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52 of the torpedo. Upon the sides of the tube at diametrically opposite points, and in the horizontal plane of the axis of the tubes, are guide strips K®, and in the apex of the tube in THe Marine REVIEW the hull, and in direct alignment with the after, torpedo tubes, are the stor- age and loading tubes L, each of which is constructed with a vertical extension L*, open at its upper end and on POU 7%" their ends by end plates L® and L' which are also secured to the circular body portion of the tube. The ends L® are preferably arranged: upon an angle to provide an upwardly tapering <x Ss SSS SSSA << SSS 2 a vertical alignment with the axis is a guide strip K*, all of which are con- nected at intervals by circular bands K*,.. which extend circumferentially from the strips K, K, and connect each of the remaining strips. The strips and bands are secured to the tube by screws or rivets whose heads are countersunk and their outer ends are projected through the tube and headed to prevent accidental dis- placement. The manner of securing the bands is best illustrated in Fig. 11. After the tubes are thus. con- structed they are placed in a lathe and the strips are cored or milled to pro- vide a perfectly straight and even di- ameter throughout the length of the tube, which diameter is, of course, of a size to snugly fit the torpedo. By this construction the tubes present much less frictional surface to the tor- pedoes, and, as no part of the tor- pedo comes in contact with the inte- rior of the tubes, it is unnecessary to finish said interior. The tubes cannot be incapacitated through being dented or similarly injured, as may happen in various ways. Held in a space above the top of SO RSS ¥; RY \ N x SS SOON SSSA \ Ss extending through the superstructure of the vessel. The extensions are formed by the side plates L? extend- ing tangentially from the circular body portion of 'the tubes and connected at throat, facilitating the insertion of the torpedoes in the tubes L, as seen in Fig. 4. The opening of the extension of each tube is closed by a hatch plate L*, which is bolted down to the superstructure. Each of the said tubes is also provided with guide strips L', preferably of wood and held in dove- tailed grooved metal strips L*', 4s shown in Fig. 10, held in the bottom and sides of the tube. In. the fore part of 'the space formed by the superstructure and in longitudinal alignment with the stor- age and loading tubes L, and the fore and aft firing tubes, are storage tubes M, having guide strips similar to those of the tubes L. The inner end of each storage tube M projects into the conning tower and is closed by a cap M'*, preferably screwed in place, and which prevents ingress of water to the conning tower, should a leak occur through either of the hatches H and H', or hatch covering the open- ing of the loading tubes. The torpedoes are first lowered into each of the loading and storage tubes L, Fig. 4, through the openings L', from which they are first pushed for-