UNITED STATES WARSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1910, Page 7

UNITED STATES WARSHIP.

o — THE FLORIDA LAUNCHED. I By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received May 13, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, 12th May. The Florida, one of America's large [ battleships, has been launched. [The Florida was laid down at the ! New York Navy Yard on 9th March last. She is one of the vessels of what is known as the Delaware class, the others being the Delaware, the North Dakota, and the Utah. It is hoped that the Utah and the Florida will be commissioned in July, 1911. The Delaware is of 20,000 tons," and during her trial trips attained a speed of 22 knots on 30,000 horse-power. Her engines are of tho turbine type. The hull , is protected on the waterline by a complete armoured belt Bft wide, with a maximum thickness of llin. Above this is a belt 7ft 3m wide with a maximum thickness of lOin, while above the main casement armour amidships the sides are protected by armour sin thick. There is also an unusually effective system of watertight compartments, which, it is believed, will give the ship defensivequalities superior to those of any battleship hitherto designed. The armament consists of ten 12in guns in pairs in turrets all on the centre line, 14 sin, 12 smaller light and machine guns, and two submerged torpedo tubes discharging 21in torpedoes.