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Following the “Georgia” class came the authorization in 1902 of the “Connecticut” and “Louisiana,” and in the following two years of the “Kansas,” “Minnesota,” “Vermont,” and “New Hampshire.” In the same year also were authorized two battleships, the “Idaho” and “Mississippi,” of less size, power, and speed, of which we shall speak later. The first six vessels form, like the ships of the “Georgia” class, a homogeneous squadron. The “Connecticut,” built at the Brooklyn navy yard, and the “Louisiana,” built at Newport News, are practically identical. The “Kansas” and “New Hampshire,” built by the New York Shipbuilding Company; the “Minnesota,” built at Newport News; and the “Vermont,” built by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company, differ slightly in armor and other details from the two earlier ships. In the “Connecticut,” as compared with the “Georgia,” the length was increased by 15 feet, the beam by 7% inches, and the draft by 9 inches, the displacement being raised from 14,948 tons to 16,000 tons. The armor plan remained practically the same, except that the protection to the lower deck and casemates was increased to 7 inches. The battery, however, is greatly increased in power, the latest pattern of 45- caliber 12-inch gun being mounted in these ships for the first time in our navy. In addition to four of these carried axially in barbette turrets forward and aft, there are eight 45-caliber 8-inch guns in turrets on the broadside, and an exceedingly powerful secondary battery mounted in casemates on the gun deck, consisting of twelve 7-inch 50-caliber rapid-fire guns. The 7-inch gun is a new gun, and it was mounted for the first time in the “Connecticut” and “Louisiana.” It is a 50-caliber piece, capable of penetrating 6.4 inches of Krupp armor at 3,000 yards. The fire in any direction from these ships is heavy, consisting of two 12's, four 8's, and two 7's ahead and astern, and four 12's, four 8's, and six 7's on the broadside. They are provided with four submerged torpedo tubes for the new turbine torpedo, and they have the large coal supply of 2,200 tons. Both the “Connecticut” and “Louisiana” exceeded their high contract speed of 18 knots with (Continued on page #9.) Displacement, 16,00 tons. Speed, 18.5 knots. Coal Supply, 2,20 tons. Armor: Belt, 12 inches ; casemate side armor, 10 to 8 inches; barbettes and turrets, 10 to 12 inches. AriuaiuentI Eight 45-caliber 12-inch guns; twenty-two 3-inch guns. Torpedo Tubes, 2 submw. 2t-Inch. FIRST-CLASS BATTLESHIP “SOUTH CAROLINA/' ALSO “MICHIGAN."' © 1907 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC
