE: KRTJPP'S SAFETY DEVICE—This device as developed in the British patent (No. 1323, accepted November 27, 1901) is briefly described in the patent record of Engineering as follows: "This invention relates to compound fuses, and is designed to enable the movable parts of both time and percussion fuses to be secured by a safety device while the projectile is carried about; the said safety device is adapted for removal by a single movement of the hand when it is desired to put the compound fuse into action. This end is attained, according to the present invention, by providing the compound fuse with two pins connected

 

 

Line Drawings

 

 

by a cross-piece, one of which secures the priming bolt of the time fuse, and the other the moving parts of the percussion fuse. One pin may pass through the revolving powder ring, and secure it against motion (preferably in the case shot position), so that the pinhole leading to the percussion fuse shall, when the powder ring is in any other position, be covered thereby, and the entrance of dirt and the like to the percussion fuse be prevented."

 

 

HIGH EXPLOSIVES FOR SHELLS U. S. ARMY REPORTS—In the special

bimonthly report of the ordnance board of the U. S. Army, under date

of January I, 1902, the following appears:

 

"In connection with the unfavorable reports upon the 3.2-inch steel shell for high explosives, maximum capacity charged with a mixture of thorite and black powder, from. officers serving in China and the Philippines, and the general demand expressed by these officers for an effective high explosive field shell, the department has prepared a design for a 3.2-inch field shell of maximum capacity to contain a high explosive bursting charge. A lot of Imo of these shell is now under manufacture to be issued for trial in service. The shell are fitted for a point detonating fuse.

 

 

“New designs of 5- and 7-inch steel high explosive shell for the siege service have been prepared which will contain a maximum charge of high explosive consistent with .necessary strength of projectile. They are fitted for a point fuse. Lots of so projectiles each for 5-inch siege gun and 7-inch howitzer are under manufacture to be tested at the proving ground with a view to the adoption of this pattern of projectile in service.

 

 

“A special axial vent friction primer, with diameter of 0.25-inch; has been prepared for firing the 1-pounder sub-caliber tube. This primer contains 15 grains of powder in place of 7 1/2 grains in the ordinary axial vent primer.

 

"The status of high explosives for field shell is practically the same as stated in the board's report of March 13, 1901, namely, Rendrock and picric acid, have been provisionally adopted for charging taco shell for trial in service. But later successful efforts to detonate explosive D in the field shell render it probable that this explosive may be substituted for one or both of those previously mentioned. The trial lot of 3.2-inch shell to be used in determining this has not yet been received at the proving ground. Continued trials of explosive D and maximite in the Gathmann competitive test have confirmed the very successful use of these explosives as finally recommended, in the board's report of May 25, 1901. These explosives are to be used in all calibers of steel shell from 4 inches upward for siege and seacoast service. Seventy-five thousand pounds of maximite have been purchased. Plans have been devised for plants to be used in loading these explosives, which are to be put in operation at the powder depot.

 

 

"The question whether the plant for the manufacture of picric acid

should be erected and maintained by the government or whether the

material should be procured from private manufacturers in this country

was decided in favor of the latter plan. Specifications governing the

manufacture and inspection of picric acid and other explosive materials

were prepared and forwarded. Minor amendments to these specifications

were forwarded under date of November 8-27, 1901."

 

 

FUSES IN U. S. ARMY: TESTS, ETC—The following notes appear in the special bimonthly report of the ordnance board of the U. S. Army, dated January I, 1902.

 

 

"The determination of a series of tests of the Frankford Arsenal base percussion fuse was reported January 9, 1902. The principal change from former patterns relates to the plunger. A centrifugal acting plunger, designed by Captain Dunn of the ordnance department, has been substituted for the ring resistance plunger. The plungers of 7-inch and 12-inch mortar fuses are arranged for side impact action. A special delay-action cap is used to give a delay of 0.02 of a second.

 

 

“The Merriam base percussion fuses now under trial is made dependent upon centrifugal action and the trials have not yet been concluded.

 

 

"The Frankford Arsenal 15-second combination time fuses when fired from the 15-pounder R. F. gun, with velocity of 2600 f. s. the service fuse were found to be extinguished in flight. Trials showed that this occurred at velocities above 2200 f. s. The holes in the cone cover were closed and vents made near the top of the cover, protected by a hood. The extinguishment of the fuse was obviated. Trials are in progress to determine the proper area of ventage to give uniformity of burning in flight.

 

 

"The 20-second combination time and percussion fuse is a new design of a fuse prepared by Captain Dunn of the ordnance department in which, while retaining the lead-drawn time train, arrangement is made for igniting the train from the interior and enabling the fuse to be set or reset for any desired time of flight, thus avoiding the defect of the existing pattern, in which, if a fuse has been once cut, it can not afterwards be used for any longer time of flight. The test of the new fuse is still in the preliminary stage.

 

 

“In the Stevens' time faze attempt was made to produce a time fuse to be used in the base of projectiles. The joints made necessary for setting the fuse render it dangerous. The majority of the fuses exploded in the bore of the gun.

 

 

"The matter of the detonating fuses for high explosive projectiles was fully treated in the board's report of December 23, Igor. The detonating fuses used in the extensive trials of high explosive shell already successfully prosecuted have been prepared by utilizing the Pierce siege fuse stocks on hand. The manufacture of about 14,00o or more detonating fuses of this pattern has been recommended. A more compact form of fuse designed particularly for armor-piercing projectiles is designed for future construction. Patterns are being prepared for test. The detonating fuses for field and siege projectiles will be made for point insertion. Those for armor-piercing projectiles will be made for base insertion. Wherever base detonating fuses are used the base of the projectile will be covered with a substantial copper cup to exclude the entrance of the powder gases through any joints in the base of the projectile."

 

 

BASE AND HEAD CHARGES FOR SHRAPNEL: TRIALS OF NEW U. S.

ARMY SHRAPNEL—The ordnance board of the Army, in its special bimonthly

report; dated January I, 1902, says:

 

 

"The new design of 3-inch shrapnel for 3-inch B. L. rifle embodies a bursting charge in the base which increases the velocity of the balls on dispersion from 200 to 250 f. s. over that derived from- the head charge. A special feature of the new shrapnel relates to the base charge, which is composed of compressed mealed powder, upon which rests the

diaphragm and column of shrapnel balls."

 

 

ARMOR

 

DAVIS PROCESS FOR CEMENTING IRON OR STEEL—" A patent was issued by the United States Patent Office on November 26 to Lieutenant Cleland Davis, U. S. Navy, for a process of cementing iron or steel. The process is for carburizing steel or iron plate by intensely heating one side of the plate by means of an electric current passing through that face of the plate from a carbon conductor, and during the operation screening the conductor and the part of the plate under treatment from air, and simultaneously maintaining at a lower temperature the opposite side of the plate."—Army and Navy Register, November 30, 1901.

 

 

GIEBELER STEEL—" The Armeeblatt of November 27 says that experiments

were recently made at the technical school of Charlottenburg with a special steel produced by a new process and that the results obtained are likely to cause a revolution in industrial metallurgy. The inventor, Herr Giebeler, possesses small works at Mecklenburg. He has for some time been using his new process and now, as a result of the favorable judgment of the Charlottenburg tests, is desirous of bringing a knowledge of it to public notice. With the Giebeler process it has been found possible to give to any quality of iron hardness and resisting power double that obtained by the Harvey, Krupp, or Schaller methods. Moreover, the cost of the Giebeler steel that is thus obtained is less by 50 per cent than that of steel produced by the other methods mentioned. A 7 3/4-millimeter (.305-inch) plate was fired at with small projectiles which left an imprint only 1 millimeter (?) deep, while a Krupp plate 11 3/4-millimeters (.46-inch) was completely perforated; and plates of

ordinary steel when struck by similar plates of the new metal are said to have been broken into splinters. A representative of Herr Giebeler has been sent to Pittsburg to place the invention with the great American Steel Trust. The author of the article in the Austrian periodical says that although the information respecting the tests proceeds from a reliable source, yet it is impossible to accept the reports without reservation; and thus it also appears to us."—Rivista di Artiglieria e Genio, December, 1901.

 

 

KRUPP 5.9-INCH NICKEL-STEEL FACE-HARDENED PLATE: TRIAL—"The trial of a 5.9-inch Krupp nickel-steel face-hardened plate recently took place at Krupp's proving ground at Meppen. It was the representative plate of a lot of armor for the Netherlands coast defense ship De Ruyter, 4950 tons, and was 6.9 feet wide and 10.8 feet long. The projectile used was Krupp's 5.9-inch armor-piercing shell weighing 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms). The conditions of acceptance required that the plate should not be perforated or cracked by three shots fired at a velocity of 565 meters (1854 feet) per second. The points of impact were the vertices of an equilateral triangle of 550 millimeters (21.65 inches) length of side, and so disposed that no one of the points should be less than 550 millimeters from the nearest edge of the plate. The trial was highly satisfactory and the plate more than satisfied all requirements. They then increased the velocities from 565 meters to 680, 701, and 720 meters (2230, 2300, and 2362 feet). Complete perforation without fracture was attained at the last shot; in the preceding ones the rear bulge was broken out but the projectiles did not get through."—Rivista Marittima, January, 1902.

