HMCo #60p [Torpedo Boat for Peru]

"[1879-11-27] Thu 27: Nov[ember] 27, 1879. St[eame]r #60 [Torpedo Boat for Peru], 2 miles on Mt. Hope Bay, small fair tide, 6m 37sec, st[eam pressure] about 140 [lbs], vac[cuum] 18 to 20. Coors[?] & reak[?] coal. [This entry in space intended for April 30, 1878.]
[1880-04-16] Fri 16: April 16, 1880. St[eame]r 60 [#60p Torpedo Boat for Peru]. Towed Leila [#40p] from Bristol to Fall River (Ferry Wharf) in 1-27m. Bristol Ferry to [blank] 57m, st[eam pressure] about 70 [lbs]. Leila dragging screw. In afternoon, Fall River (Ferry Wharf) to Bristol Ferry [in] 27 1/2m, and to Bristol [in] 34 1/2m. Steam about 100 [lbs], strong SS wind, small ebb tide. [This entry in space intended for May 1, 1878.]" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1879 to 1880. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"After this, they began building so-called 'spar torpedo' boats for several governments. They were about fifty-six feet long and only six feet six inches beam. They were nearly perfect double-enders and intended to run either end first just as well and at about the same speed. Previous spar torpedo boats had only carried one spar with its bomb in place over the bow, but these double-enders were, you might say, repeaters. For those who are not familiar with the spar torpedo, I will say this weapon was developed just at the close of the Civil War when many of the fighting ships had armor plate which extended only a little below the water line. These early torpedo boats were intended to sneak up quietly to a ship at anchor and thrust the spar with the bomb on its end against the wooden underbody of the ship below the armor plate, when the resulting explosion right against the ship's side, and backed up by the incompressible surrounding water, caused a terrific local concussion.
These little torpedo boats were painted gray and could run very smoothly and quietly up to around twenty-one miles per hour. One of the most remarkable things about them was that they could slow down or stop quickly; this was because the boats were very light and because they had relatively large propellers connected to engines which could be instantly reversed with the throttle wide open, and, of course, the engine developed the same power running either way. The propellers, being quite near the middle of the boats, did not cavitate. It is said that these craft could stop within a few lengths when running at full speed, and a few seconds later would be going some twenty miles per hour astern which, of course, was a most valuable accomplishment in the life and death feat of launching a spar torpedo.
Another unusual feature of these craft was that the propeller shaft was run on a slight curve so that the engine, which was forward of the boiler, was on quite an angle, while the shaft at the propeller was more horizontal. The shaft, which was of steel or iron, ran in a snug-fitting brass tube its full length, and as the tube was well lubricated, you might say the shaft ran in a continuous bearing. This shaft ran very smoothly and with little friction. The long strut which supported this curved propeller shaft was made up of brass or bronze plates which acted as a stream-lined keel condenser. These little vessels were light enough to hoist aboard a man-of-war. They were very reliable when kept in good condition, and good sea boats when slowed down. Incidentally, with these coil or flash boilers they could get up steam from a cold boiler in about three minutes with a specially built fire of split hard pine saturated with oil, and I believe in about five minutes had a full head of steam. ...
One of these spar torpedo boats was left on the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company's hands when the war between Peru and Chile ended. She was stored for many years on the Herreshoff Farm at Popasquash where, at times, I used to play in her hull, but then she was manned principally by a crew of wasps who had built several nests in her ends so that we boys generally kept away from her. Even if the wasps did not have torpedoes they had stingers in one end at least. This particular torpedo boat had been built between 1879 and 1880, and although she was uncovered she remained in remarkably good condition up until about 1910. I speak of this principally to show the fine workmanship and scientific construction that went into their hulls --- a type of construction lighter, stronger, and of better materials and workmanship than any I know of being made today." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 97-98.)

"An instance of [John B. Herreshoff's] remarkable powers was given in the late [eighteen] eighties, when the Consul of a South American republic, then on the brink of one of its periodical wars, sent for him to come to his office here. Mr. Herreshoff arrived at the appointed hour. The South Americans wanted three torpedo boats of a novel design built in sections so that they could be shipped in pieces and then assembled at their destination. They also wanted other innovations. Mr. Herreshoff listened intently and then said: 'I must have time to think it over.'
'How long a time?' they asked.
'Oh, about twenty minutes.' the 'Blind Boatbuilder' answered, and, true to his word, he made the intricate mental calculations necessary, and at the end of the time submitted his bid and obtained the contract." (Source: Anon. "John B. Herreshoff Dies. Blind Designer, with His Brother 'Nat,' of Cup Defenders, Expires at 74." New York Times, July 21, 1915, p. 11.)

