An
item reported that the last pair of the six small draught steam transports
built by Norman Wiard, New York were completed. One of the two departed towards
Hilton Head with second one to follow on short notice. Their loaded draught was
just 3 feet
with a transport capacity of 800 men with coal and stores. Their ‘armour’
consisted of bullet-proof iron plates while their pilot house was protected by
bronze plates. Their speed forward was
similar to their speed backwards and further more was their turning circle
equal to their length.
