Newark, a 4,098-ton protected cruiser, was the last ofthe Navy’s warships to be fitted with sails. It waslaunched in 1890 and commissioned the following year.Because of its many improvements, the USS Newarkhas been labeled as the first modern cruiser in the U.S.Fleet.With the development of the self-propelled torpedo,long-range torpedo boats made their debut. In 1890, oneof the first torpedo boats joined the fleet—the 22.5-knotUSS Cushing. The Navy acquired 16 fast torpedo boatsand three 185-ton boats capable of speeds of 27 knots.The development of torpedo boats caused the shapeof ships to change. An example was the USS Truxtun,which led to the design of our present-day destroyers.These ships were designed to combat torpedo boats.Later improvements resulted in destroyers themselvescarrying torpedoes.Subsurface ShipsSince surface ships were driven by steam, why notsubmarines? Steam requires air, fire, and heat, and thosewere in limited supply aboard a submarine. During the19th century, the internal combustion engine wasdeveloped. Use of this engine on ships had drawbacks.However, many of its problems were overcome by twoinventors—John Holland and Simon Lake. Holland andLake had opposite theories about the submarine.5-12Figure 5-5.—Farragut (in rigging) at Mobile Bay.Student Notes:
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