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
Effect of explosion:--Several plates in the outer bottom were cracked,
and outer bottom made to leak in several places, owing to the
fractures in the plates, rivets being started, and seams being opened.
Considerably more damage was effected than in previous experiment, but
inner bottom still remained uninjured.
7TH EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--As in the 5th experiment. It was placed on the ground,
immediately under the edge of the outer bottom, 39-3/4' from the
target, and opposite No. 18 frame, 70' from the stern; 50' below the
surface of the water.
Effect of explosion:--Outer and inner bottom broken entirely asunder
at No. 19 frame on the starboard side, and between Nos. 16 and 17 on
the portside. A fracture was caused in the outer bottom extending from
the shelf plate to upper edge of strake next the keel on the starboard
side, and from the shelf plate to upper edge of flat keel plate on the
port side. A fracture was also caused in the inner skin extending from
the topside to the outer edge of the garboard strake on the starboard
side, and from the topside to upper edge of garboard strake on the port
side; this including a fracture of the keel at No. 17. The vertical
keel, the longitudinals, as well as numerous bracket plates and angle
irons, were broken, and about 2000 rivets in the outer bottom were
rendered defective.
The outer bottom was indented over a considerable length, the
indentation being greatest between the frames, and the maximum being
8 inches. The inner bottom was not indented or damaged, with the
exception of the fractures before mentioned.
_Experiments at Pola, Austria, 1875._--These experiments were carried
out to determine the effect of very heavy charges of dynamite on an
iron pontoon fitted with a double bottom, similar to that of H.M.S.
_Hercules_.
Target:--An iron pontoon 60' long and 40' beam, with circular ends and
fitted with a double bottom, also a condenser and two Kingston valves.
1ST EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--617 lbs. of dynamite. It was 62' horizontally from the keel,
53' actual distance from the side, and opposite amidships, 40·5' below
the surface of the water, and 20' from the ground.
Pontoon:--Draught of water 19', and moored in 62' of water.
Effect of explosion:--The pontoon moved away bodily a distance of 13
feet; a few rivets in the outer bottom were started, and the outer skin
was slightly indented between the frames; the maximum indentation being
1·5". No other damage was sustained by the hull. Several of the screws
securing the flanges of the Kingston valves were slightly loosened.
2ND EXPERIMENT.
Torpedo:--585 lbs. of dynamite. It was placed 60' horizontally from the
keel, 48' actual distance from the side, and opposite amidships; 36'
below the surface of the water, and 42' from the ground.
Pontoon:--Draught of water 19·5', and moored in 74' of water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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