Historical Document · 1896
The US Navy's 1896 intelligence annual, which includes a numbered-parts plate and technical description of the Borchardt pistol (the source of the dive's 0.118 in barrel recoil figure).
• OFFICE OF NAVAL General INFORMATION INTELLIGENCE, Information FROM Series, No. XV. ABROAD. NOTES ON THE YEAR'S NAVAL PROGRESS. JULY, NAVY 1896 DEPARTMENT, Office of Naval Intelligence. WASHXXGTO^: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 189(3. QFFICE< TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page List of illustrations Introduction 5 9 I. Notes on ships and torpedo boats II. Notes on ordnance and armor III. Notes on small arms 11 95 127 IV. Notes on boilers V. Notes on voice tubes 137 155 VI. Notes on cellulose 157 VII. Naval mana>uvres, 1895 VIII. Some standard books on professional subjects Index 163 215 235 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Jose Garibaldi Buenos Aires, vessel, profile, deck plan, and engines Santa F6 Armored cruiser D Kaiser Franz Josef, profile and deck plan K. and K. Maria Theresia Ersatz Greif Magnet, outboard profile Viper, vessel, with profile, deck plan, and sectiou Xatter, outboard profile Goubet, submarine boat Carnot, vessel, with profile and deck plan 12 13 14 15 15 15 16 16 17 17 20 36 Jaurt'guiberry Brennus Marceau Jemmapes Pothuau 35 34 27 29 31 Amiral Cbarner, vessel, with i^rofile, deck plan, and section Chasseloup Laubat Foudre Linois iriberville Casabianca Forban 36 29 33 38 38 34 40 Kaiser Frederick III, profile and deck plan Weissenburg Ersatz Leipsig, profile and deck plan Ersatz Freya, profile and deck plan Hagen Gefion Geier Hela German torpedo boats manoeuvring Magnificent, vessel, with profile, deck plan, and section Minerva, profile and deck plan Pelorus, profile, deck plan, and section Hart and Handy, engines Lightning, effect of collision Desperate, profile and deck plan Surly Sardegna Sicilia, engines 42 49 42 42 49 41 44 43 50 51 52 53 64 64 64 64 65 66 5 6 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Etrnria Page. 68 Fuji and Yashima, outboard and inboard profiles and deck plan Yoshino Kortenaer Dvyenadtzat Apostolov Rurik, vessel, with proiile and deck plan Sokol. vessel, with profile and deck plan Pelayo Infanta Maria Teresa Carlos V Princesa de Austurias, profile Filipinas Hernan Cortez Mayarit Boiler explosion, Turkish vessel Skoda sights fitted to 47-millimeter R. F. guns Skoda sights for R. F. guns 71 69 72 77 81 83 89 85 85 85 90 87 88 94 96 96 Canet's automatic breech mechanism for R. F. guns Electrically-coutrolled mount for 12-centimeter R. F. guns Electrically-controlled mount for 24-ceutimeter guns Schneider & Co.'s breech mechanism for large R. F. guns: Longitudinal section Rear elevation Side elevation Plan Details 99 101 101 Schneider & Co.'s breech mechanism for small R. F. guns: Longitudinal section Rear elevation Section in plan 104 104 104 104 104 105 105 105 Eastwick & Timmis's gun mount : Side elevation Details Shield for protecting screw threads of breech Twelve-inch wire- wound gun Rotating band for projectiles Hydraulic mount for 12-inch wire- wound gun YVeling breech mechanism Weling breech mechanism, details Creusot plates of homogeneous steel Krupp f. h. nickel steel plates Mannlicher repeating semiautomatic pistol Borchardt repeating automatic pistol 106 106 108 109 109 110 121 121 122 123. 124 128 130 Yarrow's circulating tests Curves of relative evaporative efficiency Compound boilers Belleville of the Terrible Belleville reducing valve Voice tubes, Admiralty pattern instrument Enlarged view of the navy commutator Navy commutator and instrument in operation Signaling device Sections of commutator Sections of signaling device Deflecting tongues 137. 139 145 147 152 152 156 156 156 156 156 156 156 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Cellulose trials, sections of cofferdam Cocoa cofferdam, 6-inch hole, rear view Corn cofferdam, 6-inch hole, rear view Cocoa cofferdam, 8-inch hole, rear view Corn cofferdam, 8-inch hole, rear view Cofferdams arranged for water test Curves of wetted surface Rear-Admiral Seymour's scouting plan The British manoeuvre field, chart of French manoeuvre squadron, neighborhood of Brest French manoeuvre field, Channel . French manoeuvres, Mediterranean, Phase I, Part III French manoeuvres, Mediterranean, theoretic solution Circle of meeting French mano-uvre held, Mediterranean Active squadron. Mediterranean, scouting exercise German manoeuvres 7 Paga 162 162 162 162 162 162 162 173 ' 178 189 190 195 205 205 202 209 214 INTRODUCTION". This number of the General Information Series contains the usual notes on materiel and manoeuvres; also some information in regard to cellulose and voice tubes that may be of interest to the service. While material was arranged for a more technical account of the Japan-China war, the data were not sufficiently satisfactory to warrant the publication of a volume in the War Series. Richard Wainwrigket, Chief Intelligence Officer. Navy Department, July 1, 1806. 