MODERN DREADNOUGHTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 20 July 1925, Page 11

MODERN DREADNOUGHTS.

ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN. Tliero are few people wlio have any adequate idoa of tlio immense amount of electrical work ontering into tho construction of a modern battleship. On tho U.S.S. Colorado, the latest addition to tho United States Navy, and tho U.S.S. Tonnessoo, which are coming to tho Dominion, us part of tho American Fleet, due in August, pr.acti- j qally ovorything that can bo accomplished at tho present day by oloctrieu! means is utilised for operation and convenience in tho handling of tho ships. This not only means tho actual running of tho ships, but all other apparatus employed for tho convonionco of tho officers and crows. Tho four propellers of tho now 33,000 ton super-droudnought Colorado, for instance, aro electrically driven by directly-connected, two-spcod, wound secondary induction motors, supplied with power by two turbine generator sets. A battery of eight oil-fired water tube boilors supplies steam at 2051 b gaugo to tlm turbines. All engineroom auxiliaries! netaossary to tho main propulsion, analt as tho main oondonsor, circulating and oondunsato pumps, and tho main motor ventilating blowers are oloctriottlly driven by oireot-ourront motors, supplied from ono of tho 300 k.w, geared turbine diropt-curront generating sots in oaoh engino room. Olio power-generating maohincry is located.in two engine-rooms, ono boing forward of tho other, and both being forward of tho control room. Tlio turbine generators aro mounted directly above the condensers. Tho condensers, with thoir auxiliaries, aro mounted on tho lower machinery ilat or pump room. Tho switchboards for controlling tho 300 k.w. sots aro mounted at tho ends of tho ongino-rooins. All control equipment and other apparatus necessary for tho complete control of tho propelling machinery is contained in tho control room, which is located between tho engino rooms and tho motor rooms. Tho U.S.S. Colorado is tho first turbine electrically-driven vessel to havo remote olectrio speed control. All operation incident to the manoeuvring of tho main turbines, oxcopt the actual smarting when preparing to got under way, is done electrically from the control room. < This is a very unique arrangement, in that it eliminates all mechanical and hydraulic connections between the turbines and the control station. _ Each propelling motor is capable of delivering a maximum of _ 8375, horsepower at a speed of approximately 185 revolutions per minute, and the designs of the motors incorporate all special features required by marine service. As in tho case of any other drive, the control for tho electric drive _is operated under orders from the bridge. The lighting system of this vessel consists of fixtures of various types which are particularly adapted for use, depending upon thoir location. For instance, steam-tight guarded fixtures are used for machinery spaces, and spaces where fixtures are exposed to the weather, or where there is a probability of mechanical injury. In the officers’ quarters, the fixtures are not of such a rugged design, and, while not strictly decorative in effect, are as nearly so as is consistent with general practice in accordance with any article that is used in battleship construction. In pH, approximately 3200 fixtures have been used in connection With the illumination of the ship. In addition, of course, i here are hundreds of lighting outlets for the purpose of “plugging in” portablo lights, small fans, etc. Three hundred motors go to make up the power system. These motors total approximately 5000 h.p., and are used for various purposes, including the numerous pumps, etc., in connection with main propelling machinery, driving of tho ventilation systems of the ship, w hich are 73 in number, the hoisting of the anchors, steering of the vessel, deck winches, capstans, boat cranes, and ,a number of other uses, even to tho running of printing presses, operation of galley appliances, such as dough mixers, egg beaters, potato peelers, machinery workshop, laundry, and many other miscellaneous uses. There ,are about forty interior communication systems, exclusive of the fu-o control system, which is used m connection with obtaining the range and tho actual firing of the guns under battle conditions.