Target:—An iron pontoon 60' long and 40' beam, with circular ends and fitted with a double bottom, also a condenser and two Kingston valves.
1st Experiment.
Torpedo:—617 lbs. of dynamite. It was 62' horizontally from the keel, 53' actual distance from the side, and opposite amidships, 40·5' below the surface of the water, and 20' from the ground.
Pontoon:—Draught of water 19', and moored in 62' of water.
Effect of explosion:—The pontoon moved away bodily a distance of 13 feet; a few rivets in the outer bottom were started, and the outer skin was slightly indented between the frames; the maximum indentation being 1·5". No other damage was sustained by the hull. Several of the screws securing the flanges of the Kingston valves were slightly loosened.
2nd Experiment.
Torpedo:—585 lbs. of dynamite. It was placed 60' horizontally from the keel, 48' actual distance from the side, and opposite amidships; 36' below the surface of the water, and 42' from the ground.
Pontoon:—Draught of water 19·5', and moored in 74' of water.
Effect of explosion:—The pontoon, which had been more rigidly moored than in the previous experiment, was moved bodily away a distance of 4 feet. Many rivets were loosened, and a few connecting the angle irons were sheared; also the outer skin was slightly indented. No damage was done to the condenser or Kingston valves.