New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-23

THE PLAN OF THE VESSEL, WHICH IL UNLihE AM
OTHER IN THE BRITISH NAYY-AN EXPERT
MENT.
The British Board of Admiralty have
authorized the construction OF torpedo-ram' 10 DC
named the Polyphemus which is OF less an expert
ment The building Of future waryessels for the BTU
ish Navy possessing some all OF the characteristics
of The Poyphemus VIII depend upon the results OF her
trials she novel and peculiar, alike In FORM struc
ture, fittings and arrangement OF armorprotecuou'
while her weapons of attack are such as Will make "
necessary TO fght differently with her than with any
other war ship. The principle OF design ana cohsuuc
lion bears great resemblance TO the United states tor
pedo-boat Alarm, designed by Admiral Porter
The leading features of the POlyphemus are strong
ram bow powerful torpedo battery, great speed and
hardness moderate size. and small extent OF SURFACE
above water exposed TO the euemy's fire. Such portion
OF the vessel is above the water line s convex In forn
SO as 10 defect any proIectle that may strike IT, When
AT sea she Will present the appearance OF cylinder
tapered at end form bow and stern-hoating on
ITS side and deeply immersed The top Of the cylinder
will be attened large portion Of Its area TO form
deck and will be plated with steel armor to protect
the ship and all her machinery and fighting appliances
Upon the deck, which will be AZ feet above
the water line, will only be seen funnel signal mast,
pilot tower boats and other fittings. The shape OF the
hull is such that cross-seotOn would be similar To
pegtop The keel Of the vessel laid in September
last The length bet @een perpendculars Is go feet
40 feet; her draft 30 feet with 26iO tons dis
placement. The steel armor will be carried TO depth
OF six TO seven feet below water-ne She viii not be
fitted with masts, bur will be propelled by twin screws
with TWO pairs of hgpressure compound horizontal en-
gnes OF indicated power Of $500 horses, and giving
speed OF seventeen knots.
The only offensive weapons VIII be a powerful ram
bow and Whitehead orpedoes She viii carry guns ex-
cept few light shell guns and Gatlngs for the purpose
repehng boat torpedo attacks The ram will be
strong spur which will project twelve feet in advance OF
the STEM and be placed 20 strike several feet be-
low the waterline of the enemy. The spur Is being
fitted that may be unshipped time when not
required for active Undor the ram IS a torpedo
port Two other torpedo ports on each side amid
ships The Poyphemus Is built throughout OF steel the
frames OF Besemcr and the bottom plating or Lindors
Eemens steel Is constructed upon the usual system
bracket frames and continuous Longitude
nails and has double bottom the whole length or the
ship up 10 the upper deck. The double bottom Is split
large number Of circular spaces, ana Is ar
ranged To include tine coal bunkers, thus giving
buoyancy the vessel The hold is divided nv lOngl-
tUdnal madeleine bulkhead aud numerous transverse
bukLeads. Tue cabins and accommodations Tor the
crew will all be below the armOred decks they VIII De
ventilated aFtihciay and lighted by nm electric lght
The bottom plating of each sde instead OF ending III "a
keel is formed into recess, one foot eight inches wide
OF 300 tons. In OF Compartment becoming Dllged,
and IT'S being desirable tighten the ship, the ballast
can 20 and dropped from part as may be re-
irpd