Torpedo Boats built by Messrs. Yarrow and Co.—Messrs. Yarrow and Co., of the Isle of Dogs, London, are also very well-known torpedo boat builders, and have during the last four years constructed a considerable number of such vessels for the English and different continental governments, and, as has been before stated, they are the constructors of the fastest vessel in the world.

Dutch Torpedo Launch.—In 1875 this firm built a torpedo launch for the Dutch government, specially designed for ocean purposes. It was 66 feet long, 10 feet beam, and 5-1/2 feet deep. She was driven by a pair of inverted direct acting engines. The boiler was of the locomotive type, with a working pressure of 140 lbs. per square inch, and capable of exerting a force of some 200 indicated horses.

Russian Torpedo Boat.—This firm also constructed for the Russian government two torpedo steamers 85 feet in length. The guaranteed speed of these vessels being 20 knots per hour. In 1878 the Russian government ordered one hundred exactly similar boats to be constructed, mostly at St. Petersburg, thus proving the high estimation held by that government of Messrs. Yarrow and Co.'s torpedo boats.

Description of a Yarrow Torpedo Launch.—[Figs. 157], [158], and [159] show an elevation, section, and plan of a torpedo boat, Yarrow type, a large number of which have been built for the Russian and other continental governments.

The length of this boat is 75 feet, its beam 10 feet, and draught of water 3 feet. She is built of steel of the best quality, no other metal possessing the requisite strength and stiffness for scantling, and plates of such lightness. It is divided into eight compartments by seven transverse bulkheads, the forward and after compartments being used for stores, the two central ones enclosing the machinery, while the steersman and operator are placed in the compartment immediately abaft the engines.

The steersman's head projects above the deck, and is protected by a rifle proof steel truncated cone, the top part of which is movable like the visor of a helmet. The hull is decked over from end to end with a curved shield, the midship plating of which is capable of resisting rifle shots, even at close quarters; its curved form being well adapted for giving the maximum strength to the structure, and quickly frees itself from any large body of water.

[YARROW'S TORPEDO BOATS.]

The propelling machinery consists of a pair of inverted compound condensing engines. The revolutions per minute at full speed are about 470, and the indicated horse power about 280. The propeller is of steel. The funnel is fixed at one side of the centre line, to be out of the way of the bow torpedo pole and gear.