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VOL. 39. CLEVELAND, APRIL, 1909. NEW YORK No. 13 The Evolution of Speed in Torpedo Boat Destroyers © By Fred A. Talbot HE development of torpedo boat de- stroyers has been made a special study -by. Sir John I. Thornycroft, and ins) this "particular line has achieved conspicuous success, since he has suc- ceeded in produc- ing torpedo boats which as represent- atives of their re- SPANISH DESTROYER ARIELE spective periods proved the fleetest afloat. He it" was who built the first torpedo boat for the British navy. in 1876. This was the "Lightning," known in the service as "No. 1," and it proved to be the percursor of a long series of vessels remarkable for the speeds they attained. The "Lightning," as may be seen from the accompanying ~ illustration, is prac- tically no larger than the modern steam launch, and incidentally, in comparison with the later vessels of this type, it affords an interesting and striking study of the remarkable de- velopments that have 'been effected in the design of this c!ass of mo- Ssquito craft during the past 30 years. It measured 84 ft. 6 in. in length, with a beam of 10 ft. 10 in., and drew 5 ft. of water. The eng'nes were of the compound ° surface condensing pattern with cylinders of 1234 in. and 2l-in. bore respectively by a common stroke of 12 in., and developing 460 indicated horsepower. Its armament comprised only a. spar torpedo gear fitted in the bow. Its speed was 18. knots. (20:75, miles) per hour. The speed successes of the "Light- ning," despite its being a pioneer war vessel designed for a_ special phase of operations, aroused the in- terest of naval engineers throughout the world, since it was realized that such small vessels .of light weight combined with high speed would be of invaluable service in overhauling surreptitiously the largest and slow- er war-clads, discharge their torpedo, and beable to get away without de- tection. The result was that the tor- pedo boat became established as a fighting unit. But this development resulted in the demand for a similarly light vessel which should be of great- er speed so as to be able to overhaul the torpedo boat and thus nullify its intentions, and the torpedo boat de- stroyer was consequently evolved, In this latter development Sir John Torrepo Boat Destroyer LicHtninG (1876), THE First THE BritisH Navy.