New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
TYPES OF TORPEDO-BOAra
SIZE. SPEED, ARMAMENT AND VARION
FUNCTIONS
THE "'DEsTROYERS" BIGGER AND sWF-rFR THAI
THE OTHERS. AND EQUIpPED WITH
RAPID-EI FLEE GUNS.

RAPID-FIEE GUNS
When self-prOpelling torpedoes, like those de.
v,sed by Whitehead and Howell, came into favor
with naval experts. special boats were con.
structed wherewith to conduct warfare with
these terrible submarine projectiles. FISH"
or "automobe,' torpedo Is cigarshaped, about
ak feet long, and contains. besides a charge Of
from 900 to 800 pounds Of gun-cotton. a good
deal OF delicate machinery to propel and steer
IT, At the tail end Is a After It Is
dropped into the water It assumes a horizontal
position just below the surface of the sea, and
develops a speed OF twenty-five or thirty miles
an hour The amount of power which IS stored
within In tho form OF compressed air a heavy
nywhccI set in rotation just before launching, Is
usually enough 70 carry 1t mile or moro.
Sometimes torpedo IS expelled from the
launching tube by water pressure. sonnet times by
burning very small charge Of powder behind
H. 1t may even be set ahoat by hand II will
be seen then. that no great pressure is exerted
within the tube and there is little or no recoil
The tube may therefore be light affair, without
an elaborate mount. Very often il is fixed in
place its mouth opening into the ocean below
the boats water-line, and having a suitable
cover. 1t may be movable, however to facil-
tate the task Of aiming the torpedo.
Moreover. it was intended originally that Q
torpedo boat should not go very far from Its
base Of operations to deliver an attack. Either
II would conhnc its service to harbor defence, or
else keep in the neighbOrhood Of the feet 10
which it was attached 1t might always remain
afoat or It could be carried on tho deck OF
battle-ship or cruiser. being lowered for service
when the latter came TO anchor in distant waters
For this reason and others the torpedo boat
proper was and still IS. small and rather
fragile craft. And. Inasmuch as it was IN
tended to cary on It's work stealthily, and not
enter n general engagement its launching tubes
and torpedocs were It's only armament at one
time
But after little TWO other styles Of vessels
making use Of the same style Of projcctile,
came into existence. one Is the "torpedo gun
boat" and thu other the "torIodo-boat de-
stroyer" or "catchcr.' The gunboat IS primarily
small man war. being nearly or quite as
large Us a third class cruiser. Her dsplace-
ment may range from 800 To l.rOo tons. and her
speed seldom exceeds 20 knots. Torpedo tubes
are added to her other armament. as a second
AIRY or Incidental feature, very much they
are to the equipment Of modern fast cruisers
The torpedo gunhcat." however, is a type OK
vessel very rarely heard Of. even on the other
side OF The Atlantic.
A somewhat similar craft Is what the Ger
mans call a torpedo division boat" This IS
intended TO accompany Nrct OF tofp"do-boatS
partly for purposes Of defending them and
partly t. furnish supplies Of proJcctIles. The
vessel may have torpedo tubes and may 30
expected To use them IN emergency. But her
chief function Is TO convoy the little fellows and
her speed is not likely 10 exceed 20 or - knots
The destroyer or catcher. however. IS nos