9 I. NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. By Ensign Sumner E. W. Kittelle, United States Navy. Staff Intelligence Officer. The building policies of foreign powers for this year show that Great Britain is earnest in her intention to maintain the command of the sea by her liberal additions to her armored fleet and torpedo boats, while France and Russia contemplate the addition of but one armored vessel each, and few torpedo boats. Russia, however, has shown increased activity in her shipyards, expediting work on the many vessels now in hand, and providing many powerful additions to the fleet. The growth of the German navy is steady and healthy. Italy is moving slowly, owing to her war expenses, and Austria is making a slight increase. Spain has been more active than for many years, hastening to completion vessels that have lingered on the ways for nearly a decade, and purchasing abroad many vessels of small displacement to strengthen the blockade of Cuba. In the East, Japan contemplates a building program that will lift her high on the list of first-rate naval powers. China has not yet awakened from her defeat. The South American Republics, Argentina, Chili, and Brazil, are all developing their fleets on modern lines. Breech-loading rifles of G-inch caliber or less are out of date. Up to and including that caliber the rapid-firing gun reigns supreme. The 12-inch breech-loading rifle seems to be the largest caliber now installed afloat, but its efficiency has been increased by lengthening the bore and also, in the case of Great Britain, constructing the guns on the wirewound principle. The French have taken to a few rifled mortars for high-angle fire, and their latest battleship will have two. Where abovewater torpedo tubes can not be protected by armor, it seems to be the policy to omit them; this especially applies to France. Electrically controlled turrets and ammunition hoists seem to be advancing in favor. As regards internal fittings on shipboard, the late war between Japan and China has taught the danger of woodwork for bulkheads, decks, etc., and in consequence all woodwork that can possibly be spared is being removed from ships under construction or refitting, and steel decks and bulkheads substituted, with a covering of linoleum, cork, asbestos, canvas, or wooden panels rendered incombustible by chemical treatment. The British admiralty has adopted for several new ll 12 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. cruisers a material composed principally of asbestos, to take the place of woodwork in the living spaces. It is molded into any decorative pattern desired and is claimed to be fire and weather proof, not affected by salt water, and will not splinter. In many cases the furniture has also been made of metal, but aluminum for this purpose has been found unable to stand the bending stresses due to the motion of the vessel. As a material for the construction of the hulls of torpedo boats alun inum has also turned out badly, but experiments are in progress to determine its value for certain internal fittings. Triple screws are gaining in favor abroad, especially in France, Germany, and Russia. The triple-expansion engine is universal, but there seems to be no tendency to increase the number of expansions. The field of water-tube boilers widens daily, and for torpedo boats they have come into general use, a system of automatic feed adding greatly to their efficiency and safety. In ship construction there is a tendency toward fewer openings in water-tight bulkheads and more effective means of closing them quickly. Magazines are being lined with heat-excluding material, and frigorific machines have been installed in the magazines of several vessels. Direct and rapid ammunition supply is sought after and considered of primary importance. Torpedo nets are omitted in many of the new ships. Means of interior communication on shipboard are improving, and masting is fitted to meet the needs of modern signaling. In the matter of torpedo boats the speed is creeping upward yearly. A French boat broke the record with a speed of 31.029 knots, and now England is contracting for two boats to make 32 knots and many more at 30 knots. Mr. J. A. Normaud, designer and builder of the Forbaii, shows theoretically, under the laws governing speed and displacement, that for a vessel of 300 tons displacement the propulsive efficiency is at a minimum when the speed is about 23.3 knots, so that above this speed the performance of the vessel improves, and he believes that by retaining less reserve buoyancy and correspondingly increasing the power, the speed of torpedo boats of 300 tons may exceed 34 knots. The hull in this case would be more submerged and the vessel navigated from a flying bridge. The submarine boat has taken a new lease of life, and in France prizes have been offered for competitive designs meeting certain fixed requirements. The use of petroleum as an auxiliary fuel is spreading, nearly all the foreign powers giving it extensive trials, and some permanently installing it on board of certain classes of vessels. ARGENTINA. No program of new construction has been reported. The Buenos Aires has been completed in England, and another cruiser slightly smaller has been laid down there. The Jose Garibaldi retains her ENGINES OF THE BUENOS AIRES. Engineering. Q 0 > -o— -+o ■c— to n r--i k ARGENTINA. 