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aoe MARINE REVIEW. Capt. Alex. McDougall's Patents.* WAR BOAT--SPECIFICATION FORMING PART OF LETTERS PAT- ENT NO. 498,679-- DATED MAY 30, 1893--APPLICA- TION FILED JULY 29, 1892--SERIAL NO. 441,613--NO MODEL. The inventor says: "My present invention relates to im- provements in war vessels, which are especially adapted and de- signed for use in the defense of harbors and coasts. The present boat possesses certain advantages of operation. Fig. 1 is a per- spective view of my improved war vessel; Figs. 2 and 3 longi- tudinal sectional views of modified forms. Corresponding parts are designated by the same letters of reference. A is the hull of one of my improved steamboats, fully described in letters patent of the United States, dated June 3, 1890, numbered 429,468 and granted to myself. 'The hull of this steamboat consists of metal- lic plates secured to transverse ribs, so as to form a hollow shell. The bow of the boat, as described in said letters patent, is spoon- shaped, and the stern is similarly constructed, except that it is provided with a skeg, which facilitates steering. The hull is without sheer, which cheapens its construction, and the deck is curved. 'The particular curve of the deck which I have referred to in said patent is that of .an ellipsoid, but I do not wish, of course, to be limited to this particular shape, although it poss- esses many advantages which have been before pointed out. 'The bottom of the boat is rounded, although I have mentioned in said patent that it may be flat or peaked. The sides of the boat are parallel, both longitudinally and vertically, which also serves to cheapen the construction of the hull. Within the bow and stern are preferably water tanks, and the bottom part of the boat is formed into compartments. These tanks and compartments may be filled wholly or partially with water, by which the boat may be submerged to its proper load water line or trimmed. By pumping this water out of these compartments and: tanks, the draft of the boat may be made very light, so that it may enter shallow waterways and pass over bars. 'This facility is particu- larly advantageous to a war vessel, as it prevents the nursuit of men-of-war of deep draught, and it will allow one of my im- proved war vessels to approach cities having poor harbors, which may be thought secure from the attacks of such men-of-war. "Bis an engine which is placed within the boat preferably near the central part thereof. 'This engine is to be of any ap- propriate construction, and for protection may be surrounded by coal bunkers in the usual way. 'This engine operates the pro- peller, which is placed at the stern either in the rear of the skeg or within the skeg, 'I'wo propellers may be used, one on either side of the skeg, or if it is desired to secure.great speed, three _ *Under this heading we will publish specifications accompanying letters patent granted to Alexander McDougall, of West Superior, Wis., since his first : icati , a patent on the whaleback type of vessel, May 1, 1880, U application for ' propellers may be used. C is a boiler or boilers placed within . the hull either in the front or the rear of the engine B. D isan auxiliary armor placed over the bow portion of the boat and BE is an auxiliary armor placed over the stern portion of the boat. Both of these armors are similar in construction. Each consists of a heavy wooden or elastic backing covered with metallic plates or a steel casting either in whole or in section maybe used. Each armor extends some distance below the load water line, The auxiliary armor at the bow is preferably thicker at its upper after end and the auxiliary armor at its stern is thicker at its for- ward end. Fisaconning tower extending up from the deck in the rear of the forward auxiliary armor, and G is a conning tower extending up from the deck directly in advance of the rear auxiliary armor. By making the auxiliary armor at the bow thicker at its after part, or, in other words, by making it inclined, as I have shown, the forward conning tower will be effectively protected from the action of shot and shell. The after conning tower G will also be protected in the same way by the auxiliary armor at the stern. By making the auxiliary armor at the bow inclined, as I have shown, a very convenient bulwark is offered to enable the officers and crew to walk about the decks in safety, The extreme nose of the boat consists of a heavy hinged plate H ~ adapted to be swung outwardly, and the stern consists of a sim- ilar hinged plate arranged the same way. '""Hxtending down from the bow and the stern on the inside of the boat are inclined tracks K and J, which pass into the hold. Suitable guns M and N are mounted on these tracks. These guns are loaded in the interior of the boat and are then moved up the inclined track K and L, so as to point out through the bow or stern, after which they are fired. 'The guns are now returned to the holdof the boat and are re-loaded. Ifit is desired, two tracks may be used at the bow, and two tracks at the stern, so that two guns may be used at each end. 'These guns are loaded and fired alternately. The proper aim of the forward gun is ef- -- fected by the officer in the forward conning tower. 'This officer steers the boat so that it will point directly at the object which is to be fired upon. The only duty of the gunner in the interior of the hull is to effect the proper elevation. The aiming of the rear gun is effected by the officer in the rear conning tower. There may be provided an auxiliary steering apparatus in this rear conning tower, by which the officer therein may control the movements of the vessel, or he may give his instructions to the officer in the fore conning tower by means of a speaking tube or otherwise. The smoke stack from the engines passes up through the deck, and is protected by a heavy metallic turret O. Pisa metal mast extending up from the deck to a proper height-and carrying a crow's nest QO at its upper end. 'The crow's nest can be reached from the interior of the boat by means of a metallic ladder passing up through the hollow mast P. Machine guns of any appropriate construction are mounted in this crow's nest and are to be operated by a portion of the crew. 'The crow's nest of- fersa convenient point for a look-out, and men-of-war can there- by be sighted long before the hullof my improved war vessel could be seen, by reason of the fact that there is such a small portion of the hull out of water. 'The machine guns in the crow's nest offer an effective means for preventing boarding and these guns may also be put into use in assailing torpedo boats and for fighting in close quarters. "In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a war vessel, provided with a tam bow, which further increases its functions in a very impor- tant regard. Such a ram bow, owing to the great strength and rigidity which is required of it, should preferably be formed in the construction of the vessel; that is to sav, the original frames of the boat should be formed so as to constitute the proper shape of the bow. In this case the war vessel would be capable of effective use only as a weapon of defense, but it is to be under- stood that the said ram may bea distinct and separate element, which can be attached in any suitable way to the bow portion of the boat. When used asa freight carrier, and for similar pur- poses, the said ram is to be removed, and the original functions and advantages of the vessel are regained. 'The vessel shown itt Fig. 3 is similar in most respects to the war boats before referred to, differing therefrom only in the particular shape of the bow. In this boat I make use of an ordinary wedge-shape or cut-away bow, instead of the spoon-shape bow of Fig. 1, or the ram bow of Hig iso, \ "What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is as follows: First--An improved war vessel, consisting of a hull, substantially as described; an auxiliary armor D around the bow of the vessel and gradually increasing in thickness near the tear end, an auxiliary armor E around the stern of the vessel and