Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-19
THE BERDAN TORPEDO.
Its Desigm and fss WORKING DeserSAea
by its InventOf.

From the New York Times.
The secret Of the Berdan torpedo has hitherto
been closely kept, that being the policy OF its
inventor. However, now that he has, as he
says, secured engagements from all principal
governments not to make or use It without
agreement with him, he is willing that An ex-
plicit account Of IL should be published and he
has furnished the Times with the material from
which the following description is taken:
The Berdan torpedoes are each double. The
pilot torpedo is designed to pierce or destroy
any nets or booms intended TO protect the YES
sci attacked. Through the breach thus made
the following torpedo enters, carrying the de-
structive charge. The general rather prefers a
modincation OF this plan In which the leading
torpedo is not explosive, but is planned 10 con,
duct the following one to its mark and TO cause
It TO do its work in the following manner:
w men the ship to be attacked Is sighted the tor
pedoes are started toward IL from the torpedo
boat or from the shore Each proceeds with its
own motive power, the second being regulated
10 need slight tow from the first, afforded by
means of thin rope or wire cord. When the
netting is reached the first torpedo will stop.
Inc cord between the first and second torpe-
does, formerly taut, at once slackens and let's
iall species of rudder ledge or trap underneath
the center or the second torpedo. This project
ing ledge being caught by the water as the sec
onu torpedo advances, IL is sufficient to drag
the torpedo down into the water where IL will
progress at an angle OF fifteen degrees to the
surface. In this manner IL will dive under the
snip netting. Having gone the length OF the
Tow line the torpedo will be brought sharp up
70 the surface again: the surface In this case
Delng the ships bottom, not protected, as its
SIDES are, by iron plates. Striking here, the ex-
plosion follows. The rear torpedo does not
noat on the surface as ii follows the first but is
balanced to sink a few feet below water and so
10 escape destruction from the ships shot. The
entire length OF the torpedo is thirty-one feet:
its width at midship section is twenty-one
inches; Its depth thirty-one inches it's displace-
ment $500 pounds. The explosive substance
100 Kilograms
The motive power OF the torpedo is gained
ana applied in q novel way. The torpedoes are
driven by gas obtained by the combustion OF
three rows of four 1OO-pound rocket tubes filled
with rocket powder, which is compressed with
mixture of clay: thus securing regular burn
Ing during the time required for the torpedo TO
run distance of one English mile at the rate
OF "a miles an hour. The pressure of gas given
of will be about 9, 900 pounds to the square
inch; but IL required it may be increased safely
up TO 5000 pounds. The gas generated by COM
bustion of the rocket powder PUSHES through q
nozzle and acts upon several compartments OF
q turbine which revolves the torpedo's screw
The second torpedo drags upon the first, and
therefore always keeps the bow OF the pilot tor
pedo In forward direction. This onward
course Is still further governed by mile of fine
thermometers. Being guided to its mark, the
collision cuts a small copper pin. A slight shock
SuinceS for this, and the result is to liberate a
boit which strikes percussion cap. The essen
tial feature is the device for destroying or for
passing floating or submerged guards about the
vessel attacked. The lack of such a feature is
The weakest point i'm all single acting torpedoes
Either they cannot reach their mark, or when
they reach IL their force is expended by contact
with nets or booms. If Gen. Berdan's torpedo
lance would be scant protection to the stoutest
ship afioat.