 

 

V-SHAPED GUN SHIELDS—" Two new gun-shields made by the Bethlehem Steel Company were recently tested. They are V-shaped and have an inclined surface of 3 inches of Kruppized face-hardened armor; the gun projects through the center of the point. Each shield is 48 inches high and 78 inches long. At these targets 3-inch guns were fired at 1000 yards range and 5-inch guns at 1500 yards range. The trials are reported to have been successful."—Engineer (London), February 14,

1902.

 

 

TRIALS OF 2-INCH AND 4-INCH PLATES—" A 2-in, armor-plate, of the type used in ironclads and armored cruisers for continuing the armor from the belt to the ram, manufactured by Messrs. Carnmell & Co., of Sheffield (who are making the whole of the armor for the Queen, about to be launched at Devonport), was tried at Whale Island, Portsmouth, on Friday. Three rounds from a 6-pounder quick-firing gun were fired at velocities averaging 1700 foot-seconds, and the shots splashed, but there was no penetration. Then one round from a 4-in. quick-firing gun was fired, with a velocity of 1650 foot-seconds; and here as in the previous test, there was no penetration, nor cracking, but a slight bulging of the plate. On Saturday, a 4-in, plate, manufactured by Messrs. W. Beardmore and Co. of Glasgow, was tested at Whale Island, and three rounds were fired from a 4.7-in. gun. A similar test was carried out on the previous day; but in both cases the projectile splashed on the plate without cracking or penetrating."—Engineering (London), January 24, 1902.

 

 

ARMOR-PLATE MILL: TRIAL—" The armor-plate mill built by Davy

Brothers, of Sheffield, for Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., and erected

at their Openshaw works, underwent a successful trial last Friday afternoon.

A steel slab, 15 inches thick, and weighing 20 tons, was put in the mill, and was rolled down to a plate 4 inches thick, in 91/2minutes. The new plant is unusually powerful, and the time occupied in rolling is very much reduced. “Engineer (London), December 6, 1901.

 

 

COALING SHIP

 

COALING AT SEA WITH TEMPERLEY-MILLER APPARATUS—" Last week the Temperley-Miller apparatus for coaling ships at sea under weigh was tried in Portsmouth Harbor with the vessels stationary. A rate of 37 tons an hour was reached. Various naval wiseacres of the non-progressive order spent the rest of the week in demonstrating that this could not be done at sea. On Monday there was a proper sea trial, and 36 tons an hour was reached—practically the same as the harbor result, and one that practice—if past coaling experiences go for anything—will double. However, this matter is too important to be dealt with in a paragraph, and we shall later on be dealing with it elsewhere in detail.

On Wednesday, the 5th, at the official trials, 30 tons were taken for three hours' running, and 40 tons taken one hour. Everything was a complete success.” Engineer (London), February 7, 1902.

 

 

"The line-of-battle ship Trafalgar and the collier Muriel put into Portsmouth on Thursday, having completed a series of official trials undertaken to test the utility of the Temperley-Miller marine cableway for coaling ships at sea. Working under contract conditions, the apparatus placed an average of 30 tons of coal per hour on board the Trafalgar, while that vessel was steaming at 10 knots. At a slower speed, and with the cableway shortened, 40 tons per hour were transshipped. The Admiralty officials, who witnessed the trials, were so well satisfied with them that the cableway is to be given a trial with, the Fleet”. Engineering :( London), February 14, 1902.

 

COALING PLANT AT PUGET SOUND NAVY YARD—" Plans have been completed for a, coaling plant. at the Puget Sound: Navy Yard, the estimated cost of which is about $300,000. The bureau, of yards and docks has at- present available for the work a total of $128,000 and it: is proposed to enter into a contract for the construction of a coaling shed: and appliances to cost about $112,500 and for dredging to cost $15,500. The plans have been drawn so that the plant may easily and economically be extended as regards capacity. There will be two coaling sheds and a 650 foot wharf: The coal handling machinery will be of the highest grade and the unloading capacity of the tower will be at least 6o tons per hour. The cable road equipment for transferring coal from the shed to:

the wharf will operate at the rate of 200 tons per hour." Army and Navy. Register, January 11, 1902.

 

 

COALING PLANT AT SAN JOAN NAVAL STATION:  Plans have been completed for the construction of two coal hoisting towers at the naval station at San Juan. This construction is to be part of the coaling facilities at that place and the contract to be awarded by the Navy Department will include the machinery. The department has $20,000 available for this purpose. The towers are to be of the Boston type so far as this type is understood to define a tower in which one engine or drum is used for misting and another drum is used to give horizontal

motion to the hoisting rope or chain from a position over the ships hatch to a position over the cars or' hopper. The towers- are to be movable and to be erected upon a trestle and track to be furnished by the government. The gauge of track will be made to accommodate the towers, which are to be designed to use a gauge of 29 or 30 feet or between these limits. The wheel base is not to exceed 26 feet. Nine wheels are to be used and the loads distributed as uniformly as possible. Sufficient devices to secure the towers to the tracks under working and' wind-conditions are to- be furnished by the contractor." Army and Navy Register, November-30, 1901.

 

 

GUNPOWDER AND EXPLOSIVES

 

 

U. S. NAVY SMOKELESS POWDER: CORRECTION of PREVIOUS NOTE: In a note in PROCEEDINGS No. 100 (page: 803) on "Navy Smokeless Powder" the following statement is made: "The explosion at Indian Head was probably caused by the decomposition of some powder made when the process of manufacture was just begun there and of much inferior quality to that now produced." This statement was derived from what purported to be a brief of the report of the Chief of Bureau of Ordnance, appearing in a service periodical (the officials report not them being printed). It is nevertheless an error: Lieutenant- Strauss; in specter of ordnance in charge of Indian Head Proving Ground, informs me that not a pound of Navy smokeless powder manufactured at Indians Head was in the storehouse that exploded. Considerable old navy smokeless powder made at private works was in the building in addition toy other powders, but none which was made at Indian Head. The explosions at the proving ground and at Mare Island were disquieting and it is very reassuring to find that neither of them was due to powder manufactured at Indian Head and quite possibly not even to decomposition early samples of navy smokeless powder produced in private factories, but to other causes.

 

 

CORDITE: IT’S USE IN BRITISH NAVY TO BE DISCONTINUED: There is now no doubt that the use of cordite in the British navy is to be abandoned as soon as practicable. It seems strange that so defective a powder should so long have been retained in use. Its erosive action was a bar to high velocities; variations of temperature caused serious variations in velocity and a temperature which was not higher than might be occasionally expected caused exudation of the glycerin, making the powder dangerous to handle or to use in guns. These defects are common to all powders containing nitroglycerin, though when the percentage of it is low, only erosion is particularly noticeable and that is much reduced. No definite details of the new explosive have been published. Its name is said to be "cordite M. D.," and it is generally referred to as the “improved cordite." This leads to the supposition that the form remains unchanged though both theory and experiment indicate that a multi-perforated or specially shaped grain gives better results than a cord, the burning surface of the latter decreasing in area instead of increasing as combustion proceeds, the pressure falling rapidly. As bearing on this point compare the pressure curves given in PROCEEDINGS No. 100, pages 808 to 813. These curves are not very accurately drawn but -they are approximately correct and show the value of the multiperforated grain of the nitrocellulose powder. See also PROCEEDINGS No. 100, pages 804, 805, 806. The great defect of nitrocellulose powder grains is their brittleness 'after long stowage but this is in a fair way of being remedied. As regards the erosion of guns by cordite and other powders, see PROCEEDINGS No. 97, page 198, and No. 98, page 418. In some of the notes on the new British powder which have appeared it is stated that the charges of the new cordite for 4.7-inch guns will be 5 lbs. 7 oz.; for 12-pounder guns, 1 lb. 10 oz.; for 6-pounders, 7 3/4 oz. 3-pounders, 6 2/3 oz. and the .303 service rifle, 30 grains. This is the same as the present cordite charges in the 4.7-inch gun and 6-pounder; it is 5 oz. less than the present charge of the 12-pounder, and 7/16 oz. more than the present charge of the 3-pounder. If the figures reported are correct the new cordite does not differ much from the old, or else a sacrifice of velocity has been made; possibly the powder chambers of the guns now in service .are too small to use adequate charges of the new powder.