13 name, and lier sister ship, the Varese, has been also purchased in Italy, and named the San Martin. Both vessels will be fitted with two additional torpedo tubes. VESSELS PROPOSED, AUTHORIZED, OR BUILDING SARMIENTO. (Page 9, No. XIV.) The 2,500-ton school ship has been named Sarmiento. SA\ MART1V. Sister ship to the Jose Garibaldi (see p. 9, General Information Series No. XIV, and p. Gl, General Information Series No. XIII), purchased from Messrs. Ansaldo Brothers, Sampierdarena, Italy, in March, 189G. She is still on the ways. She will have four 8-inch B. L. R., instead of two 10-inch B. L. R., and the two forward and two after 5.9-inch R. F. G. will be mounted in the corners of the citadel with an arc of fire of 110 degrees, while the sponsons of the forward and the after 1.7-inch R. F. G. will be built out more. Xo bow or stern torpedo tube will be fitted. All vertical armor is to be face hardened. STEAM TRIALS. JOSE (iARIBALDI. (Page 61, No. XIII; page 9, No. XIV.) This vessel underwent her preliminary steam trial at Genoa, February 18, 1896. The result was a speed of 21.7 knots. Her secondary battery now consists often G-pounder It. F. G. ; ten 1-pounder R. F. G., and two Maxim machine guns. A forced-draft trial on July G, 189G, gave a mean speed of 19.98 knots and a maximum speed of 20.3G knots. BUEXOS AIRES. (Page 10, No. XIV.) This vessel, partially described in Xo. XI Y, has the following additional characteristics, viz : Armament. — Four G inch R. F. G., one at each corner of the superstructure, and instead of ten 4. 7-inch R. F. G. she carries only six, arranged three in each broadside. The sixteen 3-pounders are disposed: four on the main deck, two forward and two aft in embrasured ports 5 two on the forward bridge, two on the after bridge, and eight in broadside. There are eight 1-pounders instead of six. The torpedo tubes are all above water, one in bow and four in broadside. For views of the mounts of the guns of the main battery see pp. 90-91, General Information Series, Xo. XIII, and figs. 2G, 27, 28 of Xo. XIV. Motive power. — The machinery was supplied by Messrs. Humphreys, Teunant & Co. The engines are inverted direct-acting triple-expansion 14 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. and the diameters of cylinders are, H. P., -10 inches; I. P., 60 inches, and two L. P., GG inches, with a stroke of 3G inches. There are four doable-ended and four single-ended return-fire tubular boilers. Protection. — Theeonning tower is of 6-inch steel. The hull is sheathed with teak and copper. The stem, sternpost, rudder frame and casing and propellers are of manganese bronze. The steam trials took place early in November, 1S95, the vessel drawing a little over 4 inches more water than the mean contract draught called for. The conditions of the trial required a G-hour run under natural -draft, •during which time the vessel must make 6 consecutive runs over the measured mile with and against the tide. The speed was determined from the number of revolutions which were first standardized on the measured-mile course. The measured-mile runs were made during the first part of the trial, the first two averaging 22.435 knots and the remaining four 22.975 knots, after which she headed away for the remainder of the six hours with the ultimate result of 23.202 knots mean speed for the whole run, developing 14,000 I. H. P. The revolutions averaged 151 port and 151.5 starboard, and the steam pressure was 155 pounds with a vacuum of from 2S to 29 inches. In the lire rooms 0.4-inch air pressure was carried and allowed as natural-draft. As the ship exceeded the contract forced-draft requirement of 22.75 knots on her natural-draft trial no forced-draft trial was necessaiy, but it is believed that with 2-inch air pressure she cau exceed 24 knots. Successful gunnery trials were held December 4, 1895. VESSELS BE-ARM1NG, ALM1RAME BEFITTING, ETC. BROWN. The muzzle loading Armstrong guns on board of this battleship are to be replaced by rapid-firing guns. SANTA ITU Z. Tin- steamship Ohio, of the Bremen and Baltimore Line, has been purchased and refitted as a transport. TOUT EDO BOATS. So far only four torpedo boats have been ordered from Messrs. Yarrow & Co., the first one of which was launched in May, 189G. These boats differ from all others in carrying armor. Armament. — One 14-pouuder K. F. G. mounted on the conning tower forward: three G-pounder K. F. G. on deck; two Maxim automatic guns, and three 18-inch torpedo tubes, one in bow and two on deck. Protection. — Steel armor 0.5 inch, thick is worked all around the engines and boilers to keep out the rain of machine-gun bullets. The Japanese torpedo boat Kotdkd was so protected, and during the late war in the Bast she suffered much less damage than the unprotected boats. Motive power. — Two sets of triple-expansion engines with cylinders ARMORED CRUISER D. X o h o </} N X 6 t—i Eh K < I AUSTRIA. 