Torpedoes and Torpedo Warfare: Containing a Complete and Concise Account of the Rise and Progress of Submarine WarfareSleeman, Charles William
History
Torpedoes and Torpedo Warfare: Containing a Complete and Concise Account of the Rise and Progress of Submarine Warfare
Sleeman, Charles William
Torpedoes
In this class of submarine offensive machines may be placed the
following:--
1.--Harvey's towing torpedo.
2.--Menzing's towing torpedo.
3.--The French towing torpedo.
_Harvey's Torpedo._--This form of towing torpedo was invented
conjointly by Captain John Harvey and Commander Frederick Harvey,
R.N., and is intended to be used at sea both as a means of offence and
defence.
At Fig. 104 is shown in elevation the small sized Harvey towing
torpedo, in which all the latest improvements that have been devised
are represented.
_a_ is the case of the torpedo, formed of Muntz's metal, but not
provided, as the original ones were, with an exterior case of wood; by
this alteration greater capacity combined with extreme lightness is
obtained, which undoubtedly much enhances the value of the small size
torpedo which is intended to be carried by and manoeuvred from boats;
_b_ is the principal or after lever, hinged on the top of torpedo at
_c_, and rests, when ready for action, in a crutch formed in the top of
the exploding bolt _d_; _e_ is the foremost lever, hinged at _f_, and
kept in position on the after lever _b_ by a groove formed in it and a
lashing which passes through a slot in the principal lever, as at _g_;
_h_ is the side lever, pivoted at _i_, and exerting a pressure on the
firing bolt _d_ by means of a lanyard which is passed through the bolt
_k_ and over the principal lever _b_; _l_ is the top lever, pivoted
at _m_, and exerting a pressure on the bolt _d_ by means of a lanyard
which is passed through the bolt _n_ and over the principal lever _b_;
this top lever _l_ has been added to ensure the action of the torpedo,
on its striking sideways against a vessel; _o_ and _t_ are handles, to
the former of which the lashings of the levers _h_ and _l_ are secured;
_p_ is the ring used for attaching the buoy rope; _r_, _r_ are two
loading holes, made in the side of the torpedo case, by which a charge
of gun-cotton may be quickly and efficiently stowed; this also is a new
feature in the small size torpedo; _s_ is the rudder formed for the
purpose of controlling the direction of the torpedo when the tow line
is suddenly slacked.
In regard to the large size torpedo, the construction of the case
remains as in the original ones, the improvements being, the
enlargement of the loading and fuze holes, and the addition of the top
lever _l_, as shown at Fig. 104.
The small size torpedo is capable of holding 47 lbs. of water, whilst
the large size one will contain 76 lbs. of water, or about 33 lbs. and
58 lbs. of gun-cotton respectively.
The slings are made of best Italian hemp, and consist of a span of
four legs, which are secured to lugs at the corners of the torpedo and
connected to an iron thimble, which is shown at Fig. 105; this thimble
is made suitable for either wire or hemp rope, and is so arranged that
should the seizing become slack, the parts of the slings cannot become
detached from the thimble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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