 

 

SMOKELESS POWDER IN MORTARS: "General Crozier, chief of ordnance of the Army, has authorized some important investigations to be made into the character of smokeless powder used in the 1.2-inch breech loading mortars. The report of the mortar test held at Fort Preble, Me, disclosed certain irregularities of range with the smaller charges of smokeless powder used in those tests. The investigations now instituted by General Crozier will be made with the object of determining whether a smokeless powder of uniform grain can be used for all charges in the 12-inch mortar or whether a smaller grain must be used for the small charges. It is intended that in the coming tests the projectiles will be of nearly uniform weight of metal to avoid any effect on the range that may be produced by firing projectiles with the cavity only partially filled. In this connection it is proposed to make tests to determine a

scale of velocity for smokeless powders depending upon the temperature of the powder charge. This will require the erection at Sandy Hook of refrigerating chamber where the charges of powder will be exposed before firing to temperatures varying from 10 degrees below zero to 130 degrees above. The same investigations will be made of smokeless powders for other calibers of cannon generally, in expectation of some interesting and important results."—Army and Navy Register, February 15, 1902.

 

 

MAXIMITE: REMARKS: "Our ordnance officers appear to have formed a very favorable opinion of maximite, to which the last Journal of the Military Service Institution devotes several pages, with the unusual accompaniment for that staid periodical of a portrait of the author. Mr. Maxim appears to have obtained remarkable success in uniting insensitiveness with high specific gravity and immense explosive force per unit of volume. Maximite cannot be exploded by ignition or shock, and when heated in an open vessel it will evaporate like water, so that the temperature cannot mount to the explosive point. The shells are filled by pouring the melted explosive into them. Its expansion, while solidifying into a dense and solid mass, packs it so hard as to prevent the formation

of air spaces. The terrific force of the exploding charge is shown by the regularity and rugged character of the 7000 fragments into which a 12-in. forged shell, weighing moo pounds, has been blown. So far as experimented with maximite appears to have excellent chemical stability, or keeping qualities. Shells loaded with it have been fired through armor plates from three to twelve inches thick, and either exploded in the plate or just beyond it, showing that it will stand the shock of going through any armor plate that shells loaded with it will penetrate. The fuse used in the experiments with maximite is the secret invention of Captain Dunn of Frankford Arsenal. When relieved of its striker it has been fired through the heaviest plate without exploding. A shot goes through a plate in about the one-thousandth of a second. Mr. Maxim says in his article: 'So severe is the retardation on striking the plate that the fuse stock or steel tube which contains the fuse and extends forward into the chamber of the shell from the base plug has to be made exceedingly strong and of steel of the finest quality to prevent it from elongating or breaking off from the shock. The Frankford Arsenal detonating fuse stands this shock perfectly."—Army and Navy Journal, November 30, 1901.

 

 

GUANIDINE EXPLOSIVES—The brief of the British patent (No. 12,617; accepted October 16, 1901) specifications of Sr. A. A. da Silva, Brazil, which appears in Engineering of December 6, is as follows: "According to this invention guanidine is used in explosives and is combined with such acid or oxygen-containing substances as are otherwise used in the manufacture of such materials. One such explosive, picrate of guanidine (C°H²OH(NO²)³CN³H?) is obtained in the form of small crystals or of very fine yellow powder which is almost insoluble, and the preparation of which, it is stated, is not attended with danger, whilst the resulting compound is stable, easy to keel), burns slowly in the air, is not exploded by shock, and has the remarkable property of being capable of association with saline combustives (nitrates, chlorates, etc.) without danger of reaction between the ingredients, the mixture preserving an absolute insensibility to shock in the case of nitrates. By the combination of guanidine with nitric acid, nitrate of guanidine (CN²H²N0³) crystalline, flexible, stable, nondeliquescent, and neutral safety explosive is obtained, which, when heated in an open vessel, melts first and afterwards burns briskly without smoke or residue and with no production of corrosive or irritant gases. This product being soluble in alcohol etherized with common ether or with acetic ether, can be intimately mixed with the nitrocelluloses, the combination of which it retards and which by it are rendered insensible to mechanical shock whilst retaining their sensitiveness to detonation."

 

DETONATING COMPOSITION TO REPLACE FULMINATE OF MERCURY:  This composition is the invention of Herr J. Fuhrer of Vienna, and it is intended for use in place of fulminate of mercury for producing the initial detonation necessary for firing a charge of high explosive. It is very much safer to handle than fulminate of mercury and the inventor claims it will satisfactorily detonate the high explosives. If so, the gain will be very great. One of the great dangers in handling high explosives has been the sensitiveness of the fulminate fuse or detonator,

and no satisfactory detonator not containing fulminate of mercury has (unless this proves to be the long sought article) been obtained. The materials used are copper, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sulphur and aluminum. One formula specifies 30 to 40 parts of copper-ammonium, 42 to 25 parts of nitrate of potassium, 10 to 7 parts of sulphur, and 18 to 28 parts of metallic aluminum. The date of acceptance of the British patent (No. 20,755) is December 31, 1901.

 

 

AMMONAL: COMPOSITION, REMARKS, TESTS: "Ammonal is the name of a new high explosive, claimed to be powerful in its effect and safe in use. The explosive contains no nitrified substance, but is a mechanical mixture of nitrate of ammonia and aluminum. It is less liable to absorb moisture than other powders of its class and keeps well when properly packed.

 

 

"The explosive is not only a blasting compound for industrial and mining purposes, but also a military high explosive of rare excellence. When used either in mines or in ordnance, both safety and enormous power are obtained. So far as its industrial use is concerned, the most striking feature of the explosive is the total absence of noxious gases, for which reason it is most fit for blasting in pits and quarries.

 

"Picric acid and wet guncotton, explosives most commonly used in shells and torpedoes, require a strong detonator (about 2 grams of fulminate) for thorough detonation. It is claimed that ammonal is the only high explosive which can be brought to complete detonation by a simple black powder priming, producing the same effect as if a fulminate cap had been used. But where a fulminate detonator is considered preferable to black powder priming, as, for example, in torpedo charges or submarine mines, one gram of fulminate is all that is required to the charge.

 

"During the course of the year, a series of experiments were made before the officers of the Austrian navy, and before a foreign official (Capt. Tulloch of the Royal Artillery, England), in order to demonstrate the high efficiency of ammonal for military purposes. From too to 500 fragments were obtained by bursting a 12-centimeter steel service shell (1.21 kg.) with a bursting charge of 1300 grams of ammonal. It must, however, be borne in mind that the absolute number of fragments obtained signifies nothing. If the proportions of the weight of the charge and weight of the projectile and the nature of the steel are unknown. Experiments made with 10.4 cm. howitzer shells (11.2 kg.) on the proving grounds of the Austrian Ordnance Board within the last two months, in order to ascertain what was the fragmentation in sand and the effect of the firing against earth cover, showed undoubtedly that ammonal is much stronger than the Austrian ecrasite, a picric acid compound.

 

 

"Steel shells were .also fired from a 47 mm. Skoda rapid-fire gun against a 30 mm. steel plate, with a 60 gm. charge of ammonal and a small black powder priming. Perfect explosion was obtained behind the plate. There was no fuse in the shell, the black powder being exploded by the shock against the plate, and the fire transmitted to the ammonal and retarded."—Scientific American.

 

 

GUNS

 

ADDITIONAL 'RESERVE GUNS FOR AUXILIARY CRUISERS: Admiral O'Neill has asked for an appropriation of '$250,000 to build additional reserve guns for auxiliary cruisers. The number now available is very

small, as many of those which were made have been absorbed for training ships and auxiliary cruisers purchased and retained in service. There are now under contract seventy-two guns, or enough to arm eight or ten vessels only, and a number should be built each year until the proper reserve supply is reached.

 

 

RESERVE GUNS FOR SHIPS OF THE REGULAR SERVICE: "Secretary Long has approved the recommendation of the chief of ordnance of the Navy for the construction of reserve guns for ships of the regular service. It is proposed to manufacture five 5-inch guns, six 6-inch guns, six 8-inch guns, four 12-inch guns and four 13-inch guns. The cost of this will be $490,300. It may be regarded as a certainty that the rifling of guns will in course of time wear out, rendering it necessary to insert a lining tube in them, and that accidents will from time to time occur to guns in service which will necessitate their removal from ships for purposes of repair. In either case vessels must be laid up while such repairs are being made, or must go without a part of their armament, neither of which seems to be advisable. It is therefore recommended that a few spare guns be procured to be held in reserve. Moreover, one or more guns of each caliber are always required at the proving ground for making tests of armor, of powder and projectiles."—Army and Navy Register, February 1, 1002.

