The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-24
DAHLGREN MADE 30 KNOTS.
NEW TORPEDO BoIT TRIED OYER a
MEASURED MILE.

Was Not Run at Her Maximum Power.
Eithar-Her Hull Said to BE the LiRhtet
for Its Sire Ever Constructed-Her
Machinery Very Light Also and Very
Powerful - Her Sea Trial to Come.
BATH. Me-. Oct. 23-The United States first
class torpedo boat Dahlgron started to-day on
her official speed tests. As she is to be tried
by the standardlzing screw method. the tests
began with a progressive trial on the measured
mile at Southport. Booth Bay Harbor
The first mile was made in . minutes AZ
seconds. and after making a long. easy
sweep without sackening speed, the vessel
began her return trip south. which was made
In 2:iO. The mean speed Of the first double
run with and against the tide was therefore
~ knots. The mean number OF revolutions
OF the screws was 23S. The speed was in
creased. and with 204 revolutions n mean
speed OF 24.5 knots was obtained for the next
double run. The vessels change ot trim was
now particularly noticeable Walking from
the quarterback forward 1t seemed as II one
were walking up q steep hill Flames shot
from the stacks and thick smoke was trailing
astern. At ~ knots the vibrations were quite
noticeable. but from this point az the speed
Increased the vibrations and disaGreeable
whipping and shaking seemed to decrease.
The third double run resulted in mean
speed was now getting 30 great that 1t was
dangerous to turn her at full speed The
sci was therefore slowed down to make tho
turn. which Is a bad thing for speed with quick
steaming water tube boilers. The fourth
double run on the mile resulted. nevertheless
In mean speed Of 80 knots with 3l7turns.
fifth run was about to he made at maxi
mum power when It was discovered that the
supply OF feed water was such as to necessitate
disseminating the high speed tests. AS It was
getting dusk the builders decided to post
the ilrst favorable day. The vessel behaved
splendidiy. steamed easily. and In a heavy long
SPEED The pro,
will have to average 81 revolutions a minute
az sea s on the 2ne;hour run to attain the speed
ps sc sdo's' II she ialis below this she Will be
u1he DShleren was built by the Bath Iron
II feet; depth at centre qmidships 10 feet.
mean draught 4 feet 8 inches. draught under
propeller wheels feet 8 inches. Gen I. ".
purchased from Augustus n 'Normand Of
Cyclone. a IA .ton. S.k not torpedo boat. then
being built for the French Government. and
building the, Dahlxren. The steel hull is said
to be the lightest for its size ever constructed,
mai 70 ee bn s tbs soas
Try. Tho Dehlgren has most pronounced
noR sheer. with much higher bow than the
Normand boats possess She has no turtle
back forward and In this respect she differs
from the typical British and America torpedo
boat. She has very pleasing knuckle stern
with lo-toot overhang. The overhanV how
ever, Ia not apparent when the veaRel 10 afloat,
for the water line extends as far aft as the end
Of the counter
The deck erections OF the boat are novel and
peculiar. She has two short, stumpy look ing
smoke pines which extend only eight feet
above the deck. or q very few inches above this
awnings. A galley m ade Of alu mum Ia placed
between the stacks; there are two conn ng
towers. one forward And one aft and the COM
binatton OF these with boiler castings. engine
casinRs. ana steering engine elsewhere gives
an eject Of great power within small dimen-
stone. All naval architects and naval officers
who have inspected her say she is the finest
and most powerful little vessel OF her type
| Naval architects estimate that the excallent
distribution OF metal in the hull OF the Dahl
Rren. together with the high grade OF nickel
steel used throughout. 10 responsible for at
| least two knots In her speed. The Dahlgren
however has magnificent machinery. Two
triple-expansi9n engines. II INCHES by %
| twin screws. are fitted in u common water
| tight compartment. There are two Normand
| water tube boilers working at 23O pounds
| pressure. The estimated horse power is 200
and the total weight OF the machinery is only
eighty tons. or only one-tenth Of the weight OF
the machinery OF the same power built by tho
Bath Iron Works for the steamboat City OF
Lowell