Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-22

Continued from first page
The rudder of this novel craft is another
important feature. as it il wholly uncon-
nected with the visible part Of the stern,
being attached to a vertical wrought iron
post welded to prolongation of the keel
just aft Of the propeller, its upper part be-
ing about five feet below the water-line
when the vessel is in motion at full speed.
The tillers consist of thin plates Of iron
riveted on opposite sides Of the rudder, a
few inches from the bottom. These filters
are operated by straight rods, connected
with the platons of horizontal hydraulic
cylinders. of five inches diameter, attach
ed to the sides Of the keel. Accordingly
the steering gear will be placed ten feet
below water line.
The gun. from which the torpedo is
fired. is placed or the bottom Of the for
ward part of the vessel. the muZZle ter
minating in the stern seven feet below the
water surface. Water il prevented from
running into the gun byan outboard valve
opened and closed automatically. A
small quantity OF water rushes into the
gun between the discharge OF the torpedo
and the closing Of the valve, which is al
lowed to run into the bilge through the
breech and pumped out with steam
syphon. The projectile, with its charge
of $50 pounds Of dynamite. is first put in
to the gun. and in the space between the
tail Of the proiectile and the brecch of the
gun. is put the charge Of gunpowder.
The breech is then closed and when the
Destroyer is within 800 or 400
feet of the enemy's vessel the
gunpowder is ignited by electricity.
and almost at the same instant the proiec-
tile has struck the hostile vessel below
the water line and destroyed her. the tor
pedo .,aying been discharged by concus-
sion lone. The initial velocity with
which, the projectile leaves the gun is go
feet q: second. With minimum charges OF
powder. in recent experiments. the pro-
jiectile traversed the first so feet in three
seconds. In all Of the experiments which
have been made, common cord MEETINGS
have been used to determine the curvature
of the trajectory, but at firing distance
Of 30a feet the course of the torpedo
through the water has been absolutely
straight.
The proectile is exploded entirely by
Gomez. ssion, and is intended to strike a YES
sci at any point under the water, and will
pierce any netting that may be used for
protection. 1t is supposed that vessel
like the great British ironclad 1nfiexible,
even with hundred water-tight compart-
ments, could be sunk by the explosion of
single projectie. The tide currents
have no serious effect on the course of the
torpedo. at its high speed. nor can its
course under water be detected. as it
makes no commotion after it leaves the
gun.
SIMPLICITY AND CoMPACTNEss OF THE
MACHINERY.
The machinery of the vessel is entirely
below the water-line of the vessel. and is
under the intermediate deck, so that it
cannot be disabled by the shots of the en-
envy. IL is simple and compact. and so
arranged that two engineers and two fire.
men can take care of it. The boiler and
engine rooms are connected and the fires.
the quantity and condition of the water in
the boilers, the pressure of steam and the
working of engines are under the imme-
diate observation of the engineers. Two
boilers are placed amidships, where there
is the least motion. They have single
furnaces and large amount Of heating
surface.
The main condenser of the two direct
acting engines. forms the bed plate. and
the entire steam machinery is so compact
that it occupies n space of less than eight
feet square. The steam cylinders are of
SO inches stroke, and "a inches diameter
and can be worked up TO | 900 horse
power. The ordinary number of revolu-
tons is 125 per minute, giving an average
speed of 16 knots an hour. The lower
division of the vessel is supplied continu-
ously with cold air by blowers drawing it
in from above to furnish draft for the
fires. and fresh air for those on board.
When ready for action the DESTROYER is
intended to be as deeply sunk in the water
as are the monitors. the vessel being sub
merged nearly to the level of the main
deck but this deep immersion need not
alarm the ships company as it sometimes
did in the case of the monitors during the
war. because the deck house has no open
ing on the sides. Therefore it virtually
forms part of the hull. and il would be
safe to run with the upper deck consider
ably below the water-line. Owing to the
peculiarly of construction the entire
supsrstructure and the upper part of the
smcke-pipe might be shot away. and still
uot uiSuulC tiit NtSStt +. Nutl, Napt. FrttSSOn
says, il can live ut sea in any weather.
Being protected by heavy inclined trans
verse armor. the Destroyer. attacking
bows on. can defy heavy ordnance. and
apart from the swiftness of its proiectile
through the water can outrun iron-clad
ships and be certain of destroying them
The most Important advantage attending
the substitution Of guppowder for COM
pressed air will be that OF saving the time
lost during the operation of charging. In
action a loss of time might prove fatal.
since the enemy's vessel. which might
have escaped being struck. would have
time to change its position or retreat. But
gunpowder is a potential energy stored
within very small space. and procured
without the expenditure Of the mechanical
power.
The erection of proper Notifications and
the manufacture of guns of the modern
type, for the defence of New York harbor.
would demand an expenditure OF tens of
millions of dollars and occupy series of
years. In the mean time. naval authori-
ties say, the entire city might he DESTROYED
by any second-rate naval mower. rs. for