Herreshoff #189001ep [Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat (TB-2)]

"Procurement of TB-2
In the Act of June 30, 1890, Congress provided $125,000 for one torpedo boat for which the Navy issues an RFP in October specifying a steel torpedo boat of about 112 tons; the intention is to obtain a vessel resembling CUSHING, but without the ram bow and developing at least 24 knots. The hull and machinery, including engines boilers, and appurtenances, are to be built in accordance with plans and specifications provided by bidder. Speed premiums and penalties are specified similar to CUSHING.[6]
In response Capt. Nat develops two designs [#189001ep and #189002ep], both of which are submitted in the HMCo bid.[7]
1. [#189001ep:] An improved CUSHING- TB-'2B'- 1/48th scale half model 1418
144 ft LOD x 14ft- 9 in Beam x 10 ft extreme depth; displacement 112 tons net
o Price $93,200 with $4000 additional for galvanizing[8]
o Profile (per preliminary sketches) a TB similar to CUSHING [#152p] with two smokestacks and two conning towers, but with plumb bow and stern.
o Machinery 'entire to be a duplicate of ... CUSHING but to embody all minor improvements the builders can suggest by the experience they gained during the CUSHING trials.'
o The more efficient hull shape makes possible the increased speed of 24 knots.
2. [#189002ep:] A new larger vessel- TB-'2A' 1/48th scale half model 1420
156 ft LOD x 16 ft Beam x 11 ft extreme depth: displacement 150 tons net.
o Price $125,000 with $5500 additional for galvanizing[9]
o Profile similar to TB-'2B'
o Two larger quadruple expansion five-cylinder engines 14 x 20 x 28 x 2 x 28 x 161/2 stroke (vs CUSHING 111/4 x 16 x 221/2 x 2 @ 221/2 x 15 stroke) The larger engines developed 2400 ihp vs CUSHING’s 1750.
John Brown Herreshoff attends the bid opening in Wash. DC on Dec. 20, 1890. In a repeat of TB-1, with only one vessel to be awarded, there are only two bidders.
o HMCo two bids- 100 tons $93,200 and 134 tons $125,000
o Cowles Eng’g. Co. Brooklyn, NY, 112 tons, $119,140 (Designer and builder of a tubulous boiler similar to Thornycroft. Participant in competition for tubulous boiler to be installed in coast defense vessel MONTEREY previously discussed in Part VII of this series. See end note. [10])
We do not have a record of what is said at the bid opening, but Capt. Nat writes that evening in his diary, 'Bids opened in Washington for torpedo boat No. 2. Awarded to HMCo.'[11] But he is wrong, there is no award, rather the Navy subsequently rejects both proposals. The reasons are not clear, Secretary Tracy writes in his 1891 annual report that the Navy decided all plans and specifications submitted by the bidders were unsatisfactory and none was accepted. Chief BuSteam, RADM Melville, in the same report, offers a different explanation; there was such uncertainty as to the lowest bidder owing to the great difference in the details of the designs, the Department decided to prepare its own designs and initiate a new bidding process to build to Department plans and specifications.[12]
Looking back, it is evident from the below report of April 23, 1891, in the Newport Daily News that the Bureaus saw an opportunity to develop their own plans and specifications and oversee the vessel’s construction by a private builder.
'The Secretary of the Navy has practically decided to reject the bids presented by ... Herreshoff and Cowles ... The Department believes that it can design a boat more suitable for naval service than that contemplated in either of the bids received. Designs are in fact already being prepared in the Construction Bureau for a torpedo boat of 120 tons, and when they are complete the department will advertise for proposals. Opportunity will, however, also be accorded bidders to present their own plans.'
The last sentence is highlighted because that opportunity is not offered in the forthcoming advertisement for bids.
There is little difference of significance between the designs except possibly in engine type and horsepower per ton. The Lower IHP/Ton of the Department design may have been a contributing reason why the resulting ERICSSON (TB-2) never completed a successful full power trial at the specified 24 knots.
