_Russian Torpedo Boats, built by Mr. S. Schibau, Prussia._--Mr. S. Schibau, of Elbing, Eastern Prussia, in 1878 constructed ten torpedo boats for the Russian government, similar to the one shown at Fig 163.
These boats are each 66 feet long, and 11 feet 3 inches beam. They are built of steel plates about an eighth of an inch thick. Their engines consist of three cylinder compounds, with surface condensers; and they run at 380 revolutions per minute, at full speed, driving a screw 4 feet in diameter. They have been variously armed, some with the spar, some with the Whitehead fish, and some with the Harvey towing torpedo. Their speed is about 18 knots per hour.
_Messrs. Herreshoff's Torpedo._--Messrs. Herreshoff, of Rhode Island, U.S.A., have also constructed several torpedo boats. One of these, built for the English government, is shown in section at Fig. 164. This boat is 59 feet 6 inches long, 7 feet 6 inches beam, and 5 feet 6 inches deep; she draws about 1 foot 3 inches of water.
[Illustration: RUSSIAN TORPEDO BOAT, HERRESHOFF'S TORPEDO BOAT.
"The vessel is constructed with five water-tight bulkheads, and her hull is of composite construction below the water line, having a steel framing covered with wood planking. The upper part of the hull is wholly of steel, the plates being 1/16 inch thick, the top sides sloping inwards and the upper work forming a protective superstructure for the crew and machinery. She is propelled by a screw which is placed beneath the vessel in a central position, and which is driven by a direct acting condensing engine placed in the forward part of the boat. The diameters of the steam cylinders are 10-1/2 inches and 6 inches respectively, with 10 inch stroke, and they are of 100 horse power estimated. There is an independent feed pump and air pump. The stoke hold is enclosed and is supplied with air by a Sturtevant blower, which is driven by an independent engine of 2-1/2 horse power. The propeller is a two-bladed screw 38 inches in diameter and 5 feet pitch, the screw shaft being 23 feet in length. The vessel is steered by means of a balanced rudder placed a short distance from the stern and under the ship, the helmsman being located in a stern cabin with a protected look-out raised just above the deck. The hull and machinery together weigh 6 tons, but with the working crew of four men and fuel, stores, and two torpedoes on board, boat weighs about 7-1/2 tons.