15 of 18. 20, and 39.5 inches in diameter and a stroke of 18 inches. There are six Yarrow boilers fitted with automatic feed apparatus, the water being strained through flannel. I. H. P. 4,000 and speed 26 knots. Dimensions. — Length, 190.8 feet; beam, 19.5 feet; draught, 5 feet; displacement, 250 tons. The first of these torpedo boats was launched May 16, 1896, and named Santa Fe. AUSTRIA. The total estimates for 1897 amount to $6,738,967.32, exceeding the budget for 1896 by $241,000. Estimates for 1897, construction items, ordinary: Coast-defense vessel Monarch Ersatz Greif Ersatz Helgoland: New boilers for ships Construction items, extraordinary : Coast-defense vessel llien Coast-defense vessel Buda-Pest $216, 900 212, 080 19, 280 41, 452 289, 200 313, 300 Six torpedo "boats Cruiser D VESSELS 67, 480 :.... 313,300 PROPOSED, AUTHORIZED, FI11ST-CLASS CRUISER OR BU1LDINO. D. (Page 12, No. XIV.) This vessel, of the type of the Kaiser in und Konigin Maria Theresia, will be builfby the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, at San Eocco, and will have the following characteristics, viz: Armament. — Two 9.45-inch (10 caliber) Krupp B. L. R. in turrets, one forward, one aft, worked by electricity; eight 5.9-inch (40-caliber) Krupp E. F. G., four in each broadside, the waist pair on either side being in sponsons; four 2.75-inch (42 caliber) E. F. G. ; fourteen 3-pounder E. F. G. ; two 0.3-inch machine guns; two 2.75-inch field pieces, and three torpedo tubes. Protection. — There will be an armor belt of Harvey ed nickel steel with a maximum thickness of 8.6 inches, and transverse bulkheads at its ends 7.9 inches thick forward and 0.9 inches aft. Side armor above belt 3 inches thick. The armor on the turrets and redoubt will be 7.9 inches, and over the 5.9-inch guns 3 inches thick. The armored deck varies from 4 inches to 1.3 inches in thickness. Glacis plates 4 inches thick protect the hatches over the machinery. Motive power. — Two triple-expansion engines and water-tube boilers, developing 12,300 I. H. P. and a speed of 20 knots. Coal capacity, 790 tons. Eadius of action at 9 knots speed, 5,000 miles. Dimensions. — Leugth, 367.5 feet; beam, lS(S.o feet; draught with 250 tons of coal on beard, 20.5 feet; displacement, 6,100 metric tons. 16 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. ERSATZ GREIF. (Page 12, No. XIV.) This vessel will have the following characteristics: Armament. — Eight 4.7-inch (40 caliber) E. F. G.; eight 3-pounder (44-caliber) R.F.G.; two 3-pounder (33-caliber) R. F. G.; two 0.3-inch machine guns, and four torpedo tubes. Protection. — A protective deck from 1.97 inches to 0.98 inch in thickness. Motive poker. — Two triple-expansion engines and fourteen boilers, to develop 7,200 I. H. P. and give a speed of 20 knots. The coal capacity will be 400 tons normal and 472 tons maximum. The radius of action at 12 knots will be 4,000 miles. Dimensions, etc. — Length, 302 feet; beam, 38.4 feet; draught, 12.6 feet; displacement, 2,326 tons. The total complement will be 248 officers and men. TORPEDO VESSEL OF 500 TOSS. (Page 12, No. XIV.) To have a length of 219.8 feet; beam, 26.9 feet; mean draught, 7.5 feet; I. H. P.' 5,700; speed, 24 knots; and a battery of six 4.7 R. F. G., besides torpedo tubes. ERSATZ HELGOLAND. A torpedo vessel of 2,350 tons to replace the Helgoland, provided for in the estimates of 1897. VESSELS LA UXCHED. WIEN (B) AND BUDAPEST (C). (Page 146, No. XII; 5. No. XTII; 12, No. XIV.) These vessels, sister ships of the Monarch, were launched at the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, the former on July 7, 1895, and the latter on April 27, 1896. The Buda-Pest is to be fitted with Belleville boilers, by Messrs. Maudslay, Sons & Field, with a total grate area of 720 square feet and total heating surface of 22,500 square feet. The Monarch and Wien have cylindrical boilers. MAGNET. This torpedo vessel was launched at Elbing on March 21, 1896. She is of the torpedo-boat type, and her principal characteristics are: Armament. — Six 3 pounder (44-caliber) E. F. G., and three 18-inch torpedo tubes. Motive power. — To develop 3,700 I. H. P. and give a speed of 26 knots. The coal capacity is 100 tons, and the radius of action at 12 knots 4,000 miles. Dimensions. — Length, 221.4 feet; beam, 26.9 feet; maximum draught, 10.8 feet; displacement, 473 tons. ERSATZ GREIF. I> NATTER VIPER. 