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LAUNCHING SCOUT: CRUISER BIRMID The launching of the scout cruiser Birmingham at the yard of the Fore River Ship Building Co. Quincy, Mass., was an event of more than passing interest and was attended' by a party of about thirty prominent citi- THE SCOUT CRUISER BIRMINGHAM AS SHE WILL LOOK WHEN CO MPLETED, zens of: Birmingham. : The vessel was christened by Miss* Mary Campbell, daughter of "Mt: and: Mrs" i ik: Campbell, of Birmingham, Ala. The plans and specifications for the scout cruiser Birmingham, authorized by "TAE. MARINE REVIEW have been given the most: careful consideration. The estimated speed, 24 knots, is greater than that of any other cruiser of the navy, and is exceeded only by that of the torpedo boats and de- stroyers, and while it is slightly less than that of the English scouts now building, the difference in speed is more than compensated for by the ability to maintain the high speed in all conditions of weather, more than \. THE LAUNCHING PARTY. act of congress of April 17, 1904, cov- er an entirely new type, as far as the United States navy is concerned, and the various features of the design twice the coal capacity of the English scouts, and, consequently, a greatly increased radius of action. The plans as fully developed call 35 SHAM J eae for a vessel of. the following charac- teristics: : Length between perpen- pore 420' 0" diculars -..021' ss va, -Lehgth .overcall... 7... co A2Se Breadth, molded ..... : 46' 8" Draught,. fully loaded.. 19' 114" Leo ce ; Depth, amidship, molded 36' 5 1-16" Displacement, fully load- C00 eel 4,640 tons Displacement. on: trial, .° 3,/60 tons Draught. on tital. s.2% | PABUS A Total. coal: capacity... .\" 1,280 tons Coal-on tial. 3s, a Feed water total.;..... 1: .Feed water on trial.... ey ees Maximum speed, aver- age of 4 hours' run.. 24 knots Steaming radius at 10 knots per hour, about 6,250 " Steaming radius at full speed, about ..2.,.914 41 Maximum _ indicated horsepower, M.. en- mines. €36 32 16,000 Indicated horsepower, Suxilerieg oe. - 400 Time allowed for com- pietlOn. Lov iei ae 32 mos. The freeboard of the vessel is greater than that of any other ves- sel in the navy, being, at the normal draught, 19 ft. 8% in. amidships, 34 ft. at the stem, and 21 <i. 6 in at the stern. The high freeboard insures good sea-going qualities, gives great range of stability and provides a safe and dry vessel under all conditions of weather. On account of the high freeboard it has been possible to pro- vide commodious quarters for the offi- cers and crew, well above the water line. A forecastle has been provided above the main deck, for about one- quarter of the length, and deck houses have been arranged abaft the fore- eastle.