Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/82

 Ix UNITED STATES marine purposes. The other classification is for naval purposes. The distinctions, however, are sometimes so closely drawn as to make it diffi- cult for a layman to understand the difference between a battleship and a cruiser. The classification in the United States navy resembles that in the British navy very closely, but differs from the Continental classifi- cations; as, for instance, some of Cervera's fleet designated under the Spanish classification as "first-class battleships" would be called "cruis- ers " in the United States navy. The vessels denominated "battleships" in the foregoing list are first-class according to a general system of classi- fication, so far as the same can be adopted. The first-class cruisers are of more than 6000 tons, and exceed 17 knots in speed. So far as the batteries are concerned, it has been considered sufficient to give the total number of guns in the main and secondary batteries respectively, as a classification as to calibres is of no great use to the layman, while naval officers have recourse to official descriptions. Specific information as to a few of the leading vessels in the navy may be of interest. In the Texas the guns are mounted singly in two turrets, which are sheltered within an oblique redoubt, as in the Italia and other Italian ships. The Oregon^ Massachusetts^ and Indiana are practically identical. They have a partial belt of 17-inch armor, 1\ feet wide, extending over 56 per cent of the whole length. This belt rises 3 feet above the water-line, and extends 4| feet below ; it is capped by a fore and aft armored deck. At either end of the belt are armored redoubts 17 inches thick, rising to 3^ feet above the protective deck ; these redoubts protect the turning gear of the turrets and all the operations of loading. The tubes through which the ammunition is hoisted are also armored. Above the belt, and extending from one redoubt to the other, the side is protected by 5 inches of armor. The main armament consists of four 13-inch 35-calibre guns mounted in pairs in two turrets, one forward, one aft, protected with 17-inch armor, placed on an incline, with a horizontal cover of 20- inch thickness ; and eight 8-inch guns mounted in four turrets, formed of inclined armor from 8^ inches to 6 inches thick, and placed at the four corners of a deck on a level with the top of the larger tvirrets. The length at the water-line is 348 feet, beam 62 feet 3 inches, and draft 2-4 feet. The lowa^ which is in an earlier stage of construction, is of similar design. The United States battleships are to carry small torpedo boats on their decks. Among the coast-defence vessels the ram Katahdin deserves to be noted. She was designed by Admiral Ammen, and, beyond a small sec- ondary battery, depends for offensive force upon her ability to ram a foe. To accomplish this purpose, she can be submerged until only her turtle back, funnel, and ventilating shafts, all of which are armored, remain above water. Her dimensions are 251 feet by 42^ feet beam, 15 feet normal draft, and 2155 tons displacement. The Neio York and the Brooklyn are the largest cruisers in the United States navy, both armored and designed on the same lines. The dimen- sions of the former are: length, 380 ft. 6 in.; beam, 65 ft.; draft, 23 ft. 3 in. She has a heavily armored steel deck, in conjunction with light side plating, besides a cellulose belt. Two 8-incli guns are mounted forward and two aft in turrets, and one on either beam slightly sponsoned out. The 4-inch guns are carried on the deck below, and so placed as to fire fore and aft. Special interest attaches to the commerce destroyers Columbia and Min- neapolis^ which, on their official trials over the course (88 nautical miles)