Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-31
USE OF T0RPED0ES.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF THAT
BRANCH OK NAVAL SERVICE.
LAST WEEKS ODJECT-LESSON.
History of the Four Crack boats of
the United States Navy Which Wis.,
tied This Port Recently-How They
Operate and what They Cost.

The recent visit TO Richmond Of the
four crack torpedo-boats of the United
States navy was particularly interesting,
as an object lesson of The wonderful adj
vance that has been made within the last
few years in the matter of naval develop
ment The use Of torpedoes in naval
warfare was proposed and even attempted
at the end of the last and the beginning
OF the present century. but no successful
application of them was made until the
civil war of 1Ssl'6i Great Improvements
have, however, been made Of late years,
and modern torpedo-boat is built en-
tirely Of STEEL the plates often not ex-
ceeding lie of an inch in thickness, as.
in order to get the necessary high speed.
the minimum weight consistent with the
necessary strength is of the first i'm
portance.
THREE CLASSES OF BOATS.
There are three classes of boats, known
as the first, second. and third. Those of
the first are capable of keeping the sea on
their own account; the second arc for
harbor defence, and the third can be car
ried on board a ship.
The boats that visited Richmond last
week were of the first class. They
were low-iying craft, painted black so
as to escape notice as much as possible
in time OF war. Each boat carried four
Hotchkiss guns and three torpedo pro-
Jectors. The two largest boats con-
tanned two main engines. sixteen small
l.Afl
capable of maintaining speed of more
than thirty knots an hour, and with their
bunkers full OF coal--they carry seventy
six tons of fuel-can run for no
less distance than $500 miles.
WHAT THEY COST.
The cost of these boats is about $44,00O
each--a very modest sum. considering
the fact that single, well-aimed tor
pedo will annihilate any battleshlp
afloat, and as the cost Of an ironclad is
considerably over ssOOO,oO0 the increase
OF the torpedo flotilla is regarded in
naval circles as a great economy. A tor
pedo-boat carries crew of about twen-
ty-eight men. and warshlp generally
had on board several hundred souls.
Modern torpedo-boats are built in nine
wntertight compartments. They have
no armor protection, and their heaviest
plate is the keel plate. which is only
quarter Of an inch thick.
HOW ToRPEDoEs ARE FIRED.
A torpedo can be sent upon its muir
derous mission with positive accuracy.
distance OF COO yards. and under somc
conditions OF 800 yards; while they have
been known TO hit O target at 1000 yards
torpedo-boat generally works under
cover OF darkness. or. in thick weather
as then II Is much easier to approach
their adversary.
When an attack is contemplated the
boats single out their vessels and APP
proach slowly, as rapid moving through
the water would create wake" which
would catch the rays OF the search
lights and make known the torpedo
boats presence.
When at a distance OF 900 or 400 yards
from the object OF attack. torpedo.
long. cigar-shaped, and with lots OF queer
mechanism, Is placed In the tube. A trig-
ccr Is pulled, and the torpedo is car
rtnd overheard by light launching
charge OF powder. The missile OF de-
struction first makes dart downward,
and then continues. at first with an UNI
dulatory motion, and then in straight
line for the vessel attacked. The depth
which the torpedo shall travel under
water IL fixed aboard her native craft,
whether at ten, twelve, or fifteen feet
and the missile Is kept at that depth by
a nice arrangement Of automatic rudders
THE MOTIVE FORCE.
The motive force Of torpedo is fash
Of compressed air, which actuates
small screw propeller. and the speed at
taincd Is one OF incredible rapidity
IA soon as one shot Is delivered the
torpedo boat hauls or and darts 70 an
other quarter OF attack 10 fire another
should a torpedo-boat be discovered by
the. vessels sesrchlights. she does not
retreat. hui fun steam is put on to de-
liver a shot before the vessel can get her
fapid-fire guns working laterally and
longitudinally. These rudders are worked
By pistons using the pressure OF the
water as their motive force.
The locomotive torpedoes are numer-
GUS class, the principal being the White
head, Lay. Simms, Brennan. and krics-
son. The boats which visited Richmond
use tho Whitehead. and tho Howl gyro-
scope.
The United states Government recently
le< contracts for the building OF twenty
fQ7peao-boats and the four seen here
wers tho nrst In commission Of thef order.
They we're built by the Herreschoffs. from
s &trtRp4 made By Captain Converse. tho
fenersi inspector. They are all 10 DO