The Army Navy Journal reports, 'some little surprise was occasioned when no bid from them (i.e. Herreshoff) appeared.'[13] There should have been no surprise, as it was well known that Herreshoff builds only their own designs.
An Award is made Oct. 8, 1891, to the Iowa Iron Works for delivery in 12 months. The award is preceded by a report from a Board; Naval Constructor Philip Hichborn and Chief (Steam) Engineer N. P. Towne. They find the company experienced in building machinery, boilers, and river boats since 1870; in active production with 160 employees while possessing facilities adequate for 300; and 'with a few additional tools and the employment of a limited number of skilled workmen' capable of building TB-2 including engines and boilers.[14]
The award brings additional benefits to the Navy. The Secretary noted it fostered a shipbuilding industry 'at a point remote from all possible attack.'[15], and a New York Times reporter writes, 'No effort ... of the Navy Department has so popularized the Navy in the West as the awarding of the torpedo-boat contract to Dubuque, Iowa...'[16]
ERICSSON (TB-2)
(TB-2) experiences a troubled construction and trials until finally accepted by the Navy in February 1897. [17] Moved from the building yard in 1894, ERICSSON spends an extended time in the Gulf of Mexico before reaching the Brooklyn Navy Yard to complete contractor work-up for acceptance trials where attempts in 1894 and 1895 fail because of low pressure piston rod failures. Investigation shows these to be under size compared to CUSHING. A contributing factor is the quadruple, four-cylinder engine arrangement that makes cylinder inspection difficult.[18] ERICSSON is commissioned by the Navy without completion of acceptance trials. In 1894 preliminary trials on the Long Island Sound ERICSSON demonstrated a full power output of 1879.75 ihp and in a later run with the tide, but at reduced power (1557.68 ihp), a maximum speed of 22.36 knots.[19]
Herreshoff Experience with (TB-2)
The brothers experience with the (TB-2) competition must have been troubling. It is their first loss after 15 years of providing torpedo boats to the U.S. Navy; LIGHTNING, STILETTO & CUSHING. Further the Navy has diverged from the British model of having the boats built to contractor provided drawings and specifications. If this is to become a build to Navy Department supplied plans market, there is no place for the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (HMCo), an enterprise created and driven to compete on the superior performance of their own designs.
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[Notes:]
[6] 'Report of the Secretary of the Navy, B. F. Tracy, Nov. 26, 1890.' Annual Report of The Secretary of the Navy 1890. Wash DC GPO 1890. Pages 15-16.
[7] Source of information on NGH’s two TB-2 designs are 1890 archival documents contained in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection, Herreshoff Marine Museum including TB profile and sectional view sketches, draft HMCo specification to which the TBs are to be built. TB '2A' and '2B' are identifications created by NGH. TB '2A'is the larger 156-foot vessel also identified as Half Model 1420; '2B' is the 144-foot vessel also identified as half model 1418. It is clear from these documents that '2B' is an improved CUSHING. The features of the 156-foot TB '2A' are less understood. There are also Oct. & Dec. 1890 & Jan. 1891 data on weighing of these models in NGH’s NA&E Notes.
[8] Source for pricing of the TBs is 'Report of the Secretary of the Navy B. F. Tracy Dec. 3, 1891' Annual Report of The Secretary of the Navy 1891. Page 5. In the document the two HMCo designs are identified to their gross tons; 134 for TB '2A' & 100 for TB '2B'. The added price for galvanizing the hull is from Journal American Society of Naval Engineers Vol. 3 1891. Pages 126-7.
[9] Idem.
[10] William Cowles in 1888 patented a tubulous boiler like Thornycroft, but with a different distribution of tubes. Cowles and Ward both provided to the US Navy boilers for test in the program to install tubulous boilers in the coast defense vessel MONTEREY. The tests of the Ward boiler in Dec. 1889 and the Cowles boiler in May 1890 found that in most tests the Ward boiler 'came out ahead'. See Charles Ward, 'Tubulous or Coil Boilers' Paper XXVI, Proceedings of the International Engineering Congress, Division of Marine and Naval Engineering and Naval Architecture, edited by Commodore George W Melville Engineer in Chief U.S. Navy, Chief Bureau Steam Engineering Navy Dept, Vol. 2 New York, John Wiley and Sons. 1894. Pages 6, 15-18.
