The official trials of the torpedo gunboat Almirante Simpson (length 240 feet, beam 27 feet 6 inches, draught 14 feet; displacement 800 tons), fitted with two triple-expansion marine engines operating with steam supplied at 200 pounds per square inch by four modified Normand type water-tube boilers were conducted in mid-July 1896. The trials were conducted in accordance with Admiralty conditions on the measured mile at Kilmore, the Almirante Simpson achieved an average speed of 21.5 knots during six runs over the measured mile, and a mean speed for three hours running of 21,25 knots, the contract speed being 21 knots. On the natural draught trial of six hours duration a mean speed of 17.75 knots was obtained with an air pressure of half an inch of water gauge, being 0.75 knots in excess of the contract.