The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-13
THE sInrs-EDIsoN TORPEDO
The Weapon which I. 60 ne Carried or
One of Peixoto's Cruisers.

| wAsH1NaroN Nov. 12.-In addition to the
submarine gun. the pneumatic dynamite
thrower. and the Howell torpedo. still another
American invention may have its initiation
into actual war service through the present
| hostilitles in Brazil. A Sims Edison torpedo
| has been bought. to be carried on the Britain
| mia. lately OF the North Atlantic Steamship
| line. one OF the vessels OF Peixotos new fleet
fitting out at New York.
This appliance. like others OF it's sort, has
progressed greatly in efficiency since 1t was
first presented. 1t Is OF the class known as
dirgible torpedoes, such as the Patrick. the
Brennan. and the Lay Haight in distinction
from those like the Whitehead and the
Howell. which are called automobile. point
OF difference visible at q glance between the
two classes is that the Sims Edison. In addi-
ton to the srinde-shaped torpedo. as II COM
posed Of two long cones Joined at their bases
in the middle Of the torpedo. has above it q
cylindrical float to which 1t is strongly con-
nccted. The float being on the surface. the
torpedo is about half dozen feet below. The
latter has. Of course. in it's forward chamber q
charge OF high explosive. which may be as
great as 800 pounds In the rear section is a
cable which passes through the bottom of tho
torpedo and Is connected with the vessel from
which 1t is sent out. while actuatinR two
bladed propeller at the rear OF the torpedo.
The Sims Edison torpedo is worked entirely
by electricity. generated bya dynamo at the
p,, or snip rom which IL is despatched.
The PROPULSION. stopping. steering. and firing
are effected by this m olive power. The cnble.
as has been said. is cooled in the torpedo and
paid out as the torpedo advances There are
two conductors. one Of which drives the pro-
peller and explodes the charge whilo the other
Is used when In connection with the eecto-
magnets that work the rudders for steering.
The m otor is said to he able to develop thirty
three horse power. Both the torpedo and the
ioat are Of copper. held toEother by inclined
. s.eo, ua's WIN s"ntp euses. ues,sheu 70 cut
through or pass under nets or other obstruc.
rial int.ndsd 70 nrovont .nv sorinr. an,r.no.
l,".. ~ ~ y. e,en' n"s serious entrance
fire. Above the float are two guide rods. with
snrino bipcea aIIowin,, tb.p, m ba rrossod
down on the float when the torpedo dives be-.
meath an obstruction. q nd to take their vertical
position nrnin wb,n nassinp h.vond I-non
these rods can be fastened tags lights. or
other indications enabling the operator to see
where the torpedo is. so that he NAV puide n
In any, any needed direction: The torpedo can be
The IN any mini erection anu Drought BACK TO
q, ne bqari APPOINTED under the act OF March
.; dooS, nad heiote J., what IL then called the
sims. Dut was uhIple 10 give an exhaustive
opinion upon It. However. it found that the
size. shape ana weight OF THIS torpedo made it
cum 3}ersome TO STOW ana very wkward TO
nandLe on boara shlp' that its lack OF speed
woulu probably render II lhetncient In combat
between MOVING, vessels. since IT could be
seen ana avoided ny an enemy OF moderate
speed. that wien operated IN sehway the
conpined surfaces OF the noat and torpedo
Mouiu nrooiaDiS n9ke ~ ulincult 70 steer with
acenaacyi tnHt IN nattie the cables would be
!laDIe 70 displacement ana fracture. and thus
70 render tho torpedo uncontrollable and use
Tess: ~ was eonciu,deu tnat the torpedo was
not aap.eu 70 , na'a warfare IN general but 1t
was was uee!afeu tnat IL nDouies valuable Tea
lures ior harnor ueaenGe Wnsro IL can 20 pre-
pareu anu manipulated IRON the Geek OF
oa-G or epet vessel tba u, nongh even then
tno boaru cQhsiueI,eu tnht i.s lack OF speed
"Si,iu ia MAKE ae u.s. us utiiity uouot,hl. .
S,nee an. .' t n4mefei, me speea on tne
SIins. Eulson 'orpeao mas 1een Greatl2 In.
cFsaseu: WILD GoTLJfeefona,nG access OF
en;ciency wntch Mou aI' ~ course modlly the
opan i ~ NY IN Nn'ul pVaru 10 tnat extent
"a hs g te r o"t vas h 10 an en-
Sin my ,hacnine E9H IRE; yet tne Naval board
o u hv anoh % u w1u,a hGs
ppt,atioy oe bo u, ~ suen re, SO tnat ms
on5eetIoh; mHlt en- %ouiu De among the nrst 70
Gvs n rc 40 'e IS seen