The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-04
THE ROCKET TORPEDO.
A Novel and interesting Device to he Tried
In Coddin9ton Cove.

IN touuin8tOn love.
wAsHINGToS. Nov. 3.-The Bureau Of Ord
nance of the navy is about to test, at the New
port station. the appliance known as the rocket
torpedo, invented by Mr.. Patrick Cunningham
Of New Bedford.
This torpedo Is a little over 1915 feet long and
is made In four sections. OF which the forward one
is loaded with a high explosive, and the other
three with n composition which. when set on
fire. develops n great quantity OF gas. This is
utilized to drive the torpedo through the water.
1t is possible to use only one. or two, or all three
Of the rear sections for the rocket composition.
For the coming trials two Of the compart-
mcnts are filled. They are connected, so that
one may communicate fire TO the other. II was
formerly thought advisable to discharge this
torpedo, for convenience. from the Destroyer's
submarine l6-inch gun, and the diameter Of the
torpedo at that time was made to conform to
that OF the gun. But "a the Destroyer is now
owned by Brazil, the torpedo to be tested at
Newport will he fired from a tube suspended
under the surface OF the water.
The first run Of this appliance, for Govern
ment inspection was made last year ut New
Bedford in the presence of Commander q. A.
Converse. President Of the Torpedo Board. and
Lieut.. II. c. Smith, a member of the Board. II
was started at high water from Beetles boat
yard, Clark's Point. An official description OF
the torpedo ut that time gives the total length
at IL feet. divided into four sections. approx
mately four feet each. The head was of copper,
with a maximum diameter OF l5I inches,
which was also the diameter through the rihing
ribs on the cylindrical sections. This head,
fitted with n nose ring and steel point at the
forward end and a wooden disk held In place by
thumbscrews at the rear end, contained 100
pounds Of crushed coal and sand. repre-
scnting what would ordinarily he n charge OF
high explosives. The three remaining sections
were of riveted sheet steel. Joined to each other
and to the head by rivcted screw rings. Between
the copper head and first cylIndric section was
a steel casting, forming the head Of the forward
rocket composition chamber; and n projecting
rim on the rear face Of this casting was per-
foratcd with sixty holes. each a little over half
an inch in diameter, i~nclining inward. These
holes permitted the rearward escape OF the gas
from the burning composition. The shells of
the two middle sections were cylindrical. but
that Of the fourth or rear section conical. to
give the usual cigar shape to the torpedo; and
the steel casting which closed the rear end was
with eighteen holes, each a little over
an inch in diameter. inclining inward. and
tiOn chamber. Along the three rear sections were
rifling ribs. The description OF the
rocket tube proceeds as follows:
an IRON tu6" onc.f"ar!th inch Thick aud about sigSt
rings' The whoi1 caIa"Ity Of this tube Was Was dssigrmeT
for rocket Somp9siri6n, hui Ia the rrnl Witnessed ~
section being LlapkeL on The forward section con.
Of "Sckct "cdbmpo.iiionH comprcssed Ty 70 tons Ion ' To- 1Ss
SQUARE inchi Ah9llow cone ooening toward the ends
w"rc sealed with : watrEns12t GomEos!tioni Through
Ing Tho electrical fuse dcsig ned To ignite the composi.
.i%9 r." l"ial wriEht o. N" torpedo as losdcd,wss
water ~ pounds.
hiametsrr! p the lorpadg mounted on a cradle running
linE IsHn Snd iat SHSf' doom IRe f TSs tuS S1 %a cl1 nSs w BY a
l .Ed1ts az nrfs 81 or pr m ,Ss When ready for nrins the
In last years trial at New Bedford, over a
range of 1000 feet marked by a buoy. Ii unfor-
%tunately happened that, for the distance OF 100
not exceed Ave feet, and as the tube itself was
three feet under the surface, the torpedo had
HE m nnd II !" wsS Datice Jd'T on 6 ~ u ataom OF
preClable interval elapsed before the torpedo
itself OF the tube. For 100 feet, much
mud and water were thrown out, and the vol
lme 81 gas seemed enormous, while at about 200
the torpedo rose two feet out Of water and
a range Of 800 feet before il went 10 the bottom.
The time for tins distance was fOrty-hve seq
well e w tno was f E 10 : speed OF nearly
81 time had occurred before IL cleared The
,hoal water and mud. The report declared that
feyiate sensibly from a straight line 10 the right
Dr. LETT but there was M way Of determining
the vertical deviation had been, except
the torpedo left the water. A telegram
received from the PTesideNt Of the
Company interested. when the tOrpeGo had been
ished up, said; Condition perfect, forward
missed fire, distance over 300 feet, de-
lection less than ten feet" Indeed. il would ap-
leaT from the official accounts that. under the
circumstances considering the EhOAlness Of the
and the novelty Of tho invention, with the
allure Of a part of the apparatus 10 perform its
ask, a promising result WAS reached.
Accordingly Il Is hoped that with the advan-
ages since given for studying and improving
lie appliance ID will do still better. There are
two tOrpedoes al the Newport station. one
Weighing about LEES pounds and the other
bout ffty pounds more. In the trial at New
already spoken Of. and also a few
later at Newport. one ~drawbaCk had
leen found Ina the liability OF a section OF the
COMPOSITION To fail to burn: but nov their con
lection will Cause one section TO ignite the other.
second improvement resulting from expert
nee il a safety spring valve at the rear for
the low Of the gas aud guarding
.gaiHst a premature explosion. IloH far this
can compete in. speed, accuracy,
tuEc. Cpsi. AID safety with the Whitehead and
lowell torpelocs will no doubt duly appear hy
he official report. But il certainly appears
10 uss the rocket principle OF fur
.ishtag a propelltnE gas, and 30 arranging the
'ents IS " secure = rotary motion