17 AUSTRIA. VESSELS SOLD. GREIF. This side-wheel dispatch vessel has been stricken from the navy list. GRILLE. Aii old- type gun vessel, also stricken from the list. TO UP EDO BOATS. •- Two of the six torpedo boats building- have been launched, one by Messrs. Yarrow & Co., and named the Viper. The Viper is 147 feet 6 inches long and 14 feet 9 inches beam, and was guaranteed to attain a speed of 24 knots when fully equipped and in the loaded conditiou. With 26 tons dead weight on board to represent her armament, etc., the vessel left Poplar at 10 a. m., and on arriving at Thames Haven about noon commenced a three hours' continuous trial, during which six consecutive runs were made on the measured mile. A speed was attained on these runs of 26.633 knots. The boilers of the Viper are of the Yarrow water-tube type. The scheduled particulars of the run are given in the following table: r. Hour. 1.51 1.57 2.3 2.10 as u m u ond Secrun. 173173 69 69 68 68 173 175 68 70 11 16 10 10 10 11 174 69 10.5 175 175 i— o a > 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 Time. Air sure. Revolutions a minute. 9 0.875 .875 379.per 84 378 .875 382. 86 .75 .75 386. 46 362. 19 390 2 2 2 2 2 2 pres- 1 .875 379. 89 Mean. GO Speed. 20 11 27. 692 25.714 17 16 27. 480 26. 470 26. 277 10 1.36 1.43 Steam in boilers. 15 26. 666 26. 703 26. 597 26. 975 26. 373 26. 471 means. Second Xotes. 26. 674 1Lower Hope. 26.650, 26.7861 26.633. 26. 422J per cent. I. H. P. 1,940. Slip 11. 3 26. 716 After these runs the Viper went down to the Maplins and back. The accepted mean revolutions for the three hours were 379.888 per minute; and the accepted mean speed, 26.638 knots. The Viper has since safely made her passage from the Thames to Pola. Her seagoing qualities were thoroughly tested on the voyage out, as she experienced excessively rough weather in the Bay of Biscay. The Natter, one of the torpedo boats under construction at Elbing, has also been completed. Her principal characteristics are: Armament. — Two 3-pounder K.F.G., and three 18-inch torpedo tubes. Motive power. — To develop 2,300 I. H.P. and give a speed of 2G knots. Coal capacity 33 tons, and radius of action at 12 knots 2,500 miles. Dimensions. — Length, 150.5 feet; beam, 15.5 feet; draught, 8.8 feet; displacement, 152 tons. Six seagoing boats are to be laid down this year under the new budget. 1975— No, XV 2 18 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. BRAZIL. The program for 1896 contemplates two coast- defense vessels, four protected cruisers, three torpedo vessels, eight first-class torpedo boats, six smaller torpedo boats, and five Goubet submarine torpedo boats. Of these vessels it is reported that the following have been ordered in Europe : Two coast-defense vessels, four cruisers, three torpedo vessels, two first-class torpedo boats, and five smaller torpedo boats. Two Goubet submarine torpedo boats have been delivered. VESSELS PROPOSED, AUTHORIZED, TWO COAST DEFENSE OR BUILDING. VESSELS. (Page 14, No. XIV.) The secondary batteries of these vessels will include four 6-pounder R. F. G., two 1-pounder R. F. G., two 1-inch machine guns, and two torpedo tubes. THREE PROTECTED CRUISERS. These vessels are reported to have been ordered in Italy. They are to be of 4,000 tons displacement, built of steel, sheathed with wood and copper, and protected by an armored deck and coal. The speed is to be 19 knots under natural-draft and 20 knots under forced-draft, and the coal supply will give them a radius of 10,000 miles at 10 knots speed. They will have a heavy armament for bow and stern fire, together with a number of rapid-fire guns and three torpedo tubes. PROTECTED CRUISER. This vessel is being constructed by Messrs. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. of steel, sheathed with wood and copper, and will have a displacement of about 3,500 tons. Armament. — Six 6-inch R. F. G., four 4.7-iuch R. F. G., ten 6-pounder R. F. G., four 1-pounder R. F. G., four Maxim machine guns, and three torpedo tubes. Protection. — Steel protective deck from 3.5 to 1.2 inches thick. Motive power.— To give 7,000 I. H. P. and 20.5 knots. Dimensions, etc. — Length, 320 feet; beam, 43 feet; mean draught, 17 feet; coal capacity, 850 tons. THREE TORPEDO VESSELS. (Page 14, No. XIV.) These vessels have been ordered from the Germauia Company, Kiel, Germany, and will have a displacement of 1,030 tons. Armament. — Two 4-inch R. F. G. ; six G pounder R. F. G. ; four 1-pounder R. F. G., and three torpedo tubes. Protection. — Machinery and boilers protected by coal and by a protective deck. BRAZIL. 19 Motive poiver. — Two triple-expansion engines intended to give a speed of 20 knots natural-draft and 22 knots forced-draft. The steaming radius to be 3,000 miles at 10 knots speed. Dimensions.