Katahdin 1898
| No | Name | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| Katahdin | Bath Iron Wks | 7.1891 | 4.2.1893 | 20.2.1896 | stricken 7.1909 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
2155 |
|
Displacement full, t |
2383 |
|
Length, m |
76.4 wl |
|
Breadth, m |
13.2 |
|
Draught, m |
4.60 mean |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 HTE, 3 cylindrical boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
5068 |
|
Max speed, kts |
16 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 202 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | |
|
Armour, mm |
Harvey and NS; side: 152 - 76, uptakes: 152, deck: 152 - 51, CT: 457 |
|
Armament |
4 x 1 - 57/40-45 Hotchkiss Mk I/II/III |
| Complement |
97 |
Project history: Authorized under the Act of 2.3.1889. Intended as a harbour defence ram, she differed from the British Polyphemus to having no torpedo armament.
Ship protection: The 152mm side armour, 76mm at lower edge, was inclined outwards and joined the turtle deck which was 152mm at the edge, then 140mm and 64-51mm at the centre line. The knuckle was backed by 1143mm of timber, and the hull normally 1.5-1.8m maximum above water, was lowered 0.15m for action by water ballast.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: Katahdin was only commissioned up to April 1897 and again from March to October 1898. Stricken 9.7.1909, she was used as 'Ballistic Experimental Target A' in important firing trials which determined the need for 343mm armour in future battleship designs.
© Ivan Gogin, 2014