The new programme began, in 1904, with the ordering of two 16,400-ton
battleships at Elswick and Barrow respectively. They have been named
Kashima and Katori.
The following description of the Elswick battleship appeared in the
_Engineer_:—
Her length on the water-line is 455 ft.; her breadth, 78 ft. 2 ins.;
her draught, 26 ft. 7½ ins.; and her displacement, in tons, 16,400;
and she will carry for her armament four 12-in. guns, twin mounted in
barbettes; four 10-in. guns, mounted singly in barbettes; twelve 6-in.
guns in the citadel; twelve 12-pounder guns; six Maxim guns; three
3-pounder guns; and five torpedo tubes. The plan shows the disposition
of the above-named armament, the arrangement of which has been most
carefully considered, so that there is no interference with one another
in the firing of the different guns, which, however, are all capable of
being trained through large arcs. The 12-in. guns are 26 ft., and the
10-in. 22 ft., above the water-line. The 6-in. guns in the battery are
from 13 ft. to 14 ft. above the water-line.
The general disposition of the armour protection is that adopted in
the latest and most powerful battleships, the armour amidships being
carried from below the water-line right up to the upper deck. Above
the level of the upper deck additional protection has been adopted, a
4-in. screen being worked to a height of 7 ft. 6 ins. above the upper
deck, and extending between the 10-in. gun positions. The main armour
belt, which extends the whole length of the vessel, has a thickness of
9 ins. for more than half its length, tapering to rather less at the
extremities. The depth of this belt is from 5 ft. below water to 2 ft.
6 ins. above water. Immediately above this is a belt of 6-in. armour,
extending in length from the after 12-in. barbette right forward to
the stem. Above this again is the 6-in. citadel armour carried to the
height of the upper deck, and enclosing the two 12-in. barbettes. In
this citadel are placed ten of the 6-in. guns, divided from one another
by screens of 80-lb. armour plating, and firing through ports similar
to those adopted in casemates. This citadel arrangement, which is one
of the most important features of this and other recent battleships,
is really a revival or development of the old box battery arrangement
adopted in some of our battleships built in the seventies, such as
the Shannon and Alexandra. This arrangement fell into disuse when
the great improvement made in ordnance—which for a time kept so far
ahead of the improvements in armour—made it necessary to increase the
thickness of the armour to make it efficient, and therefore it was only
possible to cover a comparatively small area of the vessel’s side.
However, the recent improvements in armour have been such that again
comparatively thin armour is efficient in keeping out projectiles,
which has once more made it possible to protect a greater area of side.
In more recent years the same system with protective divisions between
the guns in the battery was adopted in the Nile and Trafalgar, but as
the 4-in. armour protecting the battery of each of these vessels was
not of a quality to keep out even the smaller armour-piercing shell,
the system was not repeated until the latest and most improved armour
was adopted in such vessels as our King Edward VII. class, and in the
much-talked-of Swiftsure and Triumph. The remaining two 6-in. guns fire
through similar ports in the 4-in. screen armour on the upper deck
amidships. The barbette armour of the 12-in. guns is 9 ins. thick on
the upper portions where exposed, and 5 ins. thick where protection is
afforded by the citadel armour. The barbette armour of the 10-in. guns
has a thickness of 6 ins., the conning-tower armour is 9 ins. thick,
and the observer tower 5 ins. thick. In addition to these two armoured
positions for commanding officers, three officers’ shelters are to be
built of 3-in. armour, one above the conning-tower and one on each
side. Besides the armour described above, a steel protective deck runs
throughout the entire length of the vessel, the whole of the machinery,
magazines, etc., being kept below. This protective deck has a thickness
of 2 ins. on the flat portions amidships, and 3 ins. on the sloping
sides, which are carried down to meet the bottom of the main armour
belt. At the ends where the armour protection is reduced, this deck
has a thickness of 2½ ins. all over. Thick protective plating is also
worked on the top of the screen armour at the boat deck level.
[Illustration]
Special attention has been paid to the arrangement and disposition
of the magazines, so that the ammunition can be got to all the guns
with the greatest speed and minimum of trouble. There are independent
magazines for each pair of 12-in. guns, and for each 10-in. gun, and an
ammunition passage is provided running right round the machinery spaces
below the protective deck for the supply of ammunition to the various
6-in. and smaller quickfiring guns. The torpedo tubes are situated
in watertight chambers—two tubes forward and two aft firing on the
broadsides, and one tube firing right astern, also under water. Special
means are provided for rapidly clearing water from these submerged
torpedo-rooms in case of emergency.
The general particulars of the main propelling machinery and boilers
are as follows: There are twenty Niclausse boilers disposed in three
separate boiler-rooms. These boilers will have a working pressure of
230 lbs., and a grate surface of 1300 sq. ft., and a heating surface
of 43,000 sq. ft. The twin engines will have four cylinders each, of
36 ins., 56 ins., 63 ins., and 63 ins., with a stroke of 48 ins., and
the horse-power will be sufficient to give a speed of at least 18½
knots. The coal bunkers are so arranged as to reinforce the protection
given by the armour and protective deck to the engines and boilers,
whilst their disposition is such as to require very little trimming to
get the coal to the furnaces. The bulk of the coal can also be got to
the stokeholds without opening any of the doors in the main watertight
bulkheads—a point of very great importance when the vessel is in
action. In addition to the coal bunkers below the protective deck,
reserve bunkers are arranged on the slopes of the protective deck up
to the height of the main deck over the length of the machinery spaces
amidships, the total capacity being approximately 2000 tons, which is
sufficient to give the vessel a very large radius of action.
