It was reported in the American Artisan that a new twin-screw torpedo boat (length, 175 ft., beam, 45 ft. draught, 11 ft. 6 inches) was to be built at the Washington Navy-yard. The exposed part of the hull was to be armoured-plated with 5 in. of iron backed with wood, and she was to be armed with a spar torpedo containing 100 lb. of powder attached to a 25 ft. iron beam protruding from the bow below the water line.