HMCo #85p [Vedette boat for French Navy]

"During the next few years the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company built several so-called 'Vedette' boats for the French and English governments. These were high speed launches, forty or fifty feet long, and I believe some of these were the first boats the Herreshoffs built with steel plating." (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. 100.)

"The Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. are to build two steam launches [#80p and #81p] for the English government, and two vidette boats [#85pand #86p] for the French government." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, October 22, 1881, p. 2.)

"Within a few years past the English naval authorities have deemed it advisable to adopt a new form, size, and style of steam vessel possessed of greater versatility of adaptation than any previously in the service. Boats swift and safe were demanded which, in time of war, could be used for keeping off marauders from a blockading fleet, carrying a limited number of persons for any special duty, transmitting despatches and orders, &c., which in times of peace would readily, for all the purposes of large navy launches, take the place of the small torpedo boats formerly applied to such service, but poorly adapted to it. To this new construction in marine architecture the title of 'vedette boats' was applied, and private builders were invited to compete in building them to meet all the high and specifically stated requirements of the Admiralty.
Of all who entered into competition, the most successful was John Samuel White of Cowes, an experienced builder of torpedo boats, who constructed a vedette boat capable of a speed of 13.8 knots per hour, and in other regards suitable, so that thenceforth he acquired a monopoly over all other English bidders in the supply of these vessels to the navy. Information of the existing demand and the extent to which it had been met having reached John B. Herreshoff and Nathaniel G. Herreshoff --- the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company --- of Bristol, R. I., they made a proposition to the Admiralty to furnish vedette boats which should be superior, not only in speed, but in all other respects, to those which were then regarded as the perfection of English naval construction of that class.
In January last they were notified that if they would present for trial in English waters two vedette boats [#74p 149 and #75p 150] of the same capacity as those built by John Samuel White, and capable of attaining a speed of 14 knots per hour, the boats would be purchased at a stipulated and satisfactory price. On the 16th of July last [1881] the Messrs. Herreshoff's two boats were landed in England, and immediately taken to the Portsmouth dock yard for trial. ...
... So thoroughly successful were the Herreshoff boats that they were promptly accepted; $25.000 was paid for them, and a further order was given for two 'navy pinnaces,' [#80p and #81p] smaller boats, previously an especial feature of John Samuel White's constructions, which were to be accepted on condition that they were found, on thorough trial, more serviceable for the service intended than those already in use.
The two pinnaces, or launches, as they are called in American naval nomenclature, were dropped in English water on Oct 29 [1881]. They ran to Sheerness, a distance of seventy-five miles, with the Board of Examiners, composed of seventeen members on board, on Nov. 2 [1881], and at Sheerness the trials were immediately begun. ... Having thus won his laurels, Mr. Herreshoff returned home in the Gallia, arriving here on the 29th of last month, and bringing with him an order for two pinnaces [#85p and #86p] for the French navy similar to those supplied to England. In France it is expected that his boats will be even a greater surprise than in England for the speed thus far attained there is even below the British. The French boats are well under way toward completion, and are to be delivered early next spring." (Source: Anon. "Swiftest Boats Afloat." New York Sun. Unknown date. Reprinted in: Bristol Phoenix, January 7, 1882, p. 2.)

"The French frigate Chasseur, Capt. Gourrejolles, arrived in our harbor Monday noon, intending to remain some fifteen or twenty days, in order to give her officers an opportunity to examine the vidette boats [#85p and #86p] built for the French Navy and recently launched from the Herreshoff Mnfg. Co.'s yard. The Chasseur has 8 officers and 152 men, four rifled guns each of which will throw a ball five miles, and six Hotskitch guns. The vessel draws about fourteen feet. The men practice on the yards every morning, with the guns every afternoon, and with the boats one day in a week.
Tuesday the officers were pleasantly entertained by Collector Collins at his residence, on Hope street. The officers have visited the Works of the Herreshoff Mnfg. Co., the National Rubber Co., and other places of interest in town. Commander D. F. Selfridge, Chief Engineer Isherwood, Engineer Allen, and Lieut. McLean of the U. S. ordinance bureau, ordered here by the Secretary of the Navy to witness the trial of the vidette boats, arrived in town Wednesday." (Source: Anon. "Local Notes." Bristol Phoenix, June 10, 1882, p. 2.)

