In 1894 the designs of three new torpedo boats (length 160 feet, beam 16 feet, draught 5 feet, displacement 135 tons; estimated speed 24.5 knots) slightly larger than the U.S.S. Ericsson (length 150 feet, beam 15 feet 6 inches, draught4 feet 9 inches, displacement 120 tons; trial speed 24 knots) were completed by the Chiefs of the Bureaus of Ordnance, Construction, and Steam Engineering of the United States navy.