The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-04-11
sEuF.Mov,No ToaPEpoEs.


sELr-MovlNo ToaPEooEs.
Dur Navy 20 Have sappty II Them for Tire
Now War ships
Although automobile torpeioes have
been familiar for years In foreign SCR
vices. our Gcvernmcnt docs not even
possess one OF these weapons to-day.
Steps have recently been taken to ro-
move this rcproach upon our enter
prise. apd the torpedo chosen for the
use sof the nav II mn american -inyen--
ton, that OF Captain Howell. fhe
-Hetehlsiss- Ordnance Company has en-
tered into II contract with the Navy
Department TO manufacture first in
stallment Of these torpe1oes, but the
agreement furnishes fresh illustra-
ton OF the time required to prepare
any part Of our system OF attack and
defense. since it allows twenty months
for the delivery OF thirty torpodoes
and ten launching gears. The manu-
tacture will be carried on in this coun
try
The element OF size fixed In the tor
pedo is its greatest diameter, AT
inches; but its length may vary from
20 a5s pounds, provided only its inter-
Tor space win store wet compressed
gun cotton equal 10 III per cent az
the total weight OF tiacst1pedo. Thsl
stipulation Is that IL nAsfst Nave a range
OF ut least 400 yards in still water, and
must travel this distance ut an average
speed OF not less than 22l knots
per hour. In other words. IL
would pass over this minimum,
'ange OF 400 yards in about
aalf q minute. Then, as to its accu-
racy. II must not deviate within this
range Of 100 yards more than fifteen
yards to the right or LETT Of the point
aimed ut, nor more than two yards
above or below the depth fixed for its
running. These results mist be shown
by the torpedo when discharged from
vessel running at u speed as great as
10 knots; and they are TO be had not
only when it is discharged ahead or
astern. but even when fired abeam ut
that speed. Some of the torpedo
launching gears are TO be furnished
expressly for use on the broadside.
These specifications contain these fur
Their requirements:
When launched from height OF four feet
from the water surface after the hrst =, yards
run. tho deviation in the vertical plane from tho
depth FOR which the torpedo was set shall not
excred two feet The initial dive shall not ex-
coed 2 feet, measured from the surface of the
water When launched from the height Of II
feet above the water the vertical deviation, af-
Tar The FIRST 100 yards run, shaifnot cxccedttwe
feet as before, and the initial dive shall not ex-
coed IS feet. measured from the surface OF the
water. The sabmerglng apparatus shall be ca
pablo Of ready adjustment, so as to cause the
torpedo TO maintain any desired depth, subject
TO the above conditions,
all these guaranteed quail
ties into consideration, there Is good
ground Tor believing that the new tor
pedoes introduced into our naval SER
vice will be equal in efficiency to the
famous Whitehead, the invention OF
an English engineer u the Austrian
service Immunity from premature
explosion while being loaded and
handled is required by the con-
tract. and the torpedo is to
be so fitted as TO sink@to the
bottom at the end OF its run, or, il used
for exercise and practice, to come to
the surface in order to be easily recov-
cred and used again. Before any tor
pedo is accepted it must have its n.y.
wheel spun for an hour at contract
speed. without showing signs of weak
ness. In short, the Government takes
care that it shall have something TO
show for its money in this new addi-
ton to onr naval devices.
Besides the new ships which are 10
be fitted with torpedo tubes. we shall
soon have two vessels intended wholly
for torpedo warfare. One OF these is
the little Stffetto. which was recently
purchased from the Herreshoffs; while
The other is a more important vessel
built expressly by the same firm rs a
torpedo craft, at cost OF $82. $50. She
is to have a length OF 1873 feet, beam
of 144, and a mean draught OF a little
over 81 feet Her displacement will
not be above 100 tons. Her speed will
probably be % knots, produced by ver-
teal quadruple expansion engines.
This vessel will carry no less than
sight tubes for automobile torpedoes,
besides a pair OF 6-pounder rapid fire
guns So, at last p beginning has been
made in the construction both OF NOV
ing torpedoes and OF fast torpedo boats.
We are much behind foreign countries
in this particular, but II the types se-
lected prove satisfactory, as they now
promise to be, energy can duly make
| up for the time devoted to experiment
elaboration. Washington Cor.
n. Y. Sun.