"SIR: In obedience to an order from the Navy Department dated the 3d of June, 1882, I proceeded to the city of Bristol, R. I., and there witnessed the trials in Narragansett Bay of the duplicate Vedette boats [#85p and #86p] built for the French Government by the 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company' of that city.
In addition to the results of these trials, I obtained the original data, including indicator diagrams, of some of the trials made at Bristol and also in England, of two Vedette boats [#74p and #75p] built in 1880-'81 for the British Admiralty by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, which were the exact duplicate in all respects of those above referred to as constructed by that company for the French Government.
... In order to obtain the greatest speed possible from a boat of given lineal dimensions, it must be constructed of as little weight as possible, with the view of lessening to the utmost its displacement of water and the area of its external immersed or wetted surface. But the lessening of the weight, which is only possible by reducing the scantling of the material, must not be carried so far as to jeopardize the strength of the vessel necessary for its intended use. The exact point at which the minimum of material can be combined with adequate strength is determinable only by practice; and the extensive experience of the 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company' in the construction of vessels of the Vedette boat type has enabled that firm to mark this point with precision. To place it as near lightness as possible, only the best and most carefully selected materials are used, while no pains or expense are spared to secure strength, durability, and excellence in the fastenings. Only the most skillful workmen are employed, selected from mechanics who make the building of such hulls a trade by itself.
The form of the vessel and the distribution of its weights, on which so much of its satisfactory performance depends, has been determined for given dimensions and speed by accurate trial and observation, every boat built being subjected to careful study and well-executed experiments. In this manner such great excellence has been attained as is only possible when a particular kind of manufacture is made a specialty, and success depends on producing the most superior article, irrespective of cost. The hulls of these boats, in whatever light considered, are beautiful specimens of scientific design and practical execution.
They cannot be produced by persons accustomed to designing and building only vessels of much greater dimensions, to be employed for different purposes and in different places, however skillful they may be in such constructions.
In this connection there may be stated that as regards strength to resist abnormal shocks, concussions, &c, resulting from collision and rough handling, the light vessel, by reason of its less weight, is less liable to injury than the heavier vessel, its momentum, which under these circumstances is the cause of injury, being at equal speed proportional to the weight alone.
The boats are constructed of wood by preference, having been found to be much stiffer with equal weight than if built of iron or steel. ..." (Source: Isherwood, B. F. "Report Made to the Bureau of Steam-Engineering, Navy Department, August 9, 1882, on the Vetted Boats Constructed for the British and French Navies by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I." Washington, 1882, p. 1, 40-41.)