 

 

MEIGS-HAMAR BREECH MECHANISM: The peculiar features of this mechanism are in the breech plug and plug chamber. At first glance it appears to resemble the Welin breech but a close examination shows this resemblance to be only apparent. The breech and plug are divided into two or more divisions, radially. Each division, in turn, consists of a blank and a threaded portion. The blank portion is cylindrical but the threaded portions are involutes of circles, so that the 'threads of the breech and of the block are equidistant along all radii at any position of the plug, open or locked. This insures an even and excellent contact. As at present built the threads have no pitch. A point of particular importance, as affecting the ease of opening, is that the threads begin to disengage as soon as they start to revolve, and this disengagement, slight at first, is sufficient to make it very easy to open the breech of a gun of the largest size. For convenience of withdrawal the plug is slightly coned. This is the invention of Mr. John F. Meigs (formerly of the U. S. Navy) and Mr. Sigard A. S. Hammar, ordnance engineers of the Bethlehem Steel Company, and it is used in guns built in The works of the Bethlehem Company.

 

Line Drawings

 

 

BROWN WIRE-WOUND GUN: NEW JACKET: The Brown 10-inch wirewound gun, which failed in test at Sandy Hook through the giving way of the cast-steel jacket (see PROCEEDINGS No. 100, page 828), is to have a forged-steel jacket, which is now being made. When the repairs have been effected the gun will be fired again.

 

 

DAWSON-BUCKHAM BREECH MECHANISM: This mechanism, which has recently been patented in England (British patent 13,337; accepted September 4, 1901) is a modification of the Welin-Vickers system and is patented by A. T. Dawson and G. T. Buckham of the Vickers Company. The circumference of the breech is divided into sectors as in the Welin system, but instead of having blank sectors equal in width to the threaded ones, they are of double width. This gives considerable clearance all around when the plug is wholly unlocked—sufficient to allow the plug to be turned out without first being drawn directly to the rear.

 

 

FORGINGS FOR GUNS FOR U. S. NAVY: In November, the bureau of ordnance of the U. S. Navy awarded a contract for sixty sets of forgings for 3-inch field guns and fifteen sets of forgings for 4-inch .40 caliber guns for auxiliary cruisers to the Fore River Ship -and Engine Company of Quincy, Mass. The work on the forgings was begun at once, as the conditions of the contract required deliveries to begin in 50 days and completion of all forgings in 150 days. The Army and Navy Register says this marks the revival of gun-making in Massachusetts after an interval of about fifteen years, the last big gun being cast at the South Boston Iron Works in 1885, about which time, also, that establishment finished a contract for built-up steel guns for the navy. The Fore River Works are rapidly coming to the front as one of the great shipbuilding engine works of the country, and the contract for gun steel signals their entry into another department of manufacture.

 

 

BIRKELAND ELECTRO-MAGNETIC Gun: "An electro-magnetic gun, invented by Professor Birkeland, has been experimented with at Christiania. The shell is drawn out of the bore, and not, as hitherto, impelled by gunpowder, and the use of magnetism, according to the Professor, will enable 1000 lb. projectiles to be hurled much farther than by the present methods. This is a hard saying. "Engineer, London, February 14. The Birkeland gun is probably constructed on the solenoid principle, which was long ago suggested for giving velocity to projectiles, but the operation of a gun on this principle to give a high velocity to a thousand pound projectile is rather a large order. If, as the Professor claims, projectiles of this weight are to be hurled much farther than by the use of

                                                                                                                                                      w

gunpowder they must have a greater velocity or a slightly less velocity and a greater value for  d²  in other words, greater proportional length. Since the practicable increase of length is limited he must rely chiefly on increase in velocity. Let us assume a length of gun of 60 feet and velocity of 3000 feet per second. This gives, with a projectile of 1000 pounds, muzzle energy of about 63,000 foot-tons. This enormous energy must be developed in a very small fraction of a second. The initial velocity of the projectile is zero and its muzzle velocity is 3000 feet; its mean velocity in the gun is therefore 1500 feet, and it therefore requires .04 second to travel the length of the bore. The unknown electrical force acts .04 second, producing 63,000 foot-tons of work.  In one minute it would therefore produce 94,500,000 foot-tons or about 6,300,000 horsepower. This seems a good deal of power to put in dynamos.

If the gun tube were twice as long only about half as much power would be required. No question of efficiency of the solenoid, dynamos, steam machinery, etc., is here considered.

 

GUNS: FIRING

 

NOTE:  Under this head will be given notes referring to firing tests of guns, target practice, special practice, accidents to guns while firing, etc.

 

 

BLOWING OFF OF MUZZLE OF 5-INCH GUN ON THE KEARSARGE:  One of the 5-inch guns of the battleship Kearsarge blew off about five feet of the muzzle end during target practice. The cause is ascribed to some defect in the metal of the gun. The conditions of firing, character of powder, appearance of fracture and the statement of eye-witnesses have not been published. No one was hurt and no damage done to the vessel.

 

 

GATHMANN GUN: REPORT OF JOINT ARMY AND NAVY BOARD:  The following is the report of the Board:

 

 

THE GATHMANN GUN TRIAL

 

The Chief of Ordnance, U. S. A.:

 

 

Sir: The act of Congress (Public No. 113) approved March 1, 1901, appropriated $50,550.00 to enable the Secretary of War to make comparative tests of the destructive energy between the Gathmann torpedo gun, now at Sandy Hook, N. J., and the 12-in. Army Service rifle, such tests to be made against two similar targets representing the side construction of the latest type of battleship, each of said structures to be faced with the Kruppized armor plate, 8 feet by 16 feet and 12 in. thick, and at least

ten shots to be fired from the Army rifle against one structure and one or more from the Gathmann torpedo gun against the other. This test was conducted by a Joint Board of Officers of the Army and Navy appointed by special order No. 252, dated Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, Oct. 26, 1901.

 

 

The targets were constructed by the Navy Department; the plates were 16 feet long by 7½ feet wide, and 11½ inches thick. They each weighed 47,000 pounds.

 

 

The target structures were similar in all respects, and each actually represented a section of the side of the latest type of battleship, but the structures themselves lacked the support of the adjacent armor plates and of the surrounding frames, beams and decks that make up the whole structure of the ship, it being impracticable to exactly simulate a battleship on so small a scale. It is considered, however, that the character of these experiments was sufficient from which to make conclusive deductions as to the effect upon a battleship when similarly attacked.

 

This test being for the purpose of comparing the destructive effect of two systems of attack, it will lead to a better understanding of the results to briefly describe the object of each system.

 

 By the Gathmann system it was proposed to detonate a large quantity of guncotton against the side of an armored vessel without any attempt at penetrating the armor. It was claimed by the promoters of the system that the volume of gas produced by the explosion could be made to expend its force against the armor, and on the effect of this force the destructive energy of the system depended; it was claimed that a single shot would destroy a battleship.

 

 

The method used in the 12-in. Army Service rifle contemplated first, penetration of the armor, and then the detonation of a high explosive contained in a thick walled projectile. Thus there is involved the destruction of the armor, of the structure of the vessel, of the armament and interior mechanism and of the personnel.

 

 

Of necessity, the targets were set up on shore. It was impracticable to place the targets at distances from the guns of more than a few hundred feet, consequently .it was necessary to use such firing charges as would give to the projectiles velocities on striking the plates such as they would have had if they had been fired with larger charges and at greater distances from the targets. Thus the firing of both guns was conducted at simulated ranges.

 

 

The Board accepted the recommendation of the Ordnance Board, U. S. A., as to details of projectiles and charges to be fired from the Army rifle, these details being based upon the use of the present type of 12-in. gun, and without consideration of the greater power of the latest adopted type of this caliber.

 

 

The Board accepted the statements of representatives of the Gathmann Company as to the weight of charge to produce the desired striking velocity. The simulated ranges as given, however, are computed from the actual results obtained from firing, in the third round, a full charge of powder as designated by the Gathmann Company. The company protested against firing shots at either target at simulated ranges less than 7000 yards, but the Board over-ruled this protest, it being considered that such a test would not give conclusive results as to the comparative destructive effect of the two weapons. This action was not considered unfavorable to the claims of the Gathmann system, .since in a written communication from the company its President stated that:

 

 

"Even should the range of 7000 yards be deemed extreme, it cannot be disputed that a weapon effective at that range would be more so at a shorter one."

 

 

Representatives of the Gathmann Company were consulted before each round as to the details of loading and firing, and in each case expressed themselves as being satisfied with the conditions.

 

 

THE GATEMANN TEST

 

 

Round One: A Gathmann projectile weighing 1834 pounds, including 497 pounds of wet guncotton, struck the center of the plate at a velocity of 1650 foot seconds, corresponding to a range of 2709 yards. The energy of impact due to the mass of the projectile was 34,610 foot tons. The guncotton in the shell detonated on striking the plate. The plate was dished in the center 1½ inches on its major axis, and ½ inch an its minor axis, and was slightly flaked at the point of impact. In other respects the plate was uninjured. The tap bolts securing the top plate of the armor were sheared; the bracket plates of the cellular structure in the rear of the frames were buckled about four inches; a 3-in. plate which had rested, unsecured, on wooden sleepers in the sand, in front of the

plate, was moved away and the edge next the plate was pushed downward nine inches into the sand. The backing the frames behind the armor and the wooden uprights against which the whole rested were practically uninjured, save for the shearing of a few rivets. Had this projectile struck the belt armor of a battleship, which the target represented, it would not have endangered the vessel.         

