The Motor Ship.

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 5, 1 March 1911, Page 579

The Motor Ship.

Rumours, old, new, and oftentime ridiculous, have been circulated recently in the press with regard to the British Admiralty laying down a "motor battleship." The scribes, without waiting for the internal combustion engine to be fully tested in small warships, must needs discuss the "motor Dreadnought" straight away. It is known that a good deal of ouiet work has been done in England and Germany with various types of internal combustion engines, and in placing an order for a 9000 ton vessel, with Diesel engines, giving 3000 h.p.. the HamburgAmerica Line has undoubtedly hastened in progress. The development of-motor ships has, however, been going on for several years steadily. There are 2000ton tank lighters, driven by motors, in the River Volga. In the States, also, there are big motor vessels. Maritime Review. In England the Admiralty have gained valuable data from several small vessels, and Messrs. Vickers, Sons and Maxim are said to be developing a 2-cycle engine, of which great, things are expected. We are thus on the threshold of a very interesting period in naval architecture. Much has yet to be learned as to the most suitable form of engine, and at present there is choice of heavy oil engines, motors of the Diesel type, and suction or producer gas engines.