[11] NGH diary for Dec. 19 & 20, 1890. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection, Herreshoff Marine Museum.
[12] 'Report of the Secretary of the Navy, B. F. Tracy, Dec. 3, 1891'. Page 5. 'Report Chief Bureau of Steam Engineering Geo. W. Melville, Oct. 12, 1891'. Page 458. Annual Report of The Secretary of the Navy 1891. Wash DC GPO 1891.'
[13] 'New Vessels of the Navy' Army Navy Journal Vol. 29, Aug. 29, 1891, Pg 7.
[14] 'The Iowa Iron Works' Army Navy Journal Vol. 29, Oct. 17, 1891, Pg 135.
[15] 'Report of the Secretary', Annual Report of The Secretary of the Navy 1891. Page 6.
[16] 'New York Times Re TB-2?, Army Navy Journal Vol. 29, Jan. 9, 1892, Pg 341.
[17] Example of Army Navy Journal news on ERICSSON and recurring delays. From Vol 31- 'ERICSSON over a year behind schedule', May 12, 1894, Page 649. 'Launch of ERICSSON', May 19, 1894. P 667. 'Bureau Steam Eng. Re ERICSSON propeller damage during trip down Mississippi River', Aug. 25, 1894. P 915. From Vol 342- 'Navy Department Report re ERICSSON propeller damage on Long Island Sound', Sept. 8, 1894. P 27. 'Navy to give ERICSSON two trials', Sept. 15, 1894. P 43.
[18] Edw. L. Beach, Inspector of Machinery for ERICSSON, 'The Accident of the Torpedo Boat ERICSSON' ' Notes Section Journal American Society of Naval Engineers Vol. 7 1895. Pages 572-78.
[19] TB-2 Ships Section Journal American Society of Naval Engineers Vol. 6 1894. Pages 793-95." (Source: Palmieri, John. "The Herreshoff Brothers and their Torpedo Boats, Part IX." March 17, 2023. https://herreshoff.org/2023/03/the-herreshoff-brothers-and-their-torpedo-boats-part-ix/, retrieved March 22, 2023.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled side-by-side half-sections with overlaid profiles and displacement curves. Untitled. One set marked '5219cuft [334016lbs]. 149 tons gross' [see Model 1311], the other marked '6902cuft [441728lbs]. 197 tons gross' [see Model 1215]. Undated (NGH appears to have employed the technique of drawing side-by-side half-sections between 1878 and 1887). On verso an unrelated (??) profile sketch of a torpedo boat with two smoke stacks and two conning towers and plumb bow and stern which is probably related to the design of #189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo (Model 1418) Boat and #189002ep Unbuilt 156ft Torpedo Boat (Model 1420) whose models provide perfect matches with this profile. Undated (these torpedo boats were designed in late 1890)." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Side-by-side Half-Sections and Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0603. WRDT08, Folder 46. No date (between 1878 and 1887, also 1890 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled specifications titled 'Specifications for a 1st class Torpedo Boat [#189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat] for the U.S. Navy. -B-' and beginning with 'Hull. Dimensions. Length - On deck 144 feet - on water line 144 feet. Breadth on deck 14ft 9in - on l.w.l. about 14ft 4in. Depth - Keel plate to sheer 8ft. Keel plate to crown of deck 9ft 10in. Draft - of hull in deepest place (loaded) about 5ft. To bottom of screw propellers (loaded) about 5ft 8in. Bottom of rudder 5ft 2in. Freeboard loaded at bow 5ft 4in, at stern 3ft 1in. Area of midship section (trial draft) 45.15sqft. Displacement approximate, at trial draft 112 net tons. ...'. With specifications for Dimensions, Keel, Keelson, Stem, Stern post, Frames, Reverse angles, Floor plates, Bracket angles, Limber holes, Deck beams, Bulkheads, Coal bunker fronts, Coal bunker doors, Water tightness, Foundations for Machinery and boilers, Outside plating of hull, Galvanizing [blank], Riveting, Counter sinking, Butt straps, Hatches, Hatch coaming, Deck over boilers and engines, Conning towers, Ventilators, Deck lights, Sky lights, Coal scuttles, Stantions, Awning stantions, Davits, Rudder, Steering gear, Anchors, Cables, Chocks & cleats, Capstand, Deck gratings, Fender ribband, Guard for propellers, Floor bridges, Floors, Ceiling, Partitions, Settees, Berths, Mess table, Finish, Awning, Ropes, Boats, Buckets, Life preservers, Galley, Tanks, Officers pantry, Water closets, Painting, Cementing, Torpedo tubes and machine guns, Compass, Running & anchor lights, Ships bell & c., Machinery (entire to be a duplicate of the U.S. Torpedo boat CUSHING but to embody all minor improvements), Electric lighting, Coal endurance, Dynamo. With frequent references to similar specifications for 156ft torpedoboat #189002ep. 15 pages." