Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-30
new TYPE OF TORPEDO.
Successful Test Of Davis Proiec-
tile That Pierces Nets. 81
HAS ITS OWN MOTIVE POWER.

Former Objection as to Weight Over
come by Use Of Vanadiuna--Bores
Into Heavy Target and Has Deu-
BILE Action-Can Travel 5000 Feet.
Torpedo nets, such as are extensive
ly used by Great Britain and which.
recently at Newport were demonstrate
ed as protection to battleships from
torpedo attack, were proved vulnera-
BILE the other day by new type Of
torpedo, an invention Of Lieutenant
Commander Cleland Davis. The trial
test at Sheep island, at the entrance
Of Quincy bay, was attended by Tru-
man 81. Newberry, acting secretary Of
the navy, and by Brigadier General
Arthur Murray, chief of artillery, rep
resenting the army. t"s ~ :,
q The successful demonstration show
ed the practica bility Of firing projec-
tile from torpedo which serves as a
gun after it makes a hole in the enc
my's ship, This double action of the
Davis torpedo characterizes it as an
entirely new departure. Lieutenant
Commander Davis, as soon as he was
assured that his invention practically
met his expectations, said to New
4; York Herald reporter at Quincy,
Mass: "This will enhance the value
of submarine attack as conducted by
torpedo boats, destroyers and subma-
rine boats. 1t will require a radical
change In the construction of battle
ships, making it necessary to armor
their bottoms" ~. .s .t3sg,,gE -
Former types Of torpedoes when
they, strike the enemy's ship detonate
on the exterior Of the hull and by the
escape Of gases lose much OF their eff
fectiveness. The Davis torpedo is con-
trfved to puncture the ships bottom,
carrying into the ships Yitals pro-
jectile which detonates by time fuse.
Such an interior explosion directed in
the engine room, the magazine or in
the steering apparatus quickly places
the ship out Of action.
In exterior appearance the new tor
pedo resembles short torpedo Of the
known type. 1t has its own motive
power, operated by compressed air,
capable of travelling 5000 feet. Exact
measurements of the torpedo have not
been officially given out, but 1t is
about sixteen feet long and eighteen
inches at its greatest diameter. It has
a second torpedo inside, which is fred
through tube when the initial explo-
sion tears a hole in the ships bottom.
The first explosion starts a time fuse
for the second defamation.
Commander Davis has made expert
y ments for the last two years and at
tributes much of his success to a new
element which has only recently be-
come obtainab1e. in commercial guam
titles. 1t was necessary to keep the
torpedo gun light enough to float to it's
objective and at the same time of sui.
f1cient tensile strength to preserve the
inner tube against the initial detona.
ton. This new element Is yanadium
which he uses in combination with
chromium and nickel. This reduces
the weight of the tube from half ton
to eighty pounds. The only available
deposits Of this new element are In
Peru and are under American control
The steel for the torpedo and the shell
were constructed by American com.
panies
Sheep island, where Commander Da
q Wis has worked out his trials, Is de
serted. low lying waste at the entrance
Of the bay, sharply eroded on the oper
ocean side SO that this, natural breast
work afforded spectators protection
and also complete view of the expert
ment. The torpedo was moored at {
lighter and the target foated 100 fee
to the south. The sun was bright ovel
the bay, which was scarcely ruf1ed
making every detail plainly visible.
The target tank was said by It's con
structors to be stronger than a section
Of battleship. 1t was Of three-quar
ter inch iron, with three interior bulk
heads. The metal was formerly 1
Standard on company tank at Chelse,
n and was a relic of the confagratiol
last April. This tank was fifteen fee
high and ten feet In diameter. In til,
top manhole was left open to reIiev
air pressure Ba1lasted with fort,
tons Of scrap iron, the target was sub
merged eleven and one-half feet.
When all was ready the assemble,
officers sought the protection Of th
sea worn bank, carrying long rop
with which to set the machine going
Secretary Newberry and Commando
Davis, In tenders from the dispatcl
boat Dolphin, watched the experimen
from the water.
aAll ready, frep' came the order
At the jerk of the rope there was vic
lent bubbling at the lighters side O,
q a straight lire for the red tank th
torpedo bored It's way, revealing It
course by wake of bubbles Thi
path Of busy bubbles looked myste
rous as 1t neared the red tank, whfc
swayed on the tide. Suddenly the tan
was enveloped In great splash, an
the manho1e cover bounced from ttl
Gathering iron. Then slowly the hi
tank sank down into the foamy water
Secretary Newberry and the invento
quickly assured themselves Of the SUD
eessfu1 outcome They saw for th
first time that a projeetiie could be ca
rfInf7n7 within nj, arn1orpd af,frs Tsh