Design and construction USS Concord (PG-3)

1 design , construction

1.1 layout
1.2 propulsion
1.3 armament

design , construction

the yorktown class gunboats—unofficially considered third-class cruisers—were product of united states navy design attempt produce compact ships sea-keeping abilities and, yet, able carry heavy battery. concord authorized in 1888 fiscal year, , contract construction awarded n. f. palmer & co. of chester, pennsylvania. hull concord sublet palmer delaware river iron shipbuilding & engine works , built navy s bureau of construction , repair design. mechanical design patterned after layout older sister ship yorktown developed william cramp & sons .

concord s keel laid down in may 1888, , ship launched on 8 march 1890, sponsored minnie darlington coates, daughter of major joseph r. t. coates, mayor of chester. among in attendance @ launch ceremony sculptor daniel chester french.

layout

as built, concord 244 feet 5 inches (74.50 m) in length , 36 feet (11 m) abeam. steel hull had average draft of 14 feet (4 m), expected give ability escape larger ships shallow water. @ waterline turtleback deck of ⅜-inch (9.5 mm) steel formed watertight seal on lower spaces. deck had crown @ level of waterline , curved downwards 3 feet (0.91 m) below waterline @ sides of ship. below armored deck twelve compartments separated watertight bulkheads; spaces above equipped watertight doors intended closed during battle.

above armored deck, concord had forecastle , poop decks open gun deck spanned length of ship between them. conning tower located forward on forecastle deck , oval-shaped deflect shot. outfitted steam-powered steering wheel, telegraph, , speaking tubes; protected 2 inches (51 mm) of steel armor plate.

propulsion

concord powered 2 triple-expansion steam engines each drove 1 of pair of 10.5-foot (3.2 m), three-bladed screw propellers. cylinders of each engine 22, 31, , 51 inches (56, 79, , 130 cm) in diameter , had 30-inch (76 cm) stroke. each engine rated @ 3,400 indicated horsepower (2,500 kw) , designed move ship @ 16 knots (30 km/h), though ship exceeded in trials.

the engines, situated in separate watertight compartments, each fed pair of coal-fired boilers. each boiler horizontally mounted , 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) in diameter , 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) in length total grate area of 220 square inches (1,400 cm). concord s coal bunkers carry 400 long tons (410 t) of fuel, , shielded shot , shell . @ near top-speed of 16 knots, ship cover 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km) in 6½ days; @ more economical speed of 8 knots (15 km/h) cruise 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km) on 62 days.

to supplement steam power plant, concord built 3 masts schooner-rigged. had total sail area of 6,300 square feet (590 m). steam , sail combination expected allow concord remain @ sea months @ time during wartime.

armament

concord s main battery consisted of 6 6-inch (152 mm)/30 caliber mark 3 guns, each gun weighing in excess of 11,000 pounds (5,000 kg). 2 mounted on forecastle deck, 2 on poop deck, , other pair amidships on gun deck. 2 guns on gun deck mounted 10 feet (3.0 m) above waterline, while other 4 18 feet (5.5 m) above. guns fired 105-pound (48 kg) armor-piercing projectiles propellant charge weighing 18.8 pounds (8.5 kg) @ 1,950 feet per second (590 m/s). @ elevation of 30.2°, guns had range of 18,000 yards (16,000 m). each gun shielded steel plating 3 inches (76 mm) thick.

concord took part in sealing patrol hoped curb poaching of fur seals, these photographed @ garbotch rookery, saint paul island, alaska, in august 1891.

concord s secondary battery consisted of 2 6-pounder (57 mm (2.24 in)) guns, 2 3-pounder (47 mm (1.85 in)) guns, , 2 1-pounder (37 mm (1.46 in)) guns. based on designs of french arms company hotchkiss. according 1902 bureau of ordnance publication, armor-piercing round fired 6-pounder gun penetrate 2 inches (51 mm) of armor @ distance of 1,000 yards (910 m).

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