"Hull Nos. 53, 55, and 60.
Herreshoff Hull No. 53 was completed in June 1879 for the government of Peru. Hull No. 55 was completed in August that year and Hull No. 60 in December. These double-enders were similar to Hull No. 44, but without the sheet steel superstructure. The boat was 59 feet long and 7 feet abeam, with a 5-foot draft. The machinery was aft, and the 33.5-inch-diameter driving screw was forward of amidships. These craft were built in prefabricated sections for final construction on the West Coast. Hull No. 60 was never delivered to Peru. She was left in the Herreshoffs' hands at the end of the 1879-1881 Peruvian-Chilean War and never found a buyer. Hull No. 60 was stored in the open on the Herreshoff family farm, Point Pleasant at Poppasquash, where she remained a local curiosity, slowly deteriorating. She lasted until c. 1910." (Source: Simpson, Richard V. Building the Mosquito Fleet: The U.S. Navy's First Torpedo Boats. Charleston, S.C., 2001, p. 34.)

"Since the outbreak of the war in 1879, Peru was at naval inferiority and sought ways to increase her power by the acquisition of naval torpedo boats. Accordingly, on May 14 [1879] Colonel Enrique Lara was commissioned to purchase torpedo boats.
The Herreshoff & Co. was a company that was engaged in the construction of steam yachts and sailboats, but in July 1878 had launched a torpedo boat prototype [apparently #44p Herreshoff] that was used for demonstrations. Based on this prototype the company built 5 torpedo boats of which 3 were bought by Peru [#53p, #55p, and #60p], one by Russia [#64p] and one by the United States [#44p]. The boats for Peru were assigned the shipyard numbers 53, 55 and 60.
Due to the economic crisis in Peru, no money was sent to Colonel Lara and he bought 2 torpedo boats on credit with the help of W.R. Grace & Co., a company that was responsible for supplying water to the guano works of Tarapacá. Lara traveled to Europe to obtain donations from wealthy Peruvians living in Paris and pay the construction of the 6 torpedo boat he desired. He only received £3000 from businessman Carlos Candamo but needed £24,000. Lara returned to the United States and in collaboration with the W.R. Grace & Co. managed to get 2 boats finished that were sent to Panama.
The first Herreshoff boat arrived in the transport ship Limeña at Callao [a city of west-central Peru on the Pacific Ocean near Lima] on August 9, 1879. The boat had been disassembled in five sections and was forwared to the Guano works under the command of Captain Manuel Palacios of the Section of Torpedoes and War Machines to be assembled and armed by mechanics employed by W.R. Grace & Co., who started work on August 19. The second Herreshoff boat arrived at Callao in the transport ship Oroya on September 30, 1879.
On September 17 orders were given to proceed with the construction of the remaining 4 boats. The third boat [#60p] was ready for Peru in December 1879, but could not leave because it was seized by the U.S. government for reasons of neutrality." (Source: Very rough, incomplete and possibly inaccurate translation by Claas van der Lnde from the Spanish from http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alianza_(torpedera), last accessed March 19, 2009.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Newspaper clipping titled 'Swiftest Boats Afloat. English Builders Astonished by the Herreshoffs' about the tests of #74p and #75p, two Herreshoff-built 48ft Vedette boats, by the Bristish Navy in England, the article contains a detailed early history of HMCo with many quotes by JBH, much early history detail (including a JBH quote that about 2000 non-steam boats had been built up to date), many early boats mentioned, including torpedo boat for Peru [#53p, #55p or #60p] built in 19 days, mention of bringing home to Bristol the order for two Vedette boats for the French Navy (#85p, #86p), detailed employment statistics, all suggesting it may have been written by Lewis Herreshoff, undated, but research shows this to be from The New York Sun of December 18, 1881, p. 6." (Source: New York Sun (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_28820. Subject Files, Folder 18, formerly 126. 1881-12-18.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Several superimposed penciled sections, some with pinpricks. They are labeled '94ft Torpedo boat [#118p STILETTO] 1883[sic]. Scale 3/4ft', '48f vedette boat [#74p & #75p Vedette boats for the English Navy and #85p & #86p Vedette boats for the French Navy]', '# 55 & 60 [#55p & #60p Torpedo Boats for Peru]', '# 57 & 58 [#57p & #58p Launches for N. Y. Coast Survey]', '#71 [SPORT]' and '# [blank] 33ft launch [probably #62p & #63p Launches for U.S. Navy and others from the same model]'.
