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
Torpedo:--47·2 lbs. of dynamite, in cylindrical steel case, no air
space; height 12", diameter 12", and thickness 1/32". It was placed
25·5' from No. 5 frame, 9·25' below the surface of the water.
Effect of explosion:--Ship appeared to be lifted bodily. A leak was
started in the outer bottom opposite to charge, caused by the loosening
of five rivets.
3RD EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--112 lbs. of gunpowder, rifle small grain, enclosed in
cylindrical steel case placed inside an iron case, with an air space
all round; steel case, 9-1/2" × 22-1/2" × 1/32"; iron case 33" × 25" ×
1/4". It was placed 12' from No. 5 frame, 9·25' below the surface.
Effect of explosion:--Centre of ship lifted bodily, as if her back was
broken; ship then rolled heavily to port. On board fire engines and
troughs displaced several feet: shores and struts started, showing
that the shock was considerable. The outer bottom on each side of
the centre dividing plate indented to a depth of 1 to 1-1/2 inches;
numerous rivets started, and some sheared. The leak was considerable,
owing to the number of rivets that were started. The strength of
the plates was not considered to be materially affected by the
indentations; the rivets, 239 in number, were replaced; and the target
prepared for the next experiment.
4TH EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--33 lbs. of dynamite, enclosed as in first experiment. It was
placed 15' from No. 7 frame, 9·25' below the surface of the water.
Effect of explosion:--Ship rolled slightly to port. A bolt securing the
midship transverse bulkhead to beam was sheared. No damage done to the
target.
5TH EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--66 lbs. of dynamite, enclosed in steel cylindrical case, no
air space, 13·5" × 13" × 1/32". It was placed 21' from No. 3 frame,
9·25' below the surface of the water.
Effect of explosion:--A rivet in outer bottom, above water line at
fore end of target, was sheared. A few rivets in outer bottom opposite
charge, and two in after compartment, were started, but no leak was
perceptible. Several shores slightly displaced.
6TH EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--33 lbs. of dynamite, enclosed as in first experiment. It was
placed 12·75' from No. 7 frame, 9·25' below the surface of the water.
Effect of explosion:--Ship not lifted as much as was the case in No.
3 experiment; but explosion much sharper. On board, fire engines were
capsized, and vertical shores displaced. Outer bottom opposite charge
indented to a depth of about 1/2 an inch, other parts less bulged, and
many rivets started.
7TH EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--33 lbs. of dynamite, enclosed as in first experiment. It was
placed 4' from No. 4 frame, 9·25' below the surface of the water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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