 

 

Round Two: A Gathmann projectile weighing 1839 pounds, including 507 pounds of wet guncotton struck the right center of the plate with a velocity of 1,650 foot seconds, corresponding to a range of 2709 yards. The energy of impact was 34,700 foot tons. The gun cotton in the shell detonated on striking the plate. The effect of this impact on the plate and on the structure behind the plate was similar to that of the preceding round. The plate, the backing, the frames behind. the armor and the wooden supports against which the whole structure rested, remained practically uninjured. The bracket plates forming the sides of the cofferdam

behind the framing were still further buckled, allowing the right hand edge of the plate to be moved two feet nine inches to the rear; the left hand edge was sprung back to its original line. The whole structure was moved 13 inches to the right. The plate being practically uninjured, it is obvious that no harm could have come to the personnel, armament or the interior mechanism of a vessel. It being evident also that neither of these rounds would have so far injured the structure of a ship as to endanger its buoyancy, it was decided to fire a third shot at a maximum velocity and point blank range in order to determine if it were possible to inflict any damage whatever upon the plate by this system of attack.

 

 

Third Round: A Gathmann projectile weighing 1840 pounds, including 514 pounds of wet guncotton, struck the center of the plate with a velocity of two foot seconds, corresponding to point blank range. The striking energy was 49,500 foot tons. As the result of this impact there was a vertical through crack eight feet distant from this point of impact extending through a row of bolt holes and through the place struck in the preceding round. In other respects the effect on the plate was as in the former rounds.

 

 

The backing, the skin plates behind the backing and the wooden supports against which the structure rested were slightly displaced. The left hand edge of the plate was thrown backward about 15 inches under the top plate; the bottom left hand side of the plate was shoved back four feet. The whole structure, including the wooden supports against which the section rested, was 'evolved to the left about 30 degrees. The top layer of deck plating was detached and thrown to the rear on top of the sand butt about ten feet. The metal structure behind the armor on left side of the target collapsed.

 

 

It is evident that, had this shot struck the belt armor of a battleship, it would have resulted in no injury to the interior mechanism, the armament or the personnel of the vessel, and would not have seriously menaced its buoyancy. While the target structure was very much damaged by the accumulated effect of the pounding resulting from these three shots striking with a total energy of 119,000 foot tons, neither shot in itself would have endangered the buoyancy of a battleship or have wrought serious local damage.      

 

 

With the idea of determining whether the effect on the target of the impacts of the three preceding rounds was due to the detonation of the guncotton or to the striking energy of the mass of the projectile, it was suggested by the Gathmann Company that the fourth empty shell be filled with sand and fired at the target. An examination of the target, however, showed that the true effect of the energy of such an impact could nut be obtained, owing to the then condition of the target. A just comparison between projectiles loaded one with guncotton, the other with sand, could only be made by firing each at new and like targets.

 

12-IN ARMY SERVICE RIFLE

 

Round One: An armor-piercing shot weighing 1001 pounds and 7 ounces, including 19 pounds 7 ounces of Army high explosive, struck the center of the target with a velocity of 1800 foot seconds, corresponding to a range of 4400 yards. The striking energy was 22,500 foot tons. This shot penetrated the plate and was detonated just in the rear. The backing, the skin plates, frames and cofferdam plates were completely demolished in the line of this impact. The crater formed in the sand butt in, the rear of the structure measured 15 feet by 6½feet. Pieces of the plate, and projectile passed through the structure, through the butt and

were recovered at distances of 150 to 200 feet in rear of the butt. The rivets in the top plate were sheared, the side plates of the cofferdam were buckled about three inches and the plate was forced back bodily about ¾ of an inch. It is evident that had this shot struck a battleship it would have wrought serious damage to the vessel.

 

 

Round Two:  An Army 12-in. armor-piercing shot weighing 1006 pounds, including 23 pour.ds of Maximite, struck the right center of the plate with a velocity of 1804 foot seconds, corresponding to a range of 4400 yards. The striking energy was 22,500 foot tons. The shot detonated in the plate, completely wrecking the right hand portion and demolishing the frames behind the armor and the plates of the cofferdam. It is evident that had this shot struck a battleship it would have wrought serious injury to the vessel.

 

 

Round Three:  A 12-in, armor-piercing shell weighing 1045 pounds, including 60 pounds of Army high explosive, struck the lower left hand center of the plate with a velocity of 2073 foot seconds, corresponding to a range of 1880 yards. The striking energy was 31,100 foot tons. The shell penetrated and detonated in the plate. As a result of this impact the plate was totally wrecked, and the backing, frames, beams, and cofferdam plates of the structure were completely demolished. An opening was made through the plate 4 feet wide by 8 feet long.

 

The lower left hand quarter of the armor plate was broken into six large fragments and numerous small ones, the largest being about 4½ feet square, which, with the backing and skin plates, was torn loose from the structure and turned inwards so that the left hand edge of this fragment was in the plane of the original face of the plate. One large fragment about 2 feet by 2½ feet by 11½ inches and weighing about 2500 pounds, was hurled through the target, through the butt and was recovered 135 feet in the rear of the butt. Numerous fragments of the plate and projectile passed through the target structure, through the butt and were recovered in the rear. The effect of this shot would have resulted in serious injury to a battleship.

 

 

The act of Congress required that at least ten shots should be fired from the Army rifle against one structure, but the annihilation of the structure by the three rounds made it impracticable to comply with this mandate.

 

 

The results of these experiments give a fair illustration of the effect that can be produced by each system. The separate effect of each round and the accumulated effect of the three rounds from the Army Service rifle was, in each and every instance, superior to that from the Gathmann gun.

 

 

After a careful consideration of the effect of the various impacts on the respective targets of the Gathmann gun and the 12-in. Army Service rifle, the Board finds that none of the impacts from the Gathmann gun would have endangered a modern battleship; that the Gathmann system

is not effective as a means of attacking armored vessels; and that any one of the shots from the Army Service rifle would have wrought serious injury to a modern battleship as regards its buoyancy, the interior mechanism, the armament and the personnel.

 

 

It may be said in this connection that the destructive effect of the 52-in. Army Service rifle surpasses anything hitherto obtained from any gun as far as this Board has knowledge, or as the records show.

 

In considering the value of the two guns, not only must the destructive energy be taken into account, but their respective merits with reference to range and accuracy. From the experiments just completed, it is found that the 18-in, gun which fires the Gathmann projectile, has a velocity of less than 2000 foot seconds. The Army 12-in, rifle which was used in this test has a velocity of 2300 foot seconds, and the latest type adopted by the War Department has a muzzle velocity of 2650 foot seconds. Both in initial and sustained velocities, the 12-in. Army Service rifle of both models is so far superior as to give at all ranges a very much greater probability of hitting, and the remaining velocity at four miles is sufficient to perforate the heaviest armor now being put on battleships.

 

 

There is nothing in the Gathmann system to recommend its adoption in the public service of the United States, or to warrant further experiments.

 

Photographs of the guns and targets and showing the effects of the various rounds, together with the detailed records of firing and of the results of the impacts, are appended to this report.

 

                          JOHN G. D. KNIGHT, Major, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

                 R. BIRNIE, Major, Ordnance Department, U. S. A.

                 JOHN P. WISSER, Captain, Artillery Corps, U. S. A.

JOSEPH STRAUSS, Lieutenant, U. S. N.

CLELAND DAVIS, Lieutenant, U. S. N.

 

COLT GUN: EXPLOSION OF SHELL WITH BREECH OPEN:  "By an explosion of a Colt's automatic firing gun at Fort Leavenworth, Oct.

28, Capt. Charles T. Menoher and five men of the 28th Battery, Field Artillery, were wounded, three severely. The gun, a new one being tested, became too hot, and when a shell came into the breech, after firing, it exploded, tearing out the breech, fragments of which struck and injured the men. Captain Menoher's hand was burned and his wrist injured."—Army and Navy Journal, November 2, 1901.

 

 

TESTS OF MORTARS AT PORTLAND:  The report of the board which conducted these tests has not been made public and it is doubtful if it will be—at least at present. According to statements in the public press there were some developments that it is thought desirable to keep secret. The following appeared in the Army and Navy Register of November 30: "It will be a week or ten days probably before the War Department receives the report of the mortar tests which have been conducted at Fort Preble, Me. Colonel J. R. Myrick and Captains J. B. Bailey and Frank S. Harlow, of the artillery corps, are engaged in the preparation of the report. In general terms those officers will announce the success of the mortar as a feature of the armament of coast fortifications. The report, however, will not be laudatory to the extent of a denial of any faults which have been found to exist in that form of defense. One of the defects which it is said has been manifest at Fort Preble arises from the fact that mortar batteries are placed in deep pits, sometimes forty feet below the surface of the ground, necessitating a high angle of fire in order to have the projectile clear the works. It is now realized that the accuracy of mortar fire would be greater if the battery were placed on the surface of the ground and not in a sunken emplacement. The report from the Myrick board is bound to be most interesting since it relates to the first practical test we have had with mortars. It will be correspondingly illuminating and it ought to be convincing, one way or the other, to those who have been discussing. The mooted question of the value or usefulness of mortars."

