Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-08
TEST OF AERIAL TORPEDO.
Swedish Army Officers Invention Pro
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Swedish Army Officers Invention Pro.
PEELED by Internal Motor.
Major Unge Of the Swedish army
has invented a comparatively novel
projectile, which he thinks might be
valuable for coast defense. He calls
1t an aerial torpedo. Like the White
head device, it carries a charge of gun
cotton in its head, and in the body are
provided means for automatic propul-
sion. The latter differ from those en-
ployed with submarine torpedoes.
Major Unge substitutes for compress
ed air composition consisting mainly
Of gunpowder. The gases of combus-
tion do not escape directly as they do
from a rocket, but actuate a tiny en-
gine in the rear part of the shell; and,
though it is not so asserted in the cur
rent accounts, the motor probably
causes a propeller wheel outside the
casing to revolve. The inventor pro-
poses to have three sizes, their diam
eters being 4, s and IL inches, respect
lively, and their charges of guncotton
varying from five to 100 pounds.
Tests were made Of the two smaller
sizes a sort time ago on the ordnance
proving grounds Of the Swedish gov
ernment, and a number of foreign
officers were permitted to witness
them. According to a correspondent
of the London Times, the perform
ance was highly instructive. The tor
pedoes were discharged from skeleton
tubes set up at what was considered
the most suitable angle, the only i'm
petus given to the torpedoes being
that afforded by the burning of the
composition which they contained.
What impressed some observers as
the most remarkable feature of the
trial was the fact that the course of
the projectiles did not alter. A per-
feet aim seemed to be feasible, al
though the mounting was make
shift.
The 4-inch torpedoes Travelled about
mile and quarter (2,20O YARDS and
the S-inch torpedoes nearly three
miles. The range Of the largest size
was not ascertained, but it could hard
ly have been less than five miles. and
1t might well have been greater.
1nasmuch as projectiles of CORE
spending calibers fired from rified
guns would go farther than Major
Unge's torpedoes, one might be tempt
ed to question the value of the latter.
especially for driving off war vessels
which are threatening to attack lor-
tilted spot. The plan which has Just
been tested in Sweden. though, has
two or three unique merits. Not only
is the tube from which the projectiles
are fired immensely cheaper than the
coast defense gun and mount, but 1t
Is also light enough to be readily
moved from one spot to another. The
outfit which the London Times CORE
spondent saw-probably that which
was suited to the discharge of an g.
Inch torpedo - weighed only 700
pounds. A battery Of such tubes
could be shifted with the same ease
as light artillery and concentration at
a given point on short notice would
be entirely practicable. OF course. the
apparatus and the torpedoes would
also be serviceable in field work.
American military officers will un-
doubtedly await further information
about the system, and particularly in
regard to the behavior of Major Unge's
Pinch torpedo, with something more
than curiosity.-New York Tribune.