February 4, 1910 – Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC
Admiral Marler entered Michael Driscoll’s office, unsurprised to see Commander Forrest Burden already seated on the Congressman’s plush couch, next to a man Marler didn’t know. Burden’s father owned an iron mill in Driscoll’s district and they fed steel to the Watervliet Arsenal where Burden himself was Superintendent of Naval Ordnance.
Driscoll rose from behind his expansive oak desk and offered his hand, smiling broadly. “Admiral, thank you for coming. I believe you know Commander Burden, have you met Representative Humphrey? He represents Seattle and the rest of western Washington. Mister Burden and I have been discussing his team’s latest developments, and I’d like to talk about how they can be used in our ships.”
“Any time, Congressman,” Marler responded, stifling his irritation. The younger officer was a well-connected staffer from the Bureau of Ordnance, and for several months he’d been sending letters and attempting to leverage his family’s influence to push major changes to the upcoming Valley Forge class ships. The western congressman was a stranger, and Marler wasn’t sure why he was there.
“So,” continued the politico, “to me it seems self-evident that we should be using Ordnance’s thirteen-inch guns on the new cruisers. The latest German and Italian ships are using that size, and I can’t imagine the English using anything smaller. If that’s the largest the treaty allows, tell me why we shouldn’t do the same.”
“Well, for starters the English and German thirteen-inchers use smokeless powder, ours still use black powder. Putting Civil War guns on a battlecruiser doesn’t seem like our best use of the money.” Marler was gratified to see Burden’s self-satisfied smirk fade.
Driscoll frowned, “Admiral, this isn’t a discussion about the finer details. The simple fact is that the bigger guns by definition hit harder.”
“Yes, when you can get near enough to use them,” Marler shot back. “And because they weigh so much, you armor your ship with tinfoil. The whole time you’re maneuvering to close the range, the Germans are punching great big holes in the ship. The new twelve inch guns from Dahlgren are faster firing and more accurate than the thirteen inchers, and ten of them weigh less than eight of your guns.”
Burden broke in, “If you ask me, you don’t need ten guns on a ship if they’re the right ones.”
“Commander,” answered Marler, holding up a hand, “you’ve been on the same tack for months. Your own Bureau doesn’t think we should be using your guns right now. Admiral Mason said there’s a project to develop them with smokeless powder and modern ammunition, but that’s a year off.”
“We’ll have the new-pattern guns ready in six months, not a year.”
“That, Mister Burden, sounds a lot like the promises we heard about California’s loading equipment.” He turned back to Driscoll. “With all due respect, we’re too far along in any case. Valley Forge and Bunker Hill are two months into their build and we’ve already laid in the barbettes for twelve-inch turrets. If Ordnance shows good progress on updated thirteen-inch guns, and if all the related equipment can be adapted, we’ll be happy to include them in our next design studies. Assuming there’s adequate funding, of course,” he added.
After a pregnant pause, Congressman William Humphrey cleared his throat. “I may be able to help with that,” he said, in a tone so oily that Marler thought he would need to bathe after the conversation. “My committee may be able to find some money for development.” He waited a moment, appearing to contemplate. “Let me ask you something, Admiral. When was the last time a significant fleet unit was built on the west coast?”
Marler narrowed his eyes and inwardly gritted his teeth. “Sir, we make all our shipbuilding decision based on yard capacity and capability at the time an order is placed. San Francisco’s Union works built several ships, before the earthquake, and they’re refitting the Russian cruiser Polkan as USS Astoria.”
“Might I suggest,” answered Humphrey, “that you consider Moran Brothers. They’ve been building steel ships since before the war and they’re ready for a major project.”
Marler didn’t answer for a long moment. As Chief Constructor he was often presented with similar attempts to push work to someone’s favored relation or particular friend, but rarely so blatantly and with such a significant outlay of money. Marler wondered how much Humphrey would pocket if Moran were able to make a deal.
Finally, Marler rose and continued in a polite but unmistakably chilly tone, “Gentlemen, we place every contract on it’s merits. If Moran Brothers, or any other builder, should choose to submit a bid I’ll be happy to review it. In the meantime, I have business at the Navy Department.”