The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-03
rnE CoLon OF TORPEDO BOATS.
The ou..tto, OF Irvi.ib,iity ead the Devices
for Securing It.


for Securing It.
wAsu1yaroS. Nov. Am interesting series
OF experim snts has been made from time to
time at Newport to determine what color OF
paint IL best suited to secure torpedo boats
from detection BY an enemy. The question
really has larger bearing. since II concerns
to some extent the color OF all war ships; but
the value Of invisibilIty 10 especially apparent
In the case OF torpedo craft which deliver their
ere at 90 short range that they may be rid
died and sunk BY the guns Of the ships they
assault unless they can creep up for con-
siderable distance undetected. Hence It is the
custom to attempt torpedo attacks. whether In
practice or real battle. under the cover OF q
dark night. or in weather giving at least par
tial concoalment
1t will occasion no surprise to learn that
white the color dear to our people as associ-
ated with the new steel navy. Is not found de-
sirable for the purpose in question. 1t lie. In
fact the color most readily detected. especially
at night A dark olive green color. as applied
to the Cushing and the Stiletto. has been
found to give good results, and now slight
variations In the shade are being tried Com
mander Converse. In his recent report, draws
the following conclusions from experiments
thus far NADER For torpedo boat attacks.
dark. misty nights are the best, az the beam OF
electric search lights then has little penetra-
ton. Clear nights are not good. even II dark.
The boat should approach In color the pre-
vsillne color Of sky. water. and coast In the
locality where 1t 10 to be used. The
color should be dead. not glossy. Even tho
glistening OF the paint caused by being vet
by spray H. objeetionable IL the smoke
Pipe w G% fss wa,sr s or SSser
AGAINST DARK back srcnna as fqr sxam rasd
iily dstscted when sii6opstted aFainst light %;
lects, or even the sky. The beat should head s,fI
s the light ss on npd not
face when the light Sttes her S wSsp
the beam approaches and resume her course
II is further found from the e;rperimeIn Mt,
ss fssFsn ssss a
conditions will permit. while the observers i,s
is hsP sh ana pis :SS d glare Ss
directed. Whenever practicable. ts time her re- e
as to OF enter the harbor after dark tommander
Converse reports that she has frequently been
to ae III
proximate time Of her arrival has been knoMni
ss H.. Ssen .f a Sysn al tss electrical
,H snS
6s. been ,ss q
csp sSi Ss yh par. WINDOW cs.nss
tho 81 the tower n0as ss
By the glare made in the tower Also on account q
4: s S.Ss "a. f .h sH' Sss
&c.? e; 9sa
Of e To a .nS s
ar. ana .oa
70 ss Is Sf t.a
nmsiSr and mSss pSnnerSn,y oisrs
the Cushing succeeded in getting well within
torpedo range Of the San Francisco without
being detected. although all the search lghta
81 Ser that Thess are as
the progress Of efforts to mako Torpedo war,
fare effective in spite Of search lights and
BBssdss ths olive green the Cushing 9the.
course. is the most common; and used to be
Soof % all ths Is
be obtained In tropical climates from white
was one Of the reasons why our navy CHANGED
from black sh ans sast Sy
not soilIne as easily. as white does. This lead
color Is the eSlor or the French coat guard
lynch and Aimirante Condeil-, whic en-.
night and were scarcely visible a few
color. The Cushing has also tried a cont Of
lead eoored paint while those WIG saw the
day. a peculiar reddish brown is still another
color that has been suggested as possible for
ehasse ipam white viii be- sennei to
these craft. and will not extend for the present
to our ships as whole.