A NEW TORPEDO BOAT.

Kumara Times, Issue 575, 31 July 1878, Page 2

A NEW TORPEDO BOAT.

A new torpedo boat, designed to work under water, has been brought under the notice of the Admiralty, and u and -i -Ift Sin. long has been made. The. boat (says “ The Times”) was

originally designed hy the late Lore} Milton, wh > was w.-ll known at Went' worth Woodliouse for his skill as a mechanic, assisted by Mr Turner, of the same place, and recently iniproved by Mr Councillor White, of Thorpe near Rotberam. The new torpedo boat is intended to work under water by means of compressed air, had in everv respect resembles a huge fish. In the forepart or head there are two large eyesj froin which radiate a strong electric light that will exhibit the keel of an enemy s vessel for a considerable distance, while a powerful ram is placed just above, capable of penetrating an armOitr clad. In what may be turned the nostril, there is a revolving gun woiked by Kvdianlic power and fired by electricity with a new explosive 11b ol which in a recent test, displaced 137 tons of ironstone in sitd. The tail plays an important part, fot it is hot only the propeller, but being perforated on either side serves to expel eitfier water or foul air* There are no masts,’ the deck being level, while inside the boat is divided into co mipa rtm en ts, charged with compressed air. The boat is sunk to the depth required by taking water in at the bottom, and she 1 then could remain under water, Mr White states, from three to nine hours, while in attacking a vessel the speed would be about 18 knots an hour. The gun, which was the invention of Lord Milton, differs from all others, lb is rotatory, but, has four chambers, placed like the spokes of a wheel, so that while one shot is being fired a second is being charged, a third sponged, and a fourth cleaned, so that the shots can be fired in rapid succession. Such is a brief outline of the latest invention connected with torpedoes, the inventors of which State that they can prove that it can complish all that had heerr said it was j capable of dc/ing.