Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE DEVELOPMENT OF TORPEDO CRAFT. 423 The torpedo boat of to-day is considerably larger than the earliest destroyer, whilst the latest development in this latter craft far outclasses the original torpedo gunboat. In- deed, the fusion of the “ scout ” and the “ destroyer ” is the natural outcome of exist- ing development. Whether the future role of destroyers is to be that indicated by their is the 37’037 knots of his Majesty’s ocean- going destroyer Tartar, which, has steamed unofficially 40-2 knots, or nearly 46 miles an hour. The experimental destroyer Swift at- tained 38.3 knots on a short run, and the ill-fated Viper made a measured mile speed of 37'113 knots. The Tartar displaces 870 tons at a draught of water of 8 feet 8 inches. IN THE ENGINE-ROOM OF H.M.S. “ TARTAR. {Photo, Messrs. John I. Thornycroft and Company.) present name or by that of “ scout ” must in any event depend largely upon the ad- miral to whose command such craft are attached, and upon circumstances. After this short account of the striking evolution of the torpedo-carrying boat, we will now describe a typical destroyer and a typical torpedo boat, and give, in addition, a few interesting and little known facts con- types. The fastest authenti- High Speeds. cerning both cated speed at sea by any existing warship Her length is 270 feet, and her maximum beam 26 feet. By reason of their comparatively small size, destroyers cannot be very steady craft in a rough sea. In the older types a turtle-back shaped deck was given them forward, the idea being that, after diving into a head sea, the boat could readily shake off the mass of water mounting over her bows. In the later ships, such as the Tartar, however, the front part of the ship is built up high to make it rather rise to the waves. On this “ raised