Battleship Tests

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 18, 7 May 1908, Page 15

Battleship Tests

Those who had hoped for the cessation of armed conflict 'between nations from the deliberations of this Peace Congress at the Hague have been sadly disappointed at the little progress made towards that end. The Great Powers show what little faith they have in ■the results therefrom that nearly all of them are increasing their l means of defence both by land and sea. 'The naval Powers especially are leaving nothing -undone to perfect their armaments, and nearly every oth/er day we h.ear of the launching of some gireat battleship, upon which vast sums have been expended, and on the minutest detail of its. construction the highest engineering skill hus been used. It is an anxious yet proud moment for the builders and designers of a big battleship when the tests are about toi be applied which are to expose its faults, if any, lay bare its secret failings, and bring to the surface! the manifold queer whims and caprices to which vessels, Pike horses, are peculiarly prone. The skill and laibor of many months are about to undergo the ordeal of the most searching investigation which science and human foresight can apply, and a big cheque is about to change hands. Here^ Is ,a description of the launching of one of 1 these »huge leviathans, rand an account of the trials and tests it underwent before being handed over to its future owners :— A complete staff of artificers, stokers, ami a small crew of smart and seamanlike sailors stood under orders, prepared for any emergency which might arise, and preparations were made for tihe first trial, slow speed. After a six hours' run at twothirds speed this test was pronounced satisfactory, and, as a matter of fact, it is the least formidable of the series in the eyes of interested parties. Then steering enthusiasts experimented with the steam-gear which actuates the redder, performed evolutions at startling angles, and -pronounced it excellent. Next, day, after the boilers had been carefully cleaned and overhauled, the- engines were put at their top notch for speed "and endurance, and no doubt during the run— ten miles— the anxieties of the eaigine-roorci authorities were neithefc few nor frivolous. But in

justice to the engineer it must be admitted that, while not exactly welcoming difficulties, he is seldom happier than when successfully meeting them Meanwhile the draught of water was being carefully noted, weights on board befing verified, for all deficient armament, stores, etc., have been made up in waterballas't and coal. And talking of coal, the experts want to k<now to a pound how much of this precious hll r h '',^ y the way ' is specially hand-picked end! selected, 'is being consumed to maintain the steam pressure. * The anchor trtals proved very interesting. These colossal masses of iron, several of their> weighing nearly six tons apiece, were let go, to try their holding power on the sea-bottom, then drawn up again and stowed inboard, to satisfy the ban-d of critics on deck that everything in this department of the vessel's internal economy was well formed and in perfect workdnsr order. ° The auxiliary armament, as the smaller guns are termed, was next subjected to examination, and not only the weapons themselves, but tbeir mountings had to pass muster, any defects or .suggested alterations being, where possible, effected or remedied by the staff on the spot. Meanwhile the electrical fittings With which every modern war-ship is appointed, from light to telephones, had been overhauled and tested, and presently the torpedo trials were due. The tubes from which these deadly missiles are dis-,-charged had been previously tested during the steaming trials by firing dummies, but, now the real thing had to meet the approval of the experts. These tests are too/ technical for line average landsman to follow, but they are thorough. Truly, the officer who, seated in his steel conning-tower, touches a knob and releases one of these destruction-dealing engines in the direction of an enemy's warship holds terrible responsibilities in his hands. Perhaps one of The Most Important Tests is that applied to the bag guns, and the consequences of their discharge, for after the regulation number of rounds have taken place the strength and construction of the vessel were minutely examined, to see that every rivet stood firm and that the decks had sus- - taincd no damage Jor strain from the terrific shock ; of the firing. Needless to say, during this trial the horizon was carefully scanned with glasses between rounds to obviate the chances of dropping projectiles into passing vessels. Battleship trials 'in England are "invariably conducted almost solely by the British staff who have bieen employed on the structure of the mighty fabric, and they work with wonderful enthusiasm and unceasing endeavor to get the very best possible out of that portion of the wonderful organisation under their charge, be "it gun or engine. Nearly every article in the ship's equipment is duplicated, so that there shall be no difficulty or hitch in the trials for want of a new part to replace one which has collapsed under the strain. The trials over, and even the technical expert satisfied, the captain of the new ship, who has followed each test as anxiously as the builders themselves-, expresses his satisfaction to the officials concerned in the successful realisation of their plans. Then his 1 subordinates present a list of items missing from the vessel's stores, the stokers and engineers receive a bonus (sometimes) for the herculean labors during the piast few weeks, and the well-tried battleship is formally handed over to her purchasers.