Discussion on “electricity the future power for steering vessels,” (Hibbard) New York, May 19, 1914. (see proceedings for May, 1914)

G. A. Pierce, Jr.: We do not agree with the author that the American navy has been the most conspicuous exception to the limited use of electricity in marine work. In 1902 on the Russian battleship Retvizan, building at the time the U. S. S. Maine was building, the generating plant was 528 kw. compared to 328 kw. on the Maine. Remote control contactors were used exclusively in connection with turret turning, ammunition hoists, elevating and rammers, which at that time had not been contemplated in the American navy and only used to a limited extent in this country. Six-inch bilge pumps were operated by 60-kw. motors, six in number; electric steering gear; electrically driven forced draft fans; six-pounder and three-inch ammunition hoist operated by remote control — none of which was in use or contemplated at that time in the American navy. Furthermore, the step-by-step motion for interior communication apparatus, recently adopted by our navy, was used. The majority of the systems were copied from the French navy at that time. Prior to the adoption of electric heating in the U. S. navy ships, several merchant vessels were thus heated, not only in America but in England, and the extended use and development has been retarded owing to the lack of engineering in connection with these early installations. Electric steering gears, windlass and capstans and in fact, every use in which electricity is at present employed, has been previously used both in merchant marine and other navies.