 

 

BELLEISLE EXPERIMENTS: SECOND, SERIES.—" The Belleisle; hulk, which has, been: specially fitted up for experiments, was on Tuesday-fired into off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, by the gunboats Pincher, mounting a 9.2-in. gun, and the Comet, armed with a 6-in. gun. A 20-ft section of the- Belleisle on each bow had been fitted with a type of plate manufactured by Messer’s Cammell and Co., of Sheffield, the principal feature of the plate being that it was only-partially Krupped, in order to ascertain the elasticity and resistance of a plate made under these conditions. In thickness, the 6-in, plate on the starboard side of the Belleisle represented the armor -of- the Drake class of cruiser, and the 4-in. plate on the port side the armor of the " county " class. Internally, the ship in the armored section was fitted with bunkers, transverse bulkheads, and other supports such as would he, found in the armored area of seagoing ships. The new form of lyddite, as well as armor-piercing projectile, and common

shell, were used, and., the utmost precautions were taken to police the vicinity, both ashore and afloat,, in order to prevent, unauthorized persons from coming within a clear view of the operations. In all ten rounds were fired, the 6-in, plate being first attacked. Two rounds were fired from the 6-in, gun, followed by two rounds from the more-powerful weapon,, and after each pair of rounds the ship was visited by, the Lords of the Admiralty, and photographs were taken. The Belleisle was moored broadside on to the shore, and alter the thicker plate had been tried the ship was turned round, and the port side was fired into, when again both guns were used. As far as could be seen from the shore, the concussion at each round, was so great as to cause considerable debris, and, ultimately it looked, as though the 9.2in. gun had penetrated the 4in. plate, as the vessel appeared to be sinking. She was drawing 15 ft., and had only 16 ft. of water under her; so that when a party of bluejackets had gone on board, and patched up the leaks, it was found possible, with the extra provision of collision mats to tow her back to Portsmouth." Engineering, London, February 21, 1902.

 

 

The range is said to have been about 1200 yards.

 

 

TARGET PRACTICE IN BRITISH NAVY: ANNUAL REPORT:  "The return of the annual prize firing with heavy guns in- the vessels of the Channel Squadron has just been published. In the case of the 13.5-in. gun two runs of, six: minutes for each gun were made, but for the, I2-in guns one run of six minutes was made for each gun. The, results were as follows:

 

            Ship:                                       Gun:                No. Of Gun:                 Rounds:          Hits:

     Repulse                                           13.5 in                    4                                25                 10

     Resolution                                       13.5                        4                                28                   9

     Mars                                                12 in                       4                                26                 11

     Majestic                                          12 in                       4                                22                   7

     Magnificent                                     12 in                       4                                23                   7

     Prince George                                 12 in                       4                                26                   7

     Hannibal                                          12 in                       4                                22                   6

     Jupiter                                             12 in                       4                                20                   6

 

"In the case of the 6-in. guns one run of two minutes was made, the result being:

 

 

Chart

 

IRRESISTIBLE: TRIALS OF GUNS AND MOUNTS:  The trials of the heavy guns of the British battleship Irresistible took place last autumn and were carried out under the supervision of Captain A. Barrow and the experimental staff of the gunnery ship Excellent. The following description is from the Journal of the Royal United Service Institution: "The usual number of rounds were fired from the forward turret with practice and service charges, and diagrams of pressure and velocity were taken from the recoil cylinders of both guns. These were in accordance with the design, the recoil being practically 33 inches with the full service charges. In the after turret an elaborate program of speed firing was carried out to test fully, not only the new method of loading the guns at all firing angles, but the accuracy of fire obtainable under the new conditions. For this purpose a small target was launched overboard, and with the ship steaming at a distance of about 1200 yards, fire was opened with both guns, each of which fired five rounds alternately. The result was satisfactory, as every shot would have hit the side of a ship in the vital parts, while the ten rounds were fired off in 4 minutes 46 seconds. The crew had only had three days' practice with a type of machinery that was new to them, and it may therefore be reasonably assumed that even better results will be obtained with a practiced crew. After the trials the mountings were carefully examined and were found to be in good order, no hitches of any kind having occurred. Messrs. Vickers' Sons & Maxim have on order from the Admiralty similar sets of gun mountings for five other battleships, including the Vengeance, whose trials have since successfully taken place."

 

 

The mounts of the Irresistible are fully described under the head of "GUNS: MOUNTS."

 

 

GUNS: MOUNTS

 

I2-INCH TURRET MOUNTS OF THE IRRESISTIBLE: DESCRIPTION:  The first-class battleship Irresistible, 15,000 tons, has completed her gun trials with excellent results (see note under the head of GUNS: FIRING). The following description of the mounts for her 12-inch turret guns is derived from the Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, November 10, 1901: "The Irresistible was built at Chatham at an estimated cost of about £1,000,000 and her main armament consists of four 12-inch Vickers Mark IX guns, mounted in pairs forward and aft in armored redoubts. The revolving platform carrying the guns is protected by an armored steel hood 8 inches thick, but sloped to such an angle as to give the same protection as would be secured by armor of twice this thickness. Each 12-inch gun weighs slightly over 50 tons, and fires a projectile of 850 lbs. with a cordite charge of 207 lbs., giving a muzzle velocity of 2516 feet per second. The muzzle energy of the projectile is 37,810 foot-tons.

 

 

"The guns are mounted independently in pairs on a revolving platform, and can be manipulated by both hand and hydraulic power gear. The chief innovation in this gear is the introduction of a new feature of

a comparatively simple nature which enables the gun to be loaded at any angle of elevation, thus obviating the necessity of bringing the gun to a fixed position for loading between the rounds, while, in accordance with the now universal practice in all new ships, the guns can be loaded in all positions of training. The adoption of the method of loading at any angle of elevation therefore completes the improvement which was begun when the fixed horizontal position for loading was abolished, so that now guns can be loaded in any firing position, thus avoiding not only the loss of time involved in bringing the weapon to and from a fixed position of elevation, but—what is of very great importance—the gunner is enabled to keep his sights constantly on the object he is aiming at. Thus the means are furnished both of rapid fire and accurate aim with the most formidable gun in existence.

 

 

"The redoubts of the Irresistible, which are circular, are protected by 12 inches of armor. The turn-tables revolve on a live roller ring carried on a ring bulkhead, supported independently of the redoubt structure, so that considerable distortion of the latter will not affect the working of the guns. A working chamber is attached to the underside of the turn-table, and revolves with it. From this chamber a trunk descends to the shell rooms and magazines, and serves for the passage of the ammunition from the latter to the chamber, where it is transferred automatically from cages in the trunk to cages working between the base of the chamber and the gun platform. These cages are so arranged that the projectile is always in line with the bore of the gun when it is raised sufficiently to abut against stops carried on the oscillating part of the gun mounting. The projectile can then be rammed home by a chain rammer, which is also carried on the gun mounting. This rammer, being flexible in one direction and rigid in the other, cannot consequently buckle up when being extended. It is operated by the revolving of a sprocket wheel, to which it is geared, the tail end of the chain being supported conveniently in a casing carried below the gun slide. The rammer is provided with a safety apparatus so arranged that it cannot be worked until the cage is in the loading position, while the latter cannot be lowered until the rammer has been withdrawn. For hand-loading the rammer head can be lowered clear of the bore of the gun, and the projectile, which is carried on a telescope bogie, can, after being pushed forward on it, be rammed home by an ordinary rammer stave."

 

 

A description of the trials of the guns is given in a note under the head of GUNS: FIRING.

 

INSTRUMENTS USED FOR NAVIGATION AND

BATTLE

 

NOTE:  Under this head will be given notes on searchlights, range finders, stadi- meters, torpedo directors, etc.

 

DAVIS AND WEAVER RANGE FINDERS: REMARKS:  "The design of Lieutenant Cleland Davis, U. S. Navy, for a horizontal base range finder has been favorably reported upon by the ordnance board of the Army. The instrument consists essentially of a bar about 15 feet long pivoted upon a pedestal in the centre, having at one end a telescope at right angles to the bar and at the other end a fixed telescope slightly inclined to the perpendicular. The range is read from the second telescope upon objects within its field of view. The Army telescope sight with vertical and horizontal scales, which was suggested by Captain E. M. Weaver, artillery corps, has been prepared at the Frankford Arsenal and is now awaiting test at the Sandy Hook proving ground." Army and Navy Register, February 15, 1902.

