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September, 1909 HE first details so far made public regarding the two fleet colliers authorized in the act of April, 1904, are presented herewith: One of these ships, the Vestal, is under construction at the New York navy yard, the second, the Prometheus, at the Mare Island yard. They were authorized under the names Erie and Ontario, but following the practice inaugurated with the purchase of fleet colliers in 1898, they were sub- sequently changed as above. The amount appropriated for their construction was $3,100,000, and the time allowed. for construction 22 months, but when it was decided that they should be built in government yards the time allowance was elim- inated. . The ships. are designed to, carry 6,400 tons of cargo coal and 1,553 tons of bunker coal on 26 ft. draught, ~ and to have a speed of 16 knots loaded and carry a complement of 232 officers and crew. Their length between perpendiculars is 450° ft. and 465 ft. 10 in, over. all; beam molded 60 ft., depth molded to main deck, 36 ft. 6 in.; displacement at 26 ft. 12,500 tons, giving a block co- efficient of 0.62. They are fitted with twin screws and the propelling machinery consists , of two sets of three-crank triple-expan- sion engines with cylinders 28 in. -- 4414 in. -- 75 in. 54. in. with a collective indicated horsepower of 7,500 at 86 revolutions per minute with steam at 185 lb. The engines are fitted with piston valves throughout, operated by Marshall gear. They are both placed in the same compartment, which is, of course, watertight. All shafting is hollow forged and the crank shafts are 15 in. diameter with 5-in. axial hole. The propellers are of manganese bronze, three-bladed, 17 ft. diameter, with pitch adjustable from 21 ft. to 23 ft.; area developed 148.8 sq. ft.; 'projected 1186 sq. ft, and turn out- ~ board. The stern bearings are carried by struts, two each side, at frames 141 and 153, 20 ft. and 44 ft. respectively, forward of aft perpendicular, while the penetration of the hull is at frame 131. As the shafts are approximately 20 TAE /MarRINE REVIEW United States Fleet Col- liers Vestal and Prometheus Fore Peak Tank Al We BS est 55 53 (5) 49 47 «45 «43 «41 «39 «37 «35 «83 «31 «29 «Of 62 O28 2 19 17 oT 69 67 65 63 61 59° 'Reserve 18 Ft. Dinghy ertical_ Keelnon W.T. Throughout 123 121 119 117 115/113 111 109 107 105 103 101 99 97 95 93 91 89/87 85 83 81 27 131 129 191149 147145 143 A.P161189 VESTAL AND PROMETHEUS. Fic. 1--LoNnciItupDINAL SECTION. 339