One of the oldest and most successful continental torpedo boat builders was Mr. F. Schichau, of Elbing, Prussia, who had not been content to simply follow in the footsteps of the two leading English builders; Alfred Yarrow and John Isaac Thorycroft. This was amply proven by the very high speeds reached by five first-class torpedo boats (length151 feet 8 inches, beam 17 feet; draught 7 feet 6 inches) built by him for the Italian Navy. Each vessel was fitted with two sets of inverted-vertical triple-expansion engines, 17 inches by 26 inches by 37 inches by 17-inch stroke, 2200 indicated horsepower (total), operating on steam supplied at 123 atmospheres by two marine locomotive boilers. Trial speeds: Aquila 26.2 knots; Sparviero 26.6 knots; Nibbio 26.8 knots. Armament: three torpedo tubes, six torpedoes; two Hotchkiss guns. Another five boats (length 128 feet, beam 15 feet 9 inches, draught7 feet 2 inches; displacement, fully equipped 85 tons) fitted with 1200 indicated horsepower triple-compound engines, contract speed 21.5 knots, were also being built by Mr. F. Schichau for the Italian Navy.