 

NEW COMPASS CARD: REMARKS:  "Rear Admiral R. B. Bradford, U. S. Navy, chief of the bureau of equipment, Navy Department, again calls attention in in his recent annual report to the proposed change in the present notation of the compass card. The interest in the proposed change continues in the merchant marine as well as in the naval service. The weight of opinion of naval officers is decidedly in favor of the change. The officers of the merchant marine display much interest in the question by frequent discussions of the subject with naval officers in charge of branch hydrographic offices. The universal practice of the officers of the large and important trans-Atlantic steamers is to set the courses steered and record the bearings taken in degrees on the compass card, so that the old practice of using the points of the compass, or fractions thereof, may be considered as abandoned in ships of high speed. In order to maintain an interest in the subject and to encourage further discussion, Admiral Bradford publishes in his report two designs for the new compass card. In his report of last year was published the first of these designs, with a full discussion of the advantages to be obtained by its use. This design met with some objections, as it abolished entirely the use of the compass points to which many mariners are much wedded. The second design has been prepared to meet these objections, and has, in addition to a division of the circumference of the card into 360 degrees, the following subdivisions:

 

 

 "(a) Immediately inside the graduated circle the card is marked in points and their subdivisions as in the present system of card notation.

"(b) A second circle is drawn inside the points and is graduated in degrees from o degrees at north and south to go degrees at east and west. Each fifth and tenth degree mark is distinguished by a heavy line. On this circle, also, each compass point is marked by a figure indicating the number of degrees corresponding to it, according to the present notation or system of conversion of points into degrees.

"It may be further stated that both the present and the proposed systems of graduation are used on this card, which will make it valuable for use by all navigators, and which will afford a ready means of determining practically which compass card possesses the greater value. Most navigators agree that all courses should be set in degrees of the compass card, and the chief point at issue between navigators using modern methods is whether the card should be divided with degrees of quadrant, from 0 degrees at north and south to 90 degrees at east and west, as at present, or whether the circle should be marked continuously to the right from 0 degrees at north to 360 degrees at the starting point. Some mariners also object to recording the directions of the wind in degrees, and are wedded to the old custom of using the points." Army and Navy Register, December 14, 1901.

 

OPERATIONS: WAR

 

NAVAL FIGHT AT PANAMA—Captain William W. Mead of the cruiser Philadelphia, who witnessed the recent naval battle off Panama, arrived at New York lately on the steamer Orizaba from Colon. In talking of the battle the captain said: "The Lautaro was at anchor in the bay and was surprised early in the morning of January 20, by the liberal gunboat Almirante Padilla. The whole thing was over in a half an hour, although the firing lasted only about fifteen minutes. The Padilla opened fire on the other vessel, bow on and the Lautaro was only able to use her forward and one of her quick firing guns. The two ships were only about 400 yards apart and every shot that the Padilla fired seemed to take effect. The aim on the government boat was not so good and she seemed to be shorthanded. Two other ships in the harbor, the Nanen and the Chiquito, also took part in the fight, but neither did much damage. The government boat shifted around until the Philadelphia was directly in line with the firing from the Nanen. I quickly ordered the commander on the government boat to move and he did. When I saw that the Lautaro was sinking I sent a boat over to her, which picked up two men. One of them died on the Philadelphia shortly afterward. The officer in the boat said that the Lautaro had been struck 27 times and a number of shells had gone entirely through the vessel. I heard later of the death of General Alban. He was struck during the first few minutes of the engagement and was taken to his stateroom. The general went down with the ship. After the fight was over, I sent word to General Herrera, who I thought was in command of the Padilla, and told him that I would oppose any bombardment of the city. The Padilla came alongside and I found that Captain Danivez was the commander. He assured me that no bombardment would take place and that none of the foreign shipping would be endangered."—Army cad Navy Register, February 15, 1902.

 

SMALL ARMS

 

U. S. ARMY RIFLE, NEW MODEL:  "A new small arm has been devised by officers of the ordnance department of the Army, and the manufacture of 5000 of them will be commenced at the Springfield Armory as soon as the tools at that place are altered so as to be adapted to making the various parts of the piece. The piece combines the best characteristics of the Krag and the Mauser, although it resembles the latter more than the former arm. The new arm is of .30 caliber, and has a velocity of 2300 feet-200 feet greater than the Krag and too feet greater than the Mauser. The bolt in the new arm is made stronger than in the old pieces, to withstand the increased pressure incident to the increased velocity; the new arm loads with a clip from above; and the magazine is centrally and symmetrically located, instead of on the side as before. A rod bayonet is provided with the new arm." Army and Navy Register, January 18, 1902.

 

MCCLEAN SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE: "According to General Joseph Wheeler, who has made a statement to the U. S. press, a new company is to be formed in the United States, with a capital of $6,000,000, for the purpose of manufacturing rifles, shot-guns, and one to three inch guns in connection with recent developments of the Cramp Shipyard. Apparently, however, the chief energies of the Company will be directed towards the production of rifles for the army and navy services, which General Wheeler, who has had considerable experience in Cuba and the Philippines, considers to be very poorly equipped at present. In fact, he states definitely that the American army rifles are decidedly inferior to those carried by the Spaniard and the Filipino insurgents. The Company now about to be formed will probably adopt as its leading manufacture the rifle invented by Mr. S. N. McClean, of Cleveland, Ohio, for which a record is claimed of twenty-five shots per second. It is on the semi-automatic system, the gas from the first discharge ejecting the fired cartridge, loading a fresh cartridge into the chamber, and so on. Full particulars are not yet available as to the performance and constructive details of the rifle, which have so far been preserved in a condition of strict secrecy." Arms & Explosives, December, 1901.

 

 

ROSS STRAIGHT-PULL RIFLE: DESCRIPTION:  This piece, which is the invention of Sir Charles Ross, has been adopted by the Canadian government for the armament of the Dominion troops. The bolt is of the frontlock, straight-pull type, a single rectilinear movement backwards and forwards serving to lock and unlock the breech action and cock the firing pin. The bolt head is separate from the main portion of the bolt, the two parts engaging by means of a series of volute grooves in such a manner that the pushing home of the bolt rotates the head so that the lugs on it enter into corresponding grooves in the housing of the breech. A straight pull upon the bolt lever first causes the bolt head to rotate and free its lugs and then bolt and bolt-head move to the rear together. The extractor is a long piece of steel, spring tempered so as to allow it to snap over the rim of the cartridge, but for extraction it does not rely upon its strength and springiness. On the contrary, the undercut lug laps over the extractor during the withdrawal of the bolt, thereby locking it mechanically against the cartridge case. A strong trigger

spring is fitted but it is not absolutely essential to the working of the piece. The sear consists of two parts, one being of the usual bell-crank form working upon a rocking-pin, with an end engaging in the trigger and the other in the usual manner in a detent in the cocking piece for the purpose of holding back the firing pin in the cocked position. There is another arm on the rocking pin, reaching forward and normally in contact with the under side of the bolt; it is compelled, except when forced out, to act on the sear proper by the pressure of a very powerful spring, so that even were the trigger-blade entirely disconnected, the sear would be compelled to engage with its corresponding detent in

the cocking-piece as the bolt was shot forward into locking position. If both sear spring and special sear-spring become inoperative through breakage or other cause the trigger itself solves the difficulty. The

back of the trigger-guard is slotted, and the trigger is made of extra depth so that it projects backwards an appreciable distance through this slot. In the natural process of handling the rifle and operating the breech mechanism, the middlefinger of the right hand presses against the right of the trigger guard just at the very spot where there is this projection of the trigger, and that pressure of the finger operating through the trigger to the sear affords at once the missing impulse to engage the sear with the cocking-piece. The magazine is of compact form and kept flush with the woodwork forward of the trigger guard. It consists of a metal box into which the cartridges, five in number, can be dropped haphazard on a platform depressed for that purpose by hand, the arrangement of the cartridges in proper zig-zag fashion ready for use being accomplished automatically or, at worst, assisted by a slight shaking of the platform. A clip or charger may be used if desired. The platform is held up by a z-shaped spring and is depressed by one of the fingers of the left hand (which holds the piece) pushing down on a projection on the right side of the platform extending slightly beyond the woodwork. The wooden casing underneath the barrel is in one piece with the stock and extends nearly to the muzzle, and a top piece joins it about the rear sight, so that the barrel is covered in with wood from the lower band to a point just in front of the face of the barrel. In a competitive trial with the Lee-Enfield, fifty rounds were fired from the Ross rifle with ease in 2 min. 10 sec., while it required 4 min. 40 sec. to fire the same number of rounds from the Lee. The trial of the Ross rifle previous to adoption by Canada was of a very rigorous nature. The tests were modeled after those of the U. S. Army Board and had additional requirements, but the rifle was declared satisfactory in every respect. Chiefly from Arms & Explosives.

