New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22
NEWEST TYPES OF TORPEDOES
DELICATE MECHANISM EMPLOYED.


and twenty years old Although they did not then
bear the name "torpedoes." they were tried or, at
least. 1t was proposed to try them. In American
waters early In the Revolutionary War. In con-
struction power and operation however. these mis-
chievous agents have been much improved during
the last thirty years.
Torpedoes may be roughly divided into three
classes ID Those which are stationary. being
moored In harbor along coast. for defensive
purposes; ( those which used for attack. travel
several hundred yards and controlled by cleo
trio wires from station on land. and Cd those
which are both propelled and seered by self-con-
tained mechanism
Sunken mines may be fired either automatically.
when a vessel coming into harbor strikes a sub
merged receptacle. anchored, but trying to float or
by the voluntary act OF an operator on shore who
is keeping watch and who manlpulates an electric
current running through the wires that are con-
nected with the device The explosive material,
when fired automatically may be discharged in
variety of ways. Years ago a favorite plan was to
equip the torpedo with a percussion cap. like that
used old-fashioned musket. but bigger.
projecting lever struck by the passing vessel would
fire the cap. An easily crushed protuberance, con-
tanning sulphurtc acid potassium chiorate and
sugar. has been similarly employed. Electricity has
also been tried In two or three ways. battery on
shore would supply current through proper wires:
but contact between the torpedo and the vessel Is
required either to break the circuit TO close 1t.
In the one case a spark is produced which ignites
a primer. In the other bit OF slender platinum
wire. buried In the explosive. is heated red-hot
AN EFFICACIoUs DEFENCE.
Torpedoes looked upon OF equal value
with land batteries in harbor defence: and in time
Of war. when attack is anticipated there may be
more stationary torpcdoes hidden under water than
there available guns at any critical point. 1t is
important. Of course. that careful list OF these
submerged devices be kept that when the period
OF danger has passed they may be removed.
For effective action. however. II is desirable 10
carry the charge high up In the water posi-
bic and to adjust the buoyancy OF the torpedo TO
the strength OF river and tidal currents that
latter will not depress 1t far. At time.
1t will not DO TO have the torpedo It's connections
show above the surface at slack water
General Henry L. Abbot OF the United States En-
gineer Corps, who was long in charge OF the Wiles
Point torpedo station. Long Island Sound, says
In an article In "Johnson's Encyclopedia:
The increase In intensity Of explosive action"
secured by good elevation in the water rs also i'm
portant for efforts being made to give ncreas
strength TO the hulls OF war vessels by employing
iron In the form known the double cellular bot
tom. thus reducing the destructive range Of the tor
pedo and exacting the employment OF more power
ful charges. In England experiments upon the
Oberon. vessel Of this type. show that the hori-
Eontai destructive range OF gun-cotton, In charges
even as large as five hundred pounds is restricted
| to few feet. This charge was fired on me bottom
| ",
50. 20 and 30 feet and finally vertically under her
| side. Although she much shaken and injured
by some or these shots only the last through
the double bottom and sunk the vessel. At the en-
sineers school at Willets Point a long series of
| trials was conducted to determine the effective
range Of different charges OF various explosives sunk
at different depths below the surface BY the care
full measurement OF several hundred explosives the
matter has been successfully brought within the
scope Of mathematical analysis"
ELECTRICITY EMPLOYED
General Abbott elaborated two general styles OF
submarine mine. One designed for shallow water
has tho case lie on the bottom Of the harbor or
channel. The other. intended for deep water Is OF
the buoyant type. The explosive used in these IS
! dynamite Wires from a shore station admit a
current of electricity, and "circuIt-closer actu-
ated by the vessel when 1t touches the torpedo
regulates the current. change in the volume OF
| the electricity ignites fuse which is embedded
in the dynamite. The electric fuse rs superior to
| percussion caps and triggers, because when a tor
pedo has been stored for a long time the ignitng
mechanism may be tested to see II It is In working
order An electric current. too feeble to heat the
bridge In the fuse, may be sent through IT with
perfect safety and delicate instruments Will reveal
! It's passage
Some t9rpedoes are intended to be launched in
pairs, long rope connecting them, and to drift
down against the object OF attack. This plan CON
ancRor Cable in Witch case the torpedoes sWns
around and come alongside. The torpedoes are pro-
|
is turned and thereby trigger inside II released.
cha P This sort Of torpedo can be thrown
overheard quietly from a rowboat, which has hrst
The two classes Of torpedoes which are propelled
and steered By interior mechanism resemble each
other in general appearance and proportions They
se R and are eSorae pec
OF machinery. They are equipped with screw pro-
peers astern. and carry from two hundred to FIVE
! OF explosive
gun-cotton) in compartment In front This Is ex-
Those which are Intended to be controlled from
shore connected Herewith by a slender wire
a receptacle or wound on reel in the torpedo
itself II is paid out so easily as scarcely to retard
the progress OF the device through the water
Often a tiny float is adjusted few feet above the
torpedo and shows on the surface OF the water Tor
! heavy pendulum automatically controls a rudder
which insures horizontal motion and corrects any
tbs torpedo is stored from side to side by magnets
which under the influence of an electric cur
! rent controlled by the operator. The propeller Is
generally rotated by an electric motor and stor,
age battery inside OF TINS or more n hour
attained Among the 6estknS%n tGtgedd4es OF ms
! Brennan and Victoria.
THE SELF-ACTTNG STYLE.
tn. automobile or "nsh" torpedo takes of
,,saf after n IL once launched This is the kind OF
! nroiectile which is carried on the torpedo-boats
| and naval vessels When fired. 1t is elected from
special tube called launching tube The best
| Lroun torpedoes Of this type bear the name or
| Whitehead and Howell. One Is English ana the
other American The Whitehead Is propelled by
| compressed air stored in the torpedo Inc HoWen
! corriaa n bg fywheel which IL set In rotation az a
Tremendous velocity Just before the launch by con
necon with an engine outside Both OF these tol pc
Hs he ,e aitoma Tie eering devices and both carry
| eynIosive charges Of wet gun-cotton. which are
hred by a small primer of dry gun cotton conta d
~ a IVA ter-tight receptacle Automobile torpeooes
often have a speed at starting OF thiry-iVe Kot h
% addition 10 the primer of dry gun-cotton In the
IL ~ torpedo there is also one OF illuminate OF
mercury which IS fired by pin or otner mecna ad
NJ ~ This feature OF the torpedo, generally caIea
re fise is often elaborate contrivanceT; ,, "A