The battleship of the future, in the opinion of one eminent shipbuilder at least, will be very different from existing types. Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, who are no mean authorities on warship construction, were stated recently to have been engaged in elaborating plans for a mastless vessel, propelled by a system of gas machinery, without funnels or other deck obstructions, of a greater speed than any warship afloat, and able to fire ten 12-inch guns on either broadside and six of them either right ahead or astern, without counting a number of smaller guns. Such a vessel would be propelled by four screws.
Photo. G. West & Son.
The “Kearsarge,” U.S. Navy.
Photo. G. West & Son.
The “San Francisco,” U.S. Navy.
CHAPTER XII
MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION OF STEAM-POWER
Tugs — Cargo-boats — Floating Docks — Ferries — Icebreakers — Yachts — Eccentricities of Design — Conclusion
Not the least important of the types of steamers which throng the ports of the world—or which used to do so, for their number is decreasing—is the tugboat. Up to a few years ago it played a most important part in the work of a port; every sailing ship entering port usually engaged the services of a tug; many ports, like that of London, could not be entered at all by a large sailing ship without the services of “a fair wind ahead,” as sailors often call the tug, and in the waters outside the Port of London the tugboats found one of the best “pitches” in their business. To be towed safely into port might mean a saving of many days in avoiding the waiting for a wind. The tug was equally useful to a ship leaving port, as she might not only tow her into the open sea, but might even take her right out of sight of land altogether, in helping her along until a favourable slant of wind was met. At ports like Liverpool sailing-ship masters often, when wind and tide were favourable, brought their ships into port under full sail without a tug, though probably three or four of them kept her company in the hope that their services would be required, as they generally were when the time came to enter dock.