New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09

torpedo boat Gymnote She fulils the prediction OF
the early experiments that naval warfare was to be
furnished with new and most formidable weapon
The Gymnote is a small spindle-shaped vessel fifty
seven feet long and six feet beam. she weighs thirty
three tons and is driven by electric machine worked
By asumulators, and exerting ffty-hye horsepowe
The experiments thus far maze are clsiheu 70 nave
been satisfactory aud successIui ~ 1911 & 80
recent trial the vessel gradually disappeared aho Was
NUN aoOfC Gould he he traced The boat made several
runs, and remained about quarter Oh an Iour uiHv
she left no trace her passage on the surface she
remained on the trial fully four hours three experts t
Of the experiments the air p the nIerloT Mas f,St
easily breathed at the beginning ic eS
boat tried only a short time ago In Southampton wa
sa h. have been Success she Is slecl ~ rovsd
feet one, and carried crew OF iouF lc VII pn six
m"tivc mower is Steam while that of the Gymnote IS
electricity, which possesses many au'dh'"e0' WV"
steam.
TYPES OF AMERICAN TORPEDOES'
There are several types of submarine torpedo boats
in the United States. The Destroyer invented Dy '"c
late Captain John Ericsson, the builder OF the Original
Monitor belongs to that family OF weapons known as
torpedo boats with submarine gun and the torpedo pro
iectilc. 1t now lies at the NewYorlH Navy Yard
submarine torpedo boat that has attracted more
than ordinary attention is the Pcacemaker, or dWmg
boat It is the invention Of J. II. L. TUCK Is plie
entirely Of steel and is thirty feet long IT has been
experimental with great deal in the h9rbor WIN
fair success It's steam is generated by heat from
1o,fion Of canStc soda The vessel has four diving
rudder5-onc on each side, at the bow ana one
nj the stern The vessel carries secured TO rs uppel
dock two torpeioes connected by short wire rope
and imbeddcd IN cork floats to which p3"e,iul d'S
are a rIaTH shin The boat approaches her under
water. and In passing beneath the keel the a.
are detached and attracted by the action OIL ,no
iron huh upon the magnets, thus causing The tor
pcdocs t. rise and cling to the snip Pou,ol; n,
tachcd to the fuse IS charged and causes inc eA-
HE sims Edison electrical fish torpedo has been
evporlmcnted with by the Army Torpedo Board WIN
very favorable results. The torpedo consists OF
submerged portion attached to noat having t tde
form of :, boat The submerged portion IS q spndle
SHAPED copper she'll containing the propens ,i,
chncry a cable by which the current Is conv;y i
~ tn electric motor and steering apparatus, and us
explosive charge This copper shell IS cohhcc,eu |I
The ioat az the bow by means Of trlankhrs steGi
frame and nj the stern by post and An angef Dat
The triangular frame extends up over the IR " hh
Goat and serves to either lit Obsia YES N'I VIZ! IN
uado enabling it to run underneath the obstIuct2n
The torpedo charge from go to 500 pounds; nc
through insulated cables connecting II VIII VIC 10
hoard aioat or ashore During tho exporiuehts oiG
torpedo obeycd It's helm fairy well ao fbe inc power
was about twenty KNOTS. As U1 , PpDonv
so,,rcs ~ accident are avoided in the torpedo ise
A. the charge is subaqueOus there Is no daker vi ~
explosion by the cnemys fire after II IS once a. ~
T land fertilization II Is proposed to anchor IN the
hafbor bomb proof calaIs a. nr,,nosed
nCdocs For naval offensive purposes IL Is pTop,pa,t
10 have one or more Of the torpedoes tFaNet "D ia
~ crrI,er and when wanted for action rlcese anu
| send them oil toward the enemy at fuIl speeu'
THE HOWELL TORPEDO
The Navy has approved and adopted subaqueons
torpedo invented by Captain John a. Howell Oh u"
Navy. and at present in command OF the cruiser Al
t,t, in the squadron OF Evolution. 1t is the most
nromising competitor Of the Whitehead and It's
nrncip, advantages over the latter are Its directive
crre its size and ~ cost. It's size Is not more INA"
bof that Of the Whitehead. which IS an important
c.,,ur, in regard to hardness in use and storase
/ an tnard -hiD The cost Of the Howell IS less ulau
one half that Of the Whitehead Nhoush II Is many
dnsynr1 10 be carried a swift vessel capADIe Vi
nyor.,kng the fastest roncad. and upon reaching an
,fective range discharged against the hostile sup Up
,p othcr, OF is class, II may be effectively used iOr
borlor defence and discharged NJ an appfoWhiins
bln rom behind an srinOrclad fort or oIer suGtDIc
| nrItoctlnn The Howell torpedo Is Cnhu1tI IN
iorm in us middle section, uperlng 70 pony aS
/ oach end II can De made 20 run AT any u'-sFN
di.tapcn below the surface. and Is Kept AZ sucn az
nav he wished by sderudders. which are aCtnacI Dy
he prossre of tho surrounding water. and their acIG
is automatic torpedo is 50 Thoroughly uhu.r w
! control of IFS motive power mat the acIOn u W.
les and currents rough water causes itte or 10
dcqectIou from its original course. It's ouNe po"cI
consists Of steel hy-wheel revolving wlthn a NatcI
tight iron she'll. IN rapid motion by the app!aVo
of "a let OF steam NJ high pressure. during tne ~
pcrnental trials with this torpedo speed oil twenty