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05470. Folder [no #]. No date (1890-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled draft letter or specifications beginning with a crossed-out section 'In response to a circular issued by the Sect. of the Navy, Oct. 1890, advertising for bids for one torpedo boat in accordance with plans & specifications proposed by the bidder, the Herreshoff Mfg. Co.' and following with penciled specifications for rivets, etc. (This is related to the biding for contracts for #189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat and #189002ep Unbuilt 156ft Torpedo Boat.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Letter. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05680. Folder [no #]. No date (1890-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations and profile sketch of a torpedo boat with two smoke stacks, two conning towers and 10 bulkheads resulting in 11 numbered sections. (Filed with and probably related to the design of #189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat and #189002ep Unbuilt 156ft Torpedo Boat.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05690. Folder [no #]. No date (1890-10 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled calculations and diagram (displacement curves?) titled 'B Torpedo boat design. Scale 3/8in per ft'. (NGH referred to #189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat as 'Torpedo Boat -B-'.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_05660. Folder [no #]. No date (1890-12 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Mimeographed specifications titled 'Specifications. For a First Class Torpedo Boat [#189001ep Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat] for the U.S. Navy' and beginning with 'Hull. Length on deck 144 feet, length on water line 144 feet, Breadth on deck 14ft 9in, breadth on l.w.l. about 14ft 4in …'. With handwritten (in ink) initials in upper right corner 'T.M.B.'[?], 'P.H.' and 'D.W.T'. With stamps on verso '4174. Navy Department. Judge Advocate Seal's C[?] Rps[?]. Received Dec[ember] 20 1890' and '12748. Enclosure 10. Bureau of C. & R. 1890'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_04690. Folder [no #]. 1890-12-20.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #189001ep [Unbuilt 144ft Torpedo Boat (TB-2)] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Simpson, Richard V. Building the Mosquito Fleet: The U.S. Navy's First Torpedo Boats. Charleston, S.C., 2001.
  Description of the first American torpedo boats, with strong emphasis on Herreshoff-built vessels. Unfortunately, numerous small factual inaccuracies.

"See NGH design book entry dated December 14, 1890 'Weighing of preliminary model for Torpedo boat #2 B (144ft x 14ft 8in x 10 extreme depth). Scale of model 1/48th. [Calculations] To waterline marked on back of model 4in above keel at lowest place. Bow hanging 12in (48ft) back from stem. [Calculated] Disp[lacement] 112.2 Tons net = 100.2 [tons] gross. ...' See also NGH design book entry dated January 5, 1891 for detailed weight calculations. The HMCo was unable to receive the building contract for this vessel and it was eventually built by Iowa Iron Works in Dubuque, Iowa as USS Ericsson (Torpedo Boat No. 2/TB-2)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 28, 2019.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.