The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-05
TIE WORLDS TORPEDO eUxsoArA
The Flyer. OF France, Italy, Germany, Spain.
RnsslA, Austrla, and Chill.


has built and 10 now baildine remarkable wal
vessels OF various types. which have brought
her Into the front rank OF naval construction
the Nesuvius is thus for her only contribution
to the class OF torpedo cruisers. 1t ia true that
Congress made an appropriation for torpedo
cruiser to use the ordinary form OF tubes, aud
to be OF about $50 tons displacement The
specifications called for triple-expansion en-
glnes. which should have collective indicated
horse power Of about 5000. and this was OK
pscted to yield twenty-three knots. But no
bids we're offered for the construction either OF
the hull or the machinery. perhaps because
the limit OF price was too low
Other countries. however. are continuing the
construction OF this clnss OF vessels. and al
though they have drawbacks. primo pnlly due
to enormous engine power on small dis place.
mont. yet they have proved OF great actual
service. as in the recent CHILEAN war In tho
review by Lieut.. Ridgely Hunt OF the history
OF vessels OF this class. which are distinguish
ed by their size and other features from tor.
pedo boats Italy receives the credit of lead
ing tho world In the production OF nearly
perfect torpedo vessel" She began this work
fifteen years ago with tho Pie,ro Micen,
OF Cos tons. fitted with two tubes
but this vessel was q failure in ront OF speed.
For ten years Italy abandoned tho field. but In
sci. o! $50 tons displacement. became famous
for excellent protection. both by steel deck
and coal. but chiefly for having three sets OF
compound engines ac,uating three screws.
which up to that year was novelty in con-
struction. We now have 1t in the Pirate and
her mate. She reached q max imum OF twenty
four knots and made an average OF twenty
knots for distance OF fiity miles. Besides
her five torpedo tubes she has an armament OF
rapid-frc guns. Three others followed. but the
speed aimed at led to excess ive lEhtness OF con-
strne,i@n ana en To s1s ylpnn a. TO- re-
and another torpedo vessel. saeh OF sl7 tons.
also yibrated excessively and no more Of them
abandoned for twin screws. The i'arte.
none. built last year. is one Of the best torpedo
nearly 4aUO horse power and twenty knots
She hns six rpeedo tubes and u lapid lire bat
ton. Five others OF her class are under con-
moro in his than in any other branch of naval
construction. She also really nntedated Italy
in IT b, u few months. through purchasing the
fitting her NJ with two torredo tubes. These
did not work WE'LL but the vessel had l6 knots
md TfcI II 1850 tons each and S Knots. This
was or at advance in size among torpedo
armed gunboats: Du, last year abe tried . new
through too light construction, Four torpedo
vessels OF $50 tons are now building, while her
;o0 to $50 tons, and from y lossibiy to IS
knots, called iorpcdo division boats;
hIsani n Applying t"rnedo tsbss gun
and II knots: aud her Archer class. OF Ito
tons and about the same speed; on which our
also on reGulnr heavy gun batteries. Tho Rat
tlesnake Of 800 tons; was launched in 1886. aud
knots: but in 1855 IN Improvement came in
the SHAREHOLDER class; OF 735 tons; OF which
we're then planned. with somewhat increased
disbursements amounting to $50 tons During
Of hs nst 9ap ear
redo boats: have Leen carefully watched. aud
the general conclusion is reached that they are
lightly constructed for tho desired stability
and a eisisncy IN H. very heavy weather. The
strength OF hull and weight OF machinery.
France made her first contribution to the
S Mh TN Thieh she called he eosso orp
launched half dozen years ago. She carried
ilys guns . ). as well as five tubes, and made
fl st to understand that n class between this
ard the small torpedo boat was needed. and
tons. and exceeded - knots. Il was built "f
water line: and with the coal bupkers around s md
the ,I machinery. Two years ago France made
of 4 oes e % 1 based se5 and
fact that Tho Eombe class were a little too light
ana an the service on them too fatiguing. Still
cunning through several navtes. such as the
Italian Fclgore class the Austrian Meteor
kazarski. the latter built in Germany. She
may also he regarded as stimulating the Ger
man ma torpedo division boats: already spoken OF.
which have made aston shing speed and have
the definite function OF presiding over n al.
vision or notilla OF sea-going torredo boats
anu 90 OF carrying extra stores and repair ar
Austria. a dozen years ago. contributed to
this class Of construction with the Tara and
epaIato OF sl0 tons. but they were far too slow
knots me rHn,her Hnd Leopard built in
with their l.53O tons and their armament
seemed to belopE more to Gunboats like the
planes added But Of ate y w ms1s S Sp
made de-, a great ADVANCE with vessels built by
ana 2i;5 - Gnets the Planet OF $50 tons. and the
England. was a famous craft in her day de-.
ssa 90 hSrsS Sna Hns aas knots
and doS f sons ani
'els have complete protective deck. 100 tons tons
u coal projection ton ana carry six tubes besides
tn small Thnu.Hfe guns. The KRZarski. |
II 400 tons and 81 knots. built by Schichau.
vas bought by Russia last year.
Chilli carries of the aurcls for actual seryica |
lmonG the worlds torpedo Runboats with her |
Almlranto Lynch and Almirante CondeIl. |
which destroyed the ironclad Blanco Inca |
ada. Built by tho I.nirds and resembling the |
class, but better protected and |
moro seaworthy, they have made respectiyeiv
~ knots and 2o.3 knots on trial. The same
lrm built Inst year the Espor8 and Rosales Of
20 tons and nearly 20 knots for the Argentine
iepublic.
The conclusions which the foregoing facts
much more in detail by Lieut. Ridge.
y Hunt must suggest. are that these tornado
.unboatS have distinct field OF their own
md yet are frequently liable to failure chietiv
trough weakness OF construction. undar
he speed conditions imposed. Our vesuviHs
s vessel OF this class. yet with n special arm.
nent OF pneumatic torpedo tubes tLe AMI.
iency OF which Tor practical use on shinboard
las yet to be determined. This fact has a.
ay n. anu probably permanently checked the
IDS last February for torpedo cruiser No i
ns also been setback to this form of con.
truction ~ our country. But Lieut.. Hnntis
ororu indicates very clearly that there neeI
~ no haste on The pnrt OF the United States 70
FORK Is needed. A'1 ""'"'
One Mans Ideas About Croto,
To THE Enron or Tax Srx-Sir. 49,.