"... In pursuance of an order given by the French Admiralty the Herreshoff Company finished and delivered in July two vedette boats [#85p and #86p] for use in the French navy. Their duty is to carry dispatches for comparatively short distances, and to guard a fleet or harbor by day or night, keeping watch of the enemy's movements, and embarrassing the evolutions of his torpedo boats, for which purpose they are fitted with a Gatling or machine gun.
These boats are 48 feet long by 9 wide, and are arranged to carry 8 officers and men; they can be hoisted on board a ship and carried to a distant port. Their weight is about 7 tons.
The vedette boats have engines of 150 H. P., their cylinders being 8" and 14" x 14", the engine being specially made for this duty, its weight being 1400 pounds. The Herreshoff boilers in these boats have grates of 48 inches in diameter. In the trials, held in Narragansett bay, before a board of French naval officers, these boats developed a speed of 14 1/2 knots, or 16 1/2 miles an hour, and in the endurance trials their engines maintained for three consecutive hours a rate of 475 revolutions a minute, the boats covering in that time 43 knots, or nearly 50 miles. These boats were taken to London by the Assyrian Monarch, of the Monarch Line, from which port they will make their way to Cherbourg. ..." (Source: Anon. "Steam Yacht Building In Rhode Island. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company And Its Operations." The Mechanical Engineer, September 2, 1882, p. 55.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Johnie wanted me to write and tell you about the boats [#80p and #81p], how they were taken to Sheerness on Wednesday, ... the trials really commenced when they left their anchorage in the Thames, ..., sea was quite rough but the boats behaved splendidly, ... on Thursday trials were made with them and also with a new boat from the White's ... , trials ... were very satisfactory, ... yesterday ... was off in the #43p KELPIE with Messrs. Dunnell, ... they were all very much pleased with her, Mr. Studer arrived from Paris on Wed. 7 and went to Sheerness on Thurs. to see the Pinnaces --- he and J. called on the French Naval Attache yest. p. m. to see what arrangement could be made to have the Vidette [#85p and #86p] tried and accepted, either at Bristol or New York. ... high speed trial ... with one of the pinnaces ... hope to be able to sail on the 12th in the GALLIA, yesterday Kate & J. took dinner with Mrs. Dunnell, ... went to Hampton Court Palace ... I have just returned from Sheerness ... made the trial with # 81 --- moderately rough water --- 3 men on board --- 180 lbs steam --- made 9 1/4 knots --- ... our boats have double the carrying capacity ... our boilers would undoubtedly be adopted for all torpedo boats ... yours in haste, John by S[adie]'." (Source: (Herreshoff), Sadie. Letter to (Herreshoff), Lewis. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 86.264. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1881-11-05.)
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"[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 Description:] Printed booklet titled 'Report Made to the Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department, ... on the Vedette Boats [#74p, #75p, #85p, #86p] constructed for the British and French Navies by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I.'." (Source: Isherwood, Adm. Benjamin F. (creator). Booklet. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.090. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Vedette Boats. 1882.)
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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 Description:] Two sets of penciled side-by-side half-sections and displacement curves titled 'SIESTA (St[eame]r No 88 [#88p]). June 20, 1882'. With note 'Area of Water line 878.72sqft exclusive of keel. Area of greatest section 42.48sqft. Displacement 2178.56[cuft] (71 tons net) exclusive of keel, rudder & screw. Wetted surface 1203.2[sqft]'. With curves labeled 'Displacement curve', 'Wetted surface exclusive of keel, rudder & screw', and 'water line'. A second, undated, set of side-by-side half-sections is titled 'Vedette Boats. Nos. 85 and 86 [#85p and #86p Vedette boats for French Navy]'. With note 'Area of water line 217.76sqft. Area of greatest section 8.48sqft exclusive of keel &c. Displacement 247.84[cuft] (8 tons). Wetted surface 266.24[sqft]'. With curves labeled 'Displacement curve', 'Wetted surface' and 'Water line'. With numerous other calculations. " (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. (creator). Side-by-side Half-Sections and Displacement Curves. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0570. WRDT08, Folder 44. 1882-06-20 and No date (1881-12 ??).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Printed reference book titled 'Mechanics' and Engineers' Pocket-Book of Tables, Rules, and Formulas pertaining to Mechanics, Mathematics, and Physics including Areas, Squares, Cubes, and Roots, etc. Logarithms, Hydraulics, Hydrodynamics, Stam and the Steam Engine, Naval Architecture, Masonry, Steam Vessels, Etc' With inlaid papers. Relevant contents:
§5: Diagram 'Test of Shaft to go in French Vidette boats, either # 85 or 86 [#85p or #86p Vedette Boats for French Navy]' (1882-03-01)." (Source: Haswell, Charles H. (creator). Reference Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_00690. Folder [no #]. 1884.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #85p [Vedette boat for French Navy] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Isherwood, Benjamin Franklin. "Report Made to the Bureau of Steam-Engineering, Navy Department, August 9, 1882, on the Vedette Boats Constructed for the British and French Navies by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I." Washington, 1882. [Held by: Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. Technical and Business Records pertaining to the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Series VI, Folder HH.6.90 (Vedette Boats), Box Number Box HAFH.6.2B.] (5,858 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: No. Detailed description of the Vedette boats built for the British and French navies in 1881 and 1882. Particular emphasis on steam machinery.

• Vedette boat for French Navy (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: 1882
E/P/S: P
No.: 085
OA: 48'

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.

"Exported to France." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Dimensions from Isherwood, B. F. 'Report Made to the Bureau of Steam-Engineering, Navy Department, August 9, 1882, on the Vedette Boats Constructed for the British and French Navies by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I.' Washington, 1882." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 13, 2015.)

"Weight of hull and fittings 6,993 pounds." (Source: Isherwood, B. F. "Report Made to the Bureau of Steam-Engineering, Navy Department, August 9, 1882, on the Vedette Boats Constructed for the British and French Navies by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, R.I." Washington, 1882, p. 6.)

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