THE WORLD'S NAVIES 49 



Torpedo Craft (Above Water] . There has been continuous activity in the construction 

 of torpedo craft among all naval nations since 1909, but the type presents few new fea- 

 tures, except in the engineering department. The British Admiralty are experimenting 

 with a boat fitted with geared turbines, and with one with internal combustion engines 

 for cruising purposes. The details concerning this type of ship are given in Table V. 



Table V. Above-Water Torpedo Craft. 



Year. Ship. Displacement. Armament. Speed. 



GREAT BRITAIN: 



1908 Beagle ( 1 6) . . . 900 tons 1-4 in.; 3-12 pdr. 27 



.-, ' 1909 Acorn (20) ..;. ; . . , 780 tons 2-4 in.; 2-12 pdr. 27 



1910 Defender (23) ! . 780 tons 2-4 in.; 2-12 pdr. 32 



1911 Acasta.(2O) , . . 1,000 tons 3-4 inch 32 



1912 Daring (20) . . . 1,200 tons 3-4 inch 33 

 GERMAN EMPIRE : 



1908 162-173 ( I2 ) 607 tons 2-23 pdr. 30 



1909 174-185(12) . . 640 tons 2-23 pdr. 32.5, 



1910 186-197(12) . 640 tons 2-23 pdr. 32.5 



1911 I-I2 (12) . . 840 tons 2-23 pdr. 32.5 



1912 13-24(12) . . 840 tons 2-23 pdr. 32.5 

 U.S.A.: 



1909 Flusser (5) . . . 700 tons 5-14 pdr. 28 



1910 Drayton (15) . . 742 tons 5-14 pdr. 30 



1911 Fanning (6) . . . 755 tons 5-14 pdr. 29.5 



1912 Ayhvin (8) . . . 1,040 tons 5-4 inch 29.5 

 FRANCE : 



1908-11 Voltigeur (13) . . 405-454 tons 6-9 pdr. 28 



1911 Bouclier (21) . . 692-804 tons 2-3.9 inch 31 

 JAPAN: 



1910 Umikase (2) . . 1,150 tons 2-4 in.; 5-3 in. 33 . 



1911 Sakura (4) . . . 790 tons 2-4 in.; 4-12 pdr. 33 

 ITALY: 



1906-10 Artigliere (10) . . 375-416 tons 4-12 pdr. 29 



1911 Ardente (10) . . 613 tons 1-4.7 in.; 4-12 pdr. 30 



1912 "X" (8) ... 800 tons i~4-7 m -> 4~~ 12 pdr. 30 

 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY: 



1912 "X" (6) . . .. 800 tons 2-3.9 in.; 4-12 pdr. 32,5 



RUSSIA: 



1910 Novik (i) . . . 1, 200 tons 4-4 inch 35 



1911 Bystry (9) . . . 1,050 tons 3-4 inch 34 

 Destroyers have also been built, or were being built in 1912, for Argentina, Brazil, 



Chile, China, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Spain, Portugal and Rumania, 

 while Greece has recently purchased four from Argentina. The increased size, which is 

 a common feature, has been devoted, in the majority of cases, to increased fuel supply, 

 and to the fitting of enlarged torpedo-tubes to carry the 21 inch torpedo. The primary 

 role of the destroyer, namely, as an antidote to the torpedo-boat, is being more and 

 more lost sight of. The ships are used for cruiser duties and for service with battle- 

 fleets. But the above-water torpedo-boat is practically obsolete. All modern de- 

 stroyers are fitted with wireless telegraphy. 



Submarines. The submarine has taken the place of the above-water torpedo-boat 

 as a weapon of offence. The latest designed type are of 940-1,200 tons displacement, 

 have a radius of action of 2,000 miles or over, a surface speed of 20 knots, mount two 

 4 inch guns, are fitted for wireless telegraphy, and have ample living accommodation for 

 officers and men. In Table VI an interesting comparison is given between the. latest 

 type (F class) of British submarine, an earlier type (A class), a torpedo-boat of the 

 " coastal " type, and a destroyer of the 27 knot class, now passing out of service. 



Table VI. 



Vessel. Displacement. Armament. Speed (On surface) 



"F" class . . . '':' ''; 1,200 I 2-12 pdrs. . . . 20 kts. 



(submarine) \ 6 tubes 



" A'' class . ;i . ..-.,..; ,.? .- 204 2 tubes ,; . . . 12 kts. 



Torpedo boat 13 . . , 308 2-12 pdr. ; 3 tubes . . . 26 kts. 



Destroyer " Boxer " , ."'"'. 260 1-12 pdr.; 5-6 pdr. . . 27 kts. 



I tube 



