NEW TORPEDO VESSEL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2433, 23 January 1882, Page 3

NEW TORPEDO VESSEL.

A new torpedo vessel is thus described by the New York correspondent of the " Standard," writing on November 16th : "In the presence of a distinguished company, a successful exhibition took plaoe yesterday of a torpedo vessel of entirely novel desipn, the invention of the famous John Ericsson. When he was consulted by Louis Napoleon, in 1854, Ericsson submitted plans for a monitor and this torpedo; both were, however, rejected. Tho monitor, at Hampton roads, revolutionised naval warfare ; and similarly this torpedo promises to mark a new departure in submarine operations. The torpedo boat is 130 ft long, lift deep and 12ft wide. The vital parts are wholly submerged. It is as strongly armoured as any vessel afloat; is of one thousand horse power, and has realised a speed of over 16 knots. Its novel hydraulic steering apparatus enables it to change its oourse instantly. It moves ahead and astern with equal speed and faoility. Nothing afloat oould dodge or esoape it. Passing by many oonsiderable but minor novelties about _ it, the gun challenges attention for its simplicity, novelty, boldness, and efficiency. It rests on the keelson, with the muzzle submerged 6ft, and discharges the projectile directly into the water. Two chief difficulties had to be overoome—first, to prevent the inrush of water, which would sink

the boat; aeoond, to obviate the deflection of the projectile when passing suddenly from the air into the doneer medium of water. These difficulties are overcome in the following manner:—First, two valvei close the muzzle; one is permanent, and moved by machinery at will ; the second is carried away by the projectile. Any injury to the vessel is obviated by a valve of soft indiarubber, which advanoes with a second. missile, so arranged as to seal the bore hermetically. The missile thus carries with it a volume of air into the water. Br this plan a passage is accomplished from the air into the water through gradually increasing densities and the result is merely a retarding of the passage of the missile without disturbing the accuracy of the aim. Yesterday 121 bof giant powder formed the explosive charge, which in practice is intended to be 3401 b of dynamite. A. dummy torpedo was projected accurately a distance of 600 feet. It passed a target sft under water, and pierced the netting designed to represent the customary torpedo guard. The French officers who were present declared before the experiments began that the operation of the gun was t possible, and the result amazed them. Altogether the murderous engine seems to deserve the name it bears, 'Destroyer." The inventor says he has made fifty-two trials of it, and 6ach was sucoessfuL"