— Length, 259 feet; beam, 30.8 feet; draught, 10 feet; displacement, 1,030 tons. EltiHT TORPEDO VESSELS. (Page 1, No. XIII.) It is proposed to build eight vessels of the Gustavo Sampaio type to have a speed of from 23.5 to 26 knots. GUNBOAT. Messrs. Yarrow & Co. are building a gunboat for Brazil to have a length of 80 feet, a beam of 12 feet, and a speed of 12 knots. VESSELS LA UXCHED. CARAMUBU. One of the three torpedo vessels described above was launched at the works of the Germania Company on April 1, 189G. VESSELS RE-ARM1XG, REFLTTLNG, ETC. TONELERO. Formerly called the Trajano. Her battery was thrown overboard by the rebels and now she is to refit at La Seyne, France. It was reported in August, 1895, that a boiler had exploded on board killing or wounding 16 persons. VINTE E (JUATRO DE MAIO. (Page 15, No. XIV.) This vessel was sent across and docked at Southampton, England, in November, 1895, and her guns were landed and sent to Elswick to be overhauled. She then proceeded to Stettin, Germany, to undergo a thorough refit. Her new boilers made by the Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranee have been forwarded to Germany. VESSELS RENAMED. The Guanabara is to be called Paysandu; the Libcrdade becomes the Trinidade, and the RepubJica is renamed Quinze de Isovembro. TORPEDO PEDRO IYO, SILVADO, PEDRO BOATS. AFFONSO, PANNE, PERNAMBUCO. (Page 9. No. XIII.) The five boats bought from Mr. Schichau, Elbiug, were named as above. 20 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO SIX TORPEDO BOATS. BOATS. To be ordered under the program for 1896; tbeir characteristics have not been made known, but at least three of them will be built in Germany. FIVE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOATS. Five boats of the Goubet type (p. 454, No. VIII; 33, No. IX; 40, No. X; 40, No. XI) are to be constructed in France for Brazil. Two of these have been completed, one of them being conveyed to Brazil on board of the Riachuelo. This new type is known as the Goubet II, and, like the first, is a spindle-shaped vessel 26.2 feet long, 5.7 feet in diameter; the hull being formed of a series of broad rings, with flanges for bolting theni together. On top, midway of the length, is a circular hatch or manhole 14 inches high, with a dome-shaped cover. There is a fin keel at the bottom, and side keels as well, the latter supporting skeleton discharge tubes for automobile torpedoes. Oars working through universal water-tight joints afford a means of propulsion in case of accident to the motive power. A screw propeller projects from the stern, completing the list of external features of the hull. The hull plating is of bronze, varying from 0.27 to 0.86 inch in thickness. The vessel rises or sinks with the expulsion or admission of water, the reservoirs being in what might be called the double bottom. The amount of water in the reservoirs is controlled automatically by means of a hydrostatic apparatus set for some particular depth, which controls the electric current driving the dynamos that fill or empty the reservoirs. If the bouyaucy should be suddenly altered by the loss of the detachable wreight from the keel, or other cause, the original plane of immersion would be restored automatically by the admission of water. A similar device maintains the longitudinal stabilitj^, even when the crew move forward or aft. With crew and stores on board the boat is awash, but additional buoyancy can be obtained by detaching the weight at the keel. The propeller works in a s}Tstem of ball-and-socket joints, enabling its use for steering, as well as for propulsion. A telescope can be projected upward through the dome, when near the surface of the water, for about 10 feet. It is fitted with reflecting mirrors, enabling the captain to see above the surface. Fresh air is furnished by reservoirs of oxygen, and the accumulation of foul air may be pumped out. The torpedoes carried at the side are balanced for a certain depth, and are started by a lever from within the boat, which acts on a strong spring and on the tripping lever of the torpedo, and so sets the screws of the torpedo in motion. There is also an apparatus for cutting cables or nets and for removing obstructions under water. The boat weighs about 9 tons, and can be driven at a speed of 7 knots by 1.5 H. P. The steaming radius is 40 miles, and it must be habitable for eight hours. Cost, 648,250, $Q D 3) X m O o c m00 H C CO CD 30 > General Information Series, No. XV. THE GOUBET SUBMARINE BOAT. VIEW OF AFTER END, SHOWING MECHANISM. THE GOUBET SUBMARINE BOAT. VIEW OF FORE END, SHOWING THE VENTILATING LEVERS, ETC. BULGARIA CHILE. 21 BULGARIA. The Bulgarian navy now consists of the paddle-wheel yacht Alexander 7, built of steel, 800 tons displacement, 183.7 feet long, 32.7 feet beam, 4.8 feet draught, 700 I. H. P., and a speed of 11 knots; the yacht Krum, of 650 tons displacement; the steamers Asjen, of 100 tons, and Simeon Veliki i, 600 tons displacement; the steam launches Boris, Ljuben Karaivelof, Raina RaJcovsJci, Stefan Karadjo, and Voevoda, of from 2 to 5 tons, and the Hadzi Demetcd, of 15 tons; two spar torpedo launches; and two sailing transports, of 400 tons displacement. CHILE. VESSELS PROPOSED, AUTHORIZED, AND BUILDING. O'HIGGIXS. The second armored cruiser building at Elswick for Chile will probably be named the O'ffiggins. The general characteristics of the ship are : Armament. — Four 8-inch B. L. E., ten 6 -inch E. F. G., four 4.7-inch R. F. G., eight 12-pounder E. F. G., ten 6-pounder E. F. G., four Maxim machine guns, and four submerged 18-inch torpedo tubes. Protection. — A belt of Harveyed nickel steel 0 inches in thickness. Dimensions, etc. — Length, 400 feet; beam, 62 feet; draught, 22 feet; displacement, 8,400 tons. Speed, 21 knots. VESSELS LA UNCHED. ESMERALDA. A new vessel to replace the one sold to Japan was laid down by Messrs. