Kearsarge 1900
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| BB5 | Kearsarge | Newport News | 30/6/1896 | 24/3/1898 | 20/2/1900 | crane ship 8/1920 |
| BB6 | Kentucky | Newport News | 30/6/1896 | 24/3/1898 | 15/5/1900 | stricken 5/1922 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
11540 |
|
Displacement full, t |
12850 |
|
Length, m |
114.4 |
|
Breadth, m |
22.0 |
|
Draught, m |
7.16 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
VTE, 5 cylindrical boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
10000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 1591 |
|
Armour, mm |
Harvey steel - belt: 419 - 127, bulkheads: 305 - 254, deck: 127 - 70, barbettes: 381 - 318, main turrets: 432 - 381, secondary turrets: 279 - 152, casemates: 152, CT: 254 |
|
Armament |
2 x 2 - 330/35 Mk 1, 2 x 2 - 203/35 Mk 3/4, 14 x 1 - 127/40 Mk 2/3/4, 20 x 1 - 57/(30 - 50) Mk 1 - 13, 8 x 1 - 37/(20 - 50) Mk 1 - 13, 4 - 450 TT (beam) |
|
Complement |
553 - 690 |
Ship project history: On this class of battleships the original arrangement of artillery in two-level turrets for the first time was used. Theoretically rather favourable, in practice it has appeared unsuccessful because of impossibility to conduct simultaneous fire from 330mm and 203mm guns. Turrets have gone out too heavy, with huge gunports. 127mm guns in the central battery were placed too cramped, and absence of sponsons and cuts in the hull did not allow ability to ensure good horizontal aiming angles. The ships had too small free board and, as consequence, bad seaworthiness. Large top weight had caused a strong rocking and bad qualities as gun platforms. For the first time electric drives for practically all auxiliary machines were widely used.
Ship protection: Main belt had 2.29m height (1.07m over and 1.22m under waterline). It was 419mm thick at upper edge, tapering to 337mm at waterline and 241mm at lower edge from forward bulkhead of boiler room to the centerline of after barbette. Thickness of main belt was gradually reduced to 267mm maximum at the centerline of fore barbette. Next 9.1m forward part of belt was 102mm. Fore angled bulkhead was 254mm and aft angled bulkhead was 305mm. There was 127mm upper belt. 70mm armoured deck over citadel was flat and connected with upper edge of main belt. It was sloped and 76mm thick fore and 127mm aft. Main gun turrets had 89mm crowns and secondary turrets had 51mm crowns. 5`` guns placed in casemates with 152mm armour.
Modernizations: 1909 - 1911, both: - 16 x 1 - 57/(30 - 50), 4 - 450 TT; + 4 x 1 - 127/40 Mk 2/3/4; cylindrical boilers were replaced by 8 Mosher, cage masts were installed.
1919, both: - 10 x1 - 127/40, 4 x 1 - 57/4(30 - 50); + 2 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 10 AA
Naval service: No significant events.
Kearsarge 1901
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10