A very complete outfit is being provided for the vessel, including the
following boats: Two 56-ft. vedette torpedo boats of high speed, one
36-ft. steam pinnace, one 40-ft. launch, one 32-ft. pinnace, three
30-ft. cutters, two 30-ft. gigs. For lifting these boats two powerful
electrically worked derricks are provided—one on each side of the
vessel.
There is also a powerful electrical equipment, both for providing
energy for the numerous machines on board, and also for lighting.
The latter will include provision for six searchlights and some 1250
incandescent lamps.
The equipment of anchors and cables includes three stockless bower
anchors of 120 cwt. each, and other smaller anchors. There are also
three main cables of 150 fathoms each of 2⅝ ins. stud chain.
The vessel being of such an immense weight—over 17,000 tons with her
full equipment of coal, stores, etc.—special arrangements have been
provided for docking her with safety, and, in addition to shoring
ribbands for giving special support to the armour in dock, two docking
keels are provided on the flat portions of the bottom under the bilges
amidships. These keels will rest on separate lines of blocks in the
dock, as well as the usual blocks along the middle line of the vessel.
Bilge keels are also provided to reduce rolling in a seaway.
The watertight subdivision of the vessel is of a most thorough
description; the inner bottom extends over the whole length of the
vessel, and is minutely subdivided, and above this the number of
transverse and longitudinal watertight bulkheads is too numerous to
mention.
An elaborate system of pumping and draining has been worked out, and
in addition to the main pumps in the engine-rooms, which can be used
in case of emergency for dealing with a large inrush of water, are two
9-in. pumps, two 5½-in., and one 4½-in., besides pumps for fresh and
salt water services.
In a vessel of this description the ventilation arrangements are not
the least important of the many items which have to be thought out,
and every precaution has been taken for efficiently ventilating spaces
both above and below the protective deck. In addition to the natural
ventilation, artificial means have to be largely adopted, even in
the upper portions of the vessel where she is entirely enclosed in
with armour and protective plating, and here, as well as below the
protective deck, numerous electrical fans, with air trunks, branches,
pipes, etc., are being provided for.
Two complete sets of steering engines, independent of one another
and in separate watertight compartments, are fitted, with steering
positions both forward and aft. Hand gear is also provided, and
appliances for changing as quickly as possible from hand to steam
gear, and _vice versâ_. Tiller indicators are fitted in all the
steering and conning-tower positions. Helm signals are provided for
the purpose of communicating the position of the helm to other vessels
in the neighbourhood. Voice-pipes, telegraphs, and telephones are
fitted throughout the vessel to communicate between all the important
positions. The vessel is also to be supplied with a wireless telegraphy
installation. Torpedo net defence is to be fitted around the greater
part of the vessel, which, in view of recent experience, appears to be
not an unnecessary precaution.
With the exception of the main propelling machinery and boilers, which
are being supplied by Messrs. Humphrys, Tennant and Co., the whole of
the ship, with armour, armament, fittings, etc., will be supplied by
Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Limited.
The 12-in. guns will weigh approximately 59 tons each. The length is 46
ft. 9½ ins. (46.7 calibres). The weight of the projectile is 850 lbs.
The charge will be cordite, probably of the modified type. The exact
weight of the charge is not yet fixed, and neither can the velocity be
given, but these guns will be the most powerful 12-in. guns which have
yet been constructed. No armour which any ship can carry can hope to
cope with their penetrating powers at 3000 yards. The breech-screw is
arranged for a parallel motion, which obviates the necessity of having
a steep cone at the seating of the obturating pad. It is yet early to
speak of the rapidity of fire to be obtained with these guns, but it
is anticipated that, in conjunction with the mounting described, the
hitherto obtained rate of approximately two rounds per minute from each
gun will be exceeded.
The 10-in. guns will weigh approximately 34 tons each. The length is
39 ft. (46.76 calibres). The weight of the projectile is 500 lbs. The
charge will be cordite, probably of the modified type. As in the 12-in.
guns, the exact weight of the charge has yet to be fixed, but here
again this will be the most powerful gun of its calibre in existence.
As a gauge of the power of these guns, it may be noticed that their
penetrating power is equal to the penetrating power at 3000 yards
of any of the 12-in. guns at present afloat in any navy. The breech
mechanism will be somewhat similar in design to that of the 12-in., and
will embody all the essential advantages of that design. The rapidity
of fire of these guns on the Elswick mounting it is anticipated will
at least be at the rate of three rounds per minute with a well-drilled
gun’s crew.
The 6-in. guns will weigh approximately 8½ tons. The length is 23 ft. 6
ins. approximately (47 calibres). The weight of the projectile is 100
lbs. The charge will be probably M.D. cordite; but here again this is
not definitely fixed, but these guns will be the most powerful guns
of their description made, having a penetrating power at 3000 yards
equal to, if not exceeding, any 6-in. guns hitherto built. The breech
mechanism will be of the Elswick modified coned type, actuated by the
single motion of the lever, and, as in the other gun, the necessity for
the steep-coned obturator is obviated. The exact type of the smaller
guns is not yet settled, but they will also follow the general advances
in power and efficiency noted in the case of the heavier armaments.