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co., at Elswick, to perpetuate the name in the Chilean navy, and launched April 14, 1896. Her principal characteristics are as follows: Armament. — Two 8-inch B. L. E. with shields, one forward, one aft; sixteen 6-inch E. F. G. with shields; eight 12-pounder E. F. G.; ten 6-pounder E. F. G.; four Maxim machine guns, and five torpedo tubes, of which two are submerged. Protection. — There is a water-line belt of steel about 350 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 6 inches thick, joined at the ends by 6-inch, transverse bulkheads. The protective deck has a thickness of 1.5 inches behind the armor and 2 inches at the ends. The usual coal protection is afforded. Motive poiver. — The machinery is designed to give a speed of 21 to 22 knots under forced draft. The boilers will be cylindrical. Dimensions, etc. — Leugth, 436 feet; beam, 53.2 feet; draught, 20.5 feet, displacement, 7,000 tons. The sheathing will be of wood and copper. 22 NOTES ON SHIPS AND MIMSTRO TORPEDO BOATS. ZEXTENO. This protected cruiser was launched at Els wick. February 1, 1896, by Messrs. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. She has the following characteristics: Armament. — Eight 6-inch 11. F. G., ten 6-pounder R. F. G., four 1-pounder E. F. G.. two held guns, four machine guns, and five torpedo tubes. Protection. — She has a complete protective deck varying in thickness from 1.25" inches on flat to 3.5 inches on slopes. The bases of the smoke pipes are protected by 4-inch glacis plates. An additional protection to the machinery spaces is given by the coal bunkers at the side extending to a height of 0 feet above the water line. The conning tower is of 4-inch steel. Motive power. — The engines develop 7,500 I. H. P., and drive twin screws. The total coal capacity is 800 tons, giving the ship a radius of 8,000 miles at economical speed. Dimensions. — Length between perpendiculars, 330 feet; beam, 43.75 feet: mean draught, 16.83 feet; displacement, 3,450 tons. Speed, 20 knots. ALMIRAME SIMPSON". A torpedo vessel of an improved Almirante Lynch type, building by Messrs. Laird Bros, at Birkenhead, was launched April 16, 1896. The general characteristics of this vessel are: Armament. — Two 4.7-inch E. F. G., four 3-ponnder K. F. G., two Maxim-Nordenfelt machine guns, and three 18-inch torpedo tubes. Protection. — The sides and deck in wake of the machinery and boilers are increased in thickness, probably to 1 inch: there is also extensive coal protection. Motive power. — Two sets of triple- expansion engines to develop 4,500 I. H. P. and give a speed of 21 knots. There will be four Xormand water-tube boilers to carry a pressure of 200 pounds. The radius of action will be 4,000 miles. Dimensions. — Length, 240 feet; beam, 27.5 feet; depth, 16 feet; displacement, about 800 tons. ACCIDENTS. HT7ASCAR. The main steam pipe of this vessel burst early in April, 1896, killing 8 men and wounding 4 others. The vessel was lying at Valparaiso at the time of the accident. VESSELS BE-ABMING, ALMIRANTE REFITTING, ETC. COCHRANE. (Page 54, No. X.) This vessel is undergoing a refit at Talcahuano. All masts have been removed and one military mast substituted, and four 4-inch E. F. G. will be added to the battery. CHILE CHINA. 23 AQUILA AND SPARTAN. (Page 54, Xo. XI.) The machinery of these vessels has been protected by fitting 3-inch plating in wake of it, and rearranging the coal protection. A number of 4.7-inch R. F. Armstrong guns are to be mounted on each vessel. PRESIDENTE ERRAZURIS AND PRESIDENTS PIXTO. (Page 56, No. X.) The Canet gnus on board these vessels are to be replaced by Armstrong guns, the latter type having been regularly adopted by the Chilean Government. TORPEDO CAPITAN HUNIZ GAMERO, CAPITAN BOATS. ORELLA, TEMENTE SERRANO, AND GUARDIA MARINA REQUELME. Three of these four torpedo boats building at Birkenhead have been launched. Their characteristics are as follows: Armament. — One 12-pounder 11. F. G., five G- pounder R. F. G., and two torpedo tubes. Motive power. — Engines driving twin screws give 6,000 I. H. P. jSormand boilers. Dimensions. — Length, 210 feet; beam, 21.6 feet; displacement, 300 tons; speed, 30 knots. SIX TORPEDO BOATS. Six torpedo boats of the type of the Austrian boat Viper have been ordered of Messrs. Yarrow & Co. They will be 152.5 feet long, have a beam of 15.3 feet, and a speed of 25.5 knots. The usual tripleexpansion engines will be fitted to make 2,000 I. H. P. The coal capacity will be 40 tons. CHINA. It has been reported that the Viceroy at Nanking has about $4,866,700 with which he intends to strengthen the Chinese navy. The authorities at Pekin have protested against the expenditure of this money for the navy, and nothing has yet been done beyond consulting with several European shipbuilders. The proposed program included two battleships of 8,000 tons each, two armored cruisers of 5,000 tons each, four partially protected cruisers of 3,000 tons each and several torpedo boats. VESSELS PROPOSED, THREE AUTHORIZED, PROTECTED OR BUILDIXG. CRUISERS. On the 8th of June, 1896, the Chinese Government awarded the contract for three protected cruisers to the Vulcan Works, Stettin, Germany, to be completed in eighteen months. Their principal characteristics will be : Armament. — Three 5.9-inch E. F. G.; eight 4.13-inch R. F. G.; six 24 NOTES ON SHIPS AND TORPEDO BOATS. 