The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-17
THE HOWELL ToRpEDoEs.
Their Interesting Meohsni-m--They More
Than Reach the Contract speed.

WASHINGTON, Oct. l8..-The acceptance OF
another lot Of Howell torpedoes by the Naval
Bureau Of Ordnance is gratifying Indication
that there Is an assured source OF supply OF these
weapons well as Of Whiteheads for our SER
vice. The Whitehead torpedo had been thor
oughly approved In foreign countries before its
merits and the urgent need OF torpedoes for our
ships caused our Government 10 make a con-
tract for Its manufacture IN this country. At
the same time it was hoped and believed that
American ingenuity would be sufficient to fur
nish an independent source " supply.
Such an auxiliary resource Ia. In fact, found in
the invention OF Capt J. A. Howell Of our navy.
A contract was made long ago with the Hotch-
kiss Ordnance Company for the delivery OF q
large number of these appliances At the time
OF the Gillian war furry several were accepted
and more recently one hFs been added to the
number. But the recent approval OF lot OF
them Is in some respects the most satisfactory
indication that they will prove permanent re-
source for our service.
The characteristic difference between the
Whitehead and the Hover torpedoes may be
said 10 consist In the motive power employed.
That of the Whitehead, us Is well known, Is
compressed air. whereas the Howell employs
large fywheel, which Is spun up to high speed
by steam turbine motor that forms a perma-
nent attachment OF the launching tube. This
torpedo has. OF course, the familiar cigar shape
common to the various similar weapons; but In
some respects its mechanism may be regarded
as rather simpler than that Of the Whitehead.
The latter contains six sections or compart-
ments. while the Ho we'll has four. all being dis
tlnCt and detachable First comes the nose as
IL is called. which contains tho firing pin and
its connections; Behind it If the head, which
the detonator. The nose piece, for the sake ~
safety, Is screwed on Just before firing, and the
BUN s IS fSee %h he
through the water. The diminution of the
pressure. at the limit OF its range, releases a
pedo can be sunk to the bottom by admitting
water. or, for experimental purposes, the admits
sion sion 81 water can be prsSsptst tnd the tornedo
But Il Is in the third chamber. where the
heavy hywheel Is mounted with its screw gear
ing, that tn. most interesting feature is found
The axle projects through the shell on one side
and when the torpedo has been placed in the
launching tube u steam motor attached to the
latter clutches the fywheel and, when steam is
turned on spins II up; Al subsequent move We.
torpedo strikes and explodes upon the target
The remaining parts OF the torpedo consist Of
the diving mechanism and the rudder, which
need not be particularly described.
The use OF the hywheel gives great advan-
Ing any tendency to defect the TORPEDO dc in he
horizontal plane and to keep IL pointed just ms
when II leaves the tube. This relieves Il from
gain In simplicity.
Comparing the Howell and the Whitehead.
the former is rather more compact and lighter,
and hence can carry larger proportion Of ex-
plosiye to the whole weight OF the torpedo. II
also has excellent accuracy and directive force
On the other hand. II falls decidedly below the
Whitehead In the important requisites OF range
and velocity. Indeed. when first tried. many
years ago, IL did not have one-thrd the required
speed. But improvements were made, and,
while Its velocity was increased. uniformity OF
submcrsion was also secured In the recent
test OF the lot now accepted. a speed One-half
knot in excess of what was required In said TO
have been secured for the prescribed distance OF
400 yards. There IA accordingly no doubt that
this American torpedo will be used. like the
famous Whitehead, in our service.