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
_Projecting a Torpedo from above Water._--In this case an iron carriage
is used, which is fitted with a frame, in which the torpedo rests; the
outer end of this frame is provided with a lip, some few feet long,
by which means the rear end of the torpedo is slightly canted up on
leaving the frame, and any undue strain on the tail of the torpedo is
prevented. The frame is mounted in the iron carriage in such a way that
it can be elevated or depressed by means of a screw, as in the case of
a gun mounted in an ordinary carriage. The torpedo is ejected from the
frame by means of a piston as previously explained, a small reservoir
of air being attached to the carriage, so that it can be used at any
port.
_Firing a Torpedo from the Surface._--The torpedo possesses sufficient
buoyancy to float with a small portion of its upper surface above
water; such being the case, it is only necessary to set the various
adjustments, point it in the required direction, and by hand turn back
the lever on the upper part of the weapon (which opens a communication
between the air chamber and the engines), when it will instantly dart
off and very rapidly attain the depth it is set for.
_Method of Firing a Fish Torpedo from a Boat._--To manipulate a fish
torpedo from a boat, it may be carried in a light frame, which can
be lowered or raised by means of a pair of davits. When required to
discharge the torpedo, the frame containing it is lowered into the
water, so as to bring the torpedo about two feet below the surface, the
head being somewhat lower than the tail.
_Thornycroft's Method of Firing Fish Torpedoes from a Boat._--Another
method, which has been patented by Mr. J. I. Thornycroft, of the firm
of J. I. Thornycroft and Co., steam launch builders, and which is
fitted to the torpedo boats built by them for foreign governments, is
shown in elevation and plan at Figs. 120 and 121.
The apparatus consists of two or more bent levers _A_ securely and
rigidly fixed on a shaft _B_, which works in bearings fixed on the deck
of the vessel _C_ from which the torpedo is to be discharged. On the
ends of the levers _A_ furthest from the shaft _B_ are pivoted other
levers _D_, to which the cradle or case _E_ for sustaining the torpedo
is suspended. The other ends of each of these levers are connected to
the vessel by means of rods or tubes _F_, jointed at each end in such
a way that when the shaft _B_ is made to revolve in its bearings, the
case containing the torpedo is guided over the side of the vessel and
close to it, and is held in a position convenient for discharging the
torpedo, as shown at Fig. 120.
The shaft _B_ may be made to revolve by means of ropes _G_ and pulleys
_H_ attached to the levers _A_, or by hydraulic or steam pressure, as
may be found most convenient.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account