The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-28
TORPEDO BOATS.
Herreshofr's New Ones Will Make
26 Knots an Hour.
They Are TO Be Improved--Cushing's De-
tails Of Their Construction.

The torpedo boats mum bered and are
being built at Bristol from Herreshoff de-
signs, under the supervision of the gem
eral inspector OF the Naval Bureau OF
Construction and Repair.
In these boats the designer Is to work
out some ideas of his own in hull, in
engines and in general make mp. The
boats are built under specifications sent
out by the navy department, and, con-
sequently are as a whole, much like the
ordinary torpedo boats; in fact, they are
not much unlike the Cushing, except that
they are larger.
III Is not necessary nor is it desirable to
give out the details of the scantlings OF
hull and inside fittings. Suffice IL to say
thar the vessels have twin screws, and are
of a waterline length of about $50 feet,
beam of IS feet. and a displacement OF
about 200 tons for normal draught.
The plating, as Is usual on boats OF this
type built on this side, is OF steel, lap
plated, Of the regulation thickness. The
frames and the deck beams ere steel bulb
angles, much like those in the Defender,
only a little lighter. The straps and
stringers are OF steel plate, and are fas-
tened in the usual manner.
EVERYTHING CAREFULLY WEIGHED.
In order that the ncyy department may
know the exact weight of all the material
that goes TO make up the equipment OF
these bonts, il has stipulated that every
thing which goes into the make up OF
the vessels shall be carefully weighed.
The design of the boats is the work OF
the Bristol man. Unuer the terms OF the
coutract the latter is obliged to send
duplicate plans of all engines, machinery
and other details not found in the ordr
nary government plans, TO the depart
ment at Washington. This is done go
that the naval authorities may have full
knowledge of all tie elements of the de-
sign of the boats and of their entire in
side fittings Usually the work on gov
ernment boats is done under a superiu-
tending naval constructor, but not so in
this case, as the general inspector has full
charge. Lieutenant Wood Is now per-
forming this duty. Commander Converse
also visits the works once O week.
Speaking of the construction, 1t may be
said that the keel plates are fiat steel, and
extend for over 120 feet. OF one thickness
OF plate. The butts have triple and
double riveted straps. The upper edge Is
double riveted to the lower edge OF the
cardboard strake, double rlveted in the
waist ana siugle riveted on the ends. The
stem is maze like that of the modern
steel steam vessels, particularly steam
vac hts, and is Hanged and rabetted SO as
to let the ends OF the plating form flush
connection with the outside edge of the
stem. I he usual floors are put under the
engines, boilers and thrust seatings. The
deck beams are spaced u inches on GEN.
ters, and are about the same size as those
used in the Vigilant, except that they
have bulbs.
Bulkheads are built in various parts OF
the vessel, one at each end of the boiler
nd nf "a a yina and the
end of the mems quarters forward and at
the forward end OF the officers quarters
aft. All bulkheads are made watertight,
with no openings.
TWO COMING TOWERS.
There are two coming towers. The
cover OF the forward one is made so that
IL can be raised by screws. The after
tower has a permanent cover, held fast at
the top by round angie ring. There
are the usual lookouts on the coming
towers. On each side there are port
lig hts, about nine inches in diameter.
The crew has good accommode ions for
ward, with all oi the necessary con-
veniences. kft, the officers are well pro-
vided for. The other fittings, such as
coal bupkers, in the wake of the engine
and boiler rooms, are covered in the con-
tract, and are on each side of the boilers
and engines to protect them. There are
three sets OF boilers of the French pat
tern, Tbornycroft type. The enignes are
quadruple expansion, and are placed Just
forward of the after smokestack.
The boats will have great power--about
1900 horse-power-and great speed is
looked for. They are some thirty-tiye feet
longer than the Cushing, and with liner
design, increased length and greater driv-
ing power, they are expected to make
over twenty-six knots an hour. which Is
the speed named in the contract. The
Cushing made twenty-five knots In her
trial.
The work is being pushed hard. A big
squad OF workmen has been taken on,
and thes firm expects to have the hoats
ready for trial i'm early August. They
will hardly be ready by that time, how
ever. The firm has fifteen months In
which to complete them, or until about
early February.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS
Torpedo boats are government property,
aud there Is, therefore, no desire TO pub
lish details. An their makeup they can
well be rated as improved torpedo boats
of the Cushing order. Unlike the latter
the new boats have three smolSestacks
instead OF two. The turtle back forward,