The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-14
GIVES ITS OWN AIM.
New Torpedo Terror Which Can
Steer ITSELF
Device OF G. ID. Haskins of Boston,
Mass.

II the war talk In this country durinl
the last two years has done nothing moro
1t has at least set tho minds of two men o
Inventive genius at work in an effort :.
aid In solving tho problem of American
coast defenses, and by a strange ooinci
dence these mon, In dovising two appli
ances for entirely different uses, hay,
based their calculations on tho same phys
teal fact--viz, tho influence tho proximi
ty OF mass of metal such as 10 found In
a steel armored ship may have upon elcc.
tro magnetic apparatus subject to Undue.
ltion.
One OF the inventors Is @. ID. Haskins OF
Boston. The invention of Mr. Haskins IL
an automobile torpedo, or torpedo fitted
with device connected with it's steering
apparatus which will cause it when In
motion to be diverted directly toward the
object which has had "a magnetic effect on
the device.
The other invention Is the creation Of
Francis Is Badt secretary of the Siemens
S Halsko company in Chicago 1t is an
electro magnetic sentinel, TO be used in
connection with submarine minesg placed
Tor coast defense or In any other place
where 10 Is desired TO have an automatic
contrivanco to announce the approach of
mass of magnetic material such as Is
found in every armored vessel.
In both instances the genius of the cleo.
trician Is pitted against the genius of the
engineer, who made the war vessels
thing seemingly invinoible and the very
armor placed about the floating arsenal to
add To its safety Is made the agent to set
IN action the power that is to destroy it,
Tho problem OF making a projectile
which would do damage TO steel armored
cruiser or warship, to launch the projectile
effectively, make it hit its intended mark
and explode when it would do the. most
harm, is one with which inventors have
been wrestling ever since naval architects,
on tho other hand, began spreading armor
plates over the sides of their seafarina
fortresses.
The greatest difficulty experienced in
tussling with the problem has been to hit
or como near tho mark. This Is due to the
fact that In most cases tho torpedo boat
and tho target boat, or hostile ship, are
moving either in opposite directions or al
different rates of speed, or subject to
change in direction, making the position
OF the target ambiguous or marksmanship
ineffective.
There arc two ways In which the per,
centage or successful attempts at hitting
the target may be increased, by making
the aim moro exact or by making the tar.
get larger. The latter is what, in effect,
the invention of Mr. HaskiHsaeeempii
Instead or aiming at the vessel direct the
operator Of one of his automobile torpedoes
need only aim to throw the projectils
within the range of the magnetic influence
OF the yessel-say within 800 feet of it Ia
any direction, thus increasing the actua
diameter of the target aimed at by GOO feet
That his device will do thissis the clair
made by Mr.. Haskins and his friends |
After a series of laboratory tests with |
models 1T is reported that one Of the devioei
was taken out in Boston harbor on five oc. |
casioDs, where it ''found' big Cunardei |
coming into port, as well as several other |
vessels from 200 TO 800 feet in length. |
Later the device was shown at Newport,
when tests We're made of several torpedoes
before the naval board, and was exhibited
IN action.
The Whitehead torpedo, which in Europe
Is looked upon as the best
known prior to Mr.. Haskins' invention,
Is expected to average only one hit In ten
trials. This is owing TO tho difficulties
already referred to.
Mr.. Haskins claims that his invention
endows the torpedo with self
directive power as great as though it were
q sentient being. He says IL is only neces-
sary for the torpedo equipped with his in
Vention to come within the radius of the
target's magnetic influence, and it will
make bee line for the target
The operation of the invention is some
what as follows; The torpedo is first thrown
n straight line for the target or In its
direction. The steering apparatus is not set
n motion until the torpedo arrives in the
'icinity OF the target vessel. The device
,nce in motion, the HaslSins invention Is
'eady for action. AS soon as it reaches tho
rea affected by the attractive force of
he iron or steel hull Of the vessel the deli
ate mechanism Of the invention operates
pon q motor which controls the rudder.
teering the torpedo in the direction Of the
trongest magnetic attraction. If the mo-
nentum of tho pTUjoctffe carries it past
he line of strongest attraction as the tar
ct vessel moves, the rudder will be de-
ected TO the right or left, as the case may
0, and the course OF the torpedo correct
10 conform tn the changed position of
IS object. Varying conditions may result
the course Of the torpedo being a long
weeping curve, or a zigzag line If the
essel tacks.
To secure for the gunboat throwing the
,rpedo immunity from its attack, which
light ensue If no precautions were taken,
40 steering device Is so arranged that IL
III not begin operations until the pro-
'ctilo Is far enough away from the torpe-
, boat Co DO outside its magnetic fields {
The steering device invented by Mr..
askins weighs about 1875 pounds and can
attached to any torpedo.