 

HYLARD AUTOMATIC RIFLE: "A new rifle, the invention of Mr. John Hylard of Melbourne, Australia, was shown last Monday at the Staines Range. In this rifle there are several features which are both new and valuable. The striker is almost entirely contained within the bolt, the only projecting part being the fine point which hits the cap in the cartridge, and its projection is less than ? in. There is thus no danger of the striker being bent and rendered useless if the rifle should be dropped on rocky ground. There is no coiled spring around the striker it receives its energy from a hammer, operated by a flat spring, both hammer and spring being within the lock. This spring is bent to its acting position when the bolt is rotated previous to withdrawal, and is locked in that position until the bolt is returned to close the breech. Until that action is accomplished, the rifle cannot be fired. Thus the effort required to cock the gun is made during the unlocking of the bolt, and not during the time it is being returned to the breech, as in the Lee Metford rifle. It is stated that this renders it possible to load and fire continuously out of the magazine without removing the weapon from the shoulder. The magazine takes five cartridges. The bottom can be removed for cleaning, while the piston, which pushes up the cartridges, can be thrown out of action by a lever, which releases a spring in the lock. The effect of this is that the cartridges can be dropped into the magazine, and do not require careful individual insertion as in the Lee- Metford. They may be carried in any way; in bandoliers or pouches, but it is preferred to carry them in a bandolier fitted with metallic clips which hold five each. These clips are held over the magazine, and the contents pressed out most readily. It is not possible to describe the mechanism of the lock without drawings, but its chief merits are that it has no projecting striker, that the cocking is done on the unlocking of the bolt, and that the bolt cannot fall out when the rifle is carried on a galloping horse. The rifle is being made by Messrs. Bland and Sons, King William-street, Strand, W.C. Last Monday a number of trials were made of the speed of firing aimed shots against a Lee-Metford rifle, with the general result that the new rifle only required about two-thirds of the time of the regulation weapon. Possibly part of the gain should be credited to the marksman." Engineering, London, November 15, 1901.

 

 

BRODIE AUTOMATIC PISTOL:  Mr. N. E. Brodie, at present residing in China, has patented an automatic pistol in which the whole of the working parts are enclosed within the outside casing. The weapon is hammerless, and the mechanism is worked by the recoil in a manner similar to that in other pistols of the automatic type. A special sighting device is also attached to the pistol, the sights, both fore and rear, being adapted to lie flat in grooves cut upon the barrel. By this means they are protected. The British patent is No. 10,391 of 1900, and was accepted September 6, 1901.

 

 

MARS AUTOMATIC PISTOL:  This arm is of the recoiling barrel type, and the magazine containing ten cartridges is in the handle, as in the Borchardt and Luger pistols. Underneath the barrel there is a groove or slot of circular section extending from near the muzzle to a point above the trigger guard. The top of this groove is open so as to allow a lug on the barrel to travel in it. The groove contains a long spiral spring extending the whole length (when uncompressed), and in its rear end a small stiff spring surrounding a buffer. When the barrel recoils it compresses the long spring and operates the breech mechanism; its remaining force is received on the buffer. The breech block is carried to the rear by the recoil of the barrel and in so moving stretches two spiral springs held around small guide rods. When the barrel moves to the front under the action of the long spiral spring pressing against the barrel lug it takes the breech block with it for the first quarter of an inch, but during this amount of travel the breech block is disengaged from the breech and the barrel then moves forward alone. The locking lugs and spaces on the front end of the breech block (or breech bolt) are each three in number equally spaced about the periphery of the block, and resemble the lands and blanks of an interrupted screw breech plug for large guns, except that the lugs are not threaded. As the forward movement of the barrel uncovers the loading hole from the magazine the empty shell is extracted by the extractor and a fresh cartridge, which has been previously drawn to the rear out of the top of the magazine, is now pointed upward fair for loading, its point striking the empty shell and throwing it out. Then the breech block moves forward, loads the cartridge and locks its logs in the grooves of the breech. Pulling the trigger now fires the piece. In the movement of the barrel and mechanism to the rear a hammer pivoted just below the rear end of the breech block (when closed) is thrown back and held in the cocked position.

The firing pin is always held back by its spring except when struck by the hammer which is tripped by pulling the trigger. The pistol is made in three sizes, calibers of .334, .360, and .450. The barrel is very long in proportion to the total length of the pistol. The magazine is charged by a case which can be quickly inserted in the handle so that a speed of 24 shots in to seconds has been made. The .360 caliber weapon has a total length of 9.5 inches (11.5 inches open) and a barrel of 8.7 inches; and its weight is 2 lbs. 10 oz. The bullet is nickel-coated, weighing 160 grains; powder charge, 12 grains; muzzle velocity, 1640 f.s.; penetration in 1-inch deal boards, 12 inches. The Mars pistol is the invention of Mr. Hugh W. Gabbett-Fairfax, an Englishman, and is being exploited by an English company.

 

 

TORPEDOES

 

 

 

TORPEDO TUBES NOT TO BE PLACED ON NEW ARMORED SHIPS:  The Naval Board on Construction has refused to reconsider the question of abolishing under-water torpedo tubes in the new battleships and armored cruisers, and the Secretary of the Navy has approved their recommendation that no tubes be placed on the new armored ships.

 

 

TRIALS OF TORPEDOES WITH AIR-HEATING APPARATUS:  "In a paper read before the American Society of Naval Engineers and Marine Architects, Mr. F. M. Leavitt records the results of a longer series of observations on the power consumed in propelling Whitehead torpedoes.

The experiments in question were made at the works of the E. W. Bliss Company, who supply the United States Navy. Three types are used, all being 45 centimeters in diameter, but differing in length, the short torpedoes being 3.55 meters long, and the others 5 meters long. The air for driving them is stored in steel flasks at a pressure of 1350 lbs. to 1500 lbs. per square inch; the amount of air carried weighing 48 lbs. in the case of a short torpedo, and 80 lbs. in the case of a large one. The engines are of the three-cylinder Brotherhood type, and the air is supplied to these at a constant pressure through a reducing valve. By adjusting this valve, the charge of air can be used either to propel the torpedo at a high speed for a short distance, or at a lower speed for a longer one. The power developed was measured by a modification of the device used by Professor Unwin in his experiments on fluid friction, made some twenty years or so ago, and described in the Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers. The propellers of the torpedo were replaced by four discs, each 2 ft. in diameter, which were revolved in a vessel of water concentric with them, and, save for the action of a spring balance, free to rotate about the same center as the discs. The friction of the water set in motion by the discs was measured by the pull on the spring balance, and this gave at once the torque, and hence finally the horsepower exerted. Between each pair of the moving discs was another, attached to the circumference surface of the containing vessel. The following table shows the average results obtained from a large number of trials:

 

Charts

 

In the experiments with hot air the torpedo was fitted with a re-heater, burning liquid fuel, which warmed the air before it entered the cylinders." Engineering, January 3, 1902.

 

 

FLOODING OF UNDER-WATER TORPEDO ROOM ON THE SANSPARIEL:  "A curious accident has happened to the Sanspariel. When using her submerged tubes one of them failed to close after the torpedo left the

tube, and in consequence the submerged room was flooded. Several hundred tons of water entered the compartment and submerged the ship's bow about 3 ft. This is rather more sinkage than the theory of things allows for; on the other hand, there is, or was, an impression that the filling of this compartment would capsize the ship. This did not happen, and the water was pumped out by the ship's own appliances without difficulty. But the incident suggests what might very well happen in action." Engineer, London, December 13, 1901.

 

 

This explanation of the accident is evidently incomplete. Why was not the inner door of the tube closed? It seems as if some one opened the rear door of the tube without screwing down on the gate; or perhaps the gate is supposed to be self-closing and cannot be operated by hand.

 

 

BURSTING OF AN AIR-FLASK OF A TORPEDO ON THE JAUREGUIBERRY:   While she was practicing in the Gulf of Juan, on January 22, the airflask of one of the Jaureguiberry's torpedoes burst with great violence, wounding several men, one of them dangerously. The four men of the torpedo crew were at their stations and handling a torpedo with its air-flask at 80 atmospheres (1176 pounds per square inch) when the latter burst into several pieces which were driven violently about the compartment. The strong rush of air from the broken flask threw the men about with great force and may have added to their injuries, but upon this point there is no information. The torpedo which burst was of 450 millimeters caliber and the full charging pressure for launching is 90 atmospheres (1323 pounds per square inch). While only charged to 80 atmospheres at the time of explosion it would have been charged to 90 before being launched, though probably the explosion would have been no more serious. The injury to the ship and fittings by the explosion was trifling. This is not the first time that an air-flask has burst on the Jaureguiberry. About the time she first joined the fleet an airflask of a torpedo in a submerged tube burst, owing to the jamming of the guide stud, which was either torn out or broke the shell of the flask in its vicinity. The injury in that case was wholly confined to the ship and tube. Chiefly from Le Yacht.