1-pounder R. F. G. ; six Maxim machine guns; one 2.4-inch boat gun; and three torpedo tubes, one of them submerged. Dimensions, etc. — Length, 328 feet; beam, 41 feet; draught, 1G.3 feet; displacement, 2,950 tons; I. H. P., 7,500; speed, 19.5 knots. FEI YIXG. This torpedo vessel was built at Stettin, Germany, for the Chinese Government, and arrived in China in December, 1895. She is built of steel, the-hull being subdivided by many water-tight bulkheads. She has a topgallant forecastle and poop, four smoke pipes, two pole masts, ram bow, electric lighting, mechanical telegraphs, and speaking tubes; also two search lights. Armament. — Two 3.94-inch Krupp R. F. G. on slide mounts, with one-half inch curved steel shields, one on forecastle and one on poop, each having an arc of fire of 12 points on either side of the keel; six 6-pounder Krupp R. F. G. in sponsons on pedestal mounts, with threeeighths-inch shields and an arc of fire of 14 points; two 1-pounder Hotchkiss R. F. G. on crinoline mounts; three torpedo tubes, for which six 14-inch Schwartzkopf torpedoes are carried. Protection. — This vessel is practically without any protection, although there is about 5 feet of coal at the water line in wake of the engines and boilers. The boilers are below, but the engines are above the water line, and would be easily disabled. Motive power. — Two quadruple-expansion engines in the same compartment on opposite sides of the midship line. Eight Yarrow watertube boilers arranged in four water-tight compartments. Dimensions, etc. — Length over all, 280 feet; draught forward, 9 feet; displacement, 850 tons ; coal capacity, 180 tons. The Fei Ying had her steam trials before leaving Germany, and with eight boilers working under three-quarters-inch air pressure and 4,500 I. H. P., she made an average speed of 21.3 knots in four runs. During a 5-hour continuous run she made 20.5 knots, and her sea going qualities are reported as excellent. KIN (KING. This school ship was launched at the Fuchan Navy- Yard, China, in the summer of 1895. She is a single-screw unarmored steel vessel of 1,800 tons displacement, with rounded bow and stern, topgallant forecastle and poop, and two military masts, Her armament consists of two 5.9-inch Krupp R. F. G.-, one each side abaft the break of the forecastle, and five 4.7-inch Krupp R. F. G., one on poop and two in each broadside. Her estimated speed is 15 knots. TKAXSPORT. This vessel, as yet unnamed, is being constructed at the Fuchau yard. She is to have a displacement of 750 tons and an estimated speed of 12 knots. CHINA COLOMBIA TORPEDO DENMARK. 25 BOATS. Of the four new torpedo boats mentioned on page 16 of General Information Series No. XIV, two were built by the Vulean Works at Stettin and two were Schiehau boats Nos. 55S and 559. The latter have a length of 127.9 feet, beam 15.G feet; I. H. P. 1,200; and are fitted with locomotive boilers. The armament consists of two 37 millimeter Hotckhiss R. C, one bow torpedo tube, and two launching carriages. COLOMBIA. GENERAL XERINO. This vessel has been built by Mr. Hugh Ramsay, Perth Amboy, K". J., for the Colombian Government. She is a side- wheel, lightdraught gunboat built in sections and was so transported to Colombia. There are ten water-tight compartments in the hull, and a single military mast carries a rapid-fire gun and a search light. The principal characteristics are as follows: Armament. — Three rapid-fire guns. Protection. — The engines, boilers, deck house, and conning tower areprotected by bullet-proof nickel-steel plating. Motive power. — Engines of the inclined triple-expansion type. One Roberts water- tube boiler, I. H. P. 130. Dimensions, etc. — Length over all, 140 feet; beam, 9 feet at water line and 35 feet at guards ; depth, 7 feet ; speed, 15 knots. CORDOVA. Formerly the British steamer Nepiuno, built at Sunderland, England, in 1891, and refitted at Perth Amboy, X. J., as a transport to carry 1,000 men. She carries one search light and her armament consists of two 6-pounder R. F. G. and two Colt automatic machine guns, fitted with bullet-proof shields. The dimensions are: Length, 222 feet; beam, 27 feet; depth, 11 feet. DENMARK. The proposed budget for 189G provides $228,295.26 for ordinary purposes, and $167,821.00 for extraordinary charges. Fo