Show SOT DAKOTA cruiser is christened by state governors Is sister to california being another of six under construction san francisco july 21 tha armored cruiser South dakota was successfully launched from her cradle at the union iron works at 6 40 this evening the ceremonies attending the affair were unusually simple right rev W T nicholas bishop of the episcopal diocese ot california offered a short prayer and then miss grace herried Herr led daughter of the governor of south dakota pressed the button that released the hull of the youngest american cruiser As the vessel began to move miss herried swung a bottle of champagne against the bow and bestowed the designated name upon the cruiser governor herded of south dakota and party and a number of naval officers and distinguished citizens witnessed the launching the armored cruiser south dakota Is a sister ship of the california which was launched three months ago at the yards of the union iron works the two ships are almost identical and are the largest war vessels ever launched in a pacific ocean port each represents the latest type of efficiency in speed and power the engines which are expected to developed dev elope horsepower will give high speed and great facility in maneuvering at sea the coal capacity of the bunkers admits of a radius of operations considerably greater than that of any war vessel in the navy the south dakota Is a type of six authorized by congress at the same time besides the california there are now being constructed in eastern shipyards ship yards the colorado west virginia pennsylvania and maryland 1 the dimensions of the south dakota are length at water line feet breadth 69 feet 6 12 1 2 inches draught 24 feet displacement tons coal capacity 22 of bunkers 2000 tons guaranteed speed 22 knots main armor extends all the hull and Is six inches thick in the center diminishing to four inches at extremities caso ment armor five inches thick turret six inches and dine inches around the towers armor to protect the three inch guns Is two inches thick and tor protected deck tour inches in thickness the armament for the main battery comprises four 8 inch breech loading rifles tor the two turrets and fourteen 6 inch guns ot the same pattern the second battery consists of eighteen 3 inch rapid firing guns twelve 3 pound semiautomatic semi automatic tour 1 pound heavy automatic tour 1 pound rapid firing two 3 inch field pieces two machine calibre and six automatic calibre besides two submarine torpedo tubes the south dakota will be fitted up as a and will require a complement of officers and men numbering in all the cost of the vessel will be approximately including her armament |