On verso handwritten (in ink) satirical list:
Attention: 1 Bells
Are you there?: 1 Bells
Is J.B.H. there?: 2 Bells
Want N.G.H. at machine shop: 3 Bells
Want J.B.H. at machine shop: 4 Bells
Want N.G.H. at boat shop: 5 Bells
Want J.B.H. at boat shop: 6 Bells
Want sand paper: 1-1 Bells
Want cotton wicking: 1-2 Bells
Want drawings of catamaran: 1-3 Bells
Want drawings of steamers: 1-4 Bells
Want drawings of engines: 1-5 Bells
Want drawings for pattern maker: 1-6 Bells
Want brass screws, 7/8in no 8: 2-1 Bells
Want brass screws, 1in no 9: 2-2 Bells
Want brass screws, 1 1/4in no 10: 2-3 Bells
Want brass screws, 1 1/2in no 11: 2-4 Bells
Want brass screws, 2 3/4in no 16: 2-5 Bells
Want brass screws, 2in no 16: 2-6 Bells
Want tire bolts 1 1/4in by 7/32: 3-1 Bells
Want tire bolts 1 1/2in by 7/32: 3-2 Bells
Want tire bolts 1 3/4in by 7/32: 3-3 Bells
Want tire bolts 2in by 7/32: 3-4 Bells
Want tire bolts 2 1/2in by 7/32: 3-5 Bells
Want tire bolts 3 1/4in by 7/32: 3-6 Bells [Undated (ca. 1877?]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0591. WRDT08, Folder 45. No date (first half of 1880s and ca. 1877 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Advertisement by HMCo titled 'From An Old Plate Found in a Loft at Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Dec. 1931. Explanations by N.G. Herreshoff, Esq.' and showing 10 woodcuts with the following explanations:] 1 Represents the early Navy Launches that started in 1879-80. Commodore Isherwood of the U. S. Navy carried on an extensive program of tests and experiments with two of them, No. 62 [#62p] and 63 [#63p], and a Navy launch built in the Washington Navy Yard, in the summer of 1880, lasting over two months. The Board consisted of Com. B. P. Isherwood, Com. T. Zeller and 3 or 4 assistants from the School of Marine Engineers of U. S. N. The Herreshoff launches proved superior to the Navy built and designed launch in every way. Illustration does not do justice to the launch.
2 Represents a class of cabin launches, between 55 and 68 ft long-built in the 80's. JAVELIN, No. 52 [#52p] , was the original (1879).
3 Steam yacht GLEAM, No. 65 [#65p], built for Mr. William Graham of Baltimore in 1880. Length on deck about 115 ft; w. l. 105 ft.
4-5 The general type of steam engines, 1878 to 1885. No. 4 is a marine type compound engine with cut-off valves riding on back of main slide valves. No. 5 stations-type such as used in small shops, as our own machine shop and another for wood working machinery. This type was given up in 1885. Replaced by triple expansion engines with valves worked from side shaft.
6-7 Early coil boilers, given up in 1881 or '82. The vertical drum at side is a steam separator and a good one, but it is not correctly represented.
8 A poor representation of 4 or 5 torpedo boats in 1879 and 1880. One was built for the British Admiralty [#44p HERRESHOFF], two for Chili [sic, i.e. Peru #53p REPUBLICA, #55p ALIANZA (a third boat, #60p, was never delivered)], one for Russia [#64p].
9 Typical cabin arrangement of early steam yachts 80 to 90 ft long.
10 Steam yacht STILETTO [#118p] rated in her time as one of the fastest yachts in the world." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Advertisement Broadside. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_01240. Folder [no #]. 1931-12.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #60p [Torpedo Boat for Peru] 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.

• Torpedo Boat for Peru (HMCo-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Year: 1879
E/P/S: P
No.: 060
OA: 56'

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"For export to Peru but not delivered." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

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