Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-07
wirelessiy Controlled Torpedo.

WireIessly Controlled Torpedo.
Describing the trials of the Goblet wire
lessly controlled automatic torpedo, the
Scientific American says hat in the ex-
periments on the banks Of the Seine en-
deavors have been made to control the
torpedoes from a small boat about 100
meters (S2S feet) distant from them, con-
tanning q plant for producing Hertzlan
waves. The torpedo motor was started
and stopped at will, and the rudder
turned in every direction at the will Of the
man in the boat.
The improved CADET torpedo consists
mainly of a large cylinder terminating
in two cones and forming the lower part
Of the apparatus. Some distance above.
about LIS meters Give feet. there is an
other similar cylinder only smaller and in
tended to float, The lower shell is s5
meters long (thirty-one feet). The two
tubes are fastened together by a series Of
very strong steel tube frames. Besides these
two other shafts, rather large in diameter,
start from the lower body. extend be-
yOnd the float, and form two rather short
vertical masts. Each one OF these carries
an acetylene Ugh They are connected
by a copper wire
The lower shell is divided into several
compartments, having each it's particular
use The first compartment is situated
In the forepart. Il contains the explosive
charge and CONTROLS a warhead similar
to the warheads Of all present-day tor
pedoes, which produce explosion on con-
tact. While all ordinary torpedoes carry
only seventy to 100 kilos of explosive Q54 to
go pounds. the CADET can take 800 kilos
Q,9SO pounds), with correspondingly greater
destructive effect.
The Gaget torpedo contains an internal
combustion motor operated by gasoline,
a decided novelty. Compressed air, as
now used In torpedo motors, may supply
powerful engines, but the radius of ac-
ton is very limited. The speed OF torpe-
does thus operated reaches thirty knots OF
about fifty ilomete an hour.
Ventilation is effected by means Of a
large blower. situated aft. between the
motor and the chamber containing the
storage batteries. The motor is located
in the compartment aft Of the torpedo, en-
tirely separated from the explosive charge
The torpedo used for the present expert
ment develops thirty horsepower. 1t has
a motor with eight cylinders arranged in
V shape. But the compartment is large
enough for a 800 horsepower multiple
cylinder motor, which is necessary to i'm
part to the torpedo the estimated speed OF
twenty knots, or about thlrty-six kilo-
meters an hour. The torpedo can carry
L.sO kilos $3.50 pounds) OF ballast under
the present conditions, that is to say. with
q thirty horsepower motor. This ballas-
represents the difference between tn,
weight OF an electric motor with It's storag,
batteries and the weight OF the interna
combustion motor developing this power
CADET expects to attain a ten-knot speeC
with the thirty horsepower motor he val
use In his preliminary trials. before putting
In the 800 horsepower motor. on which
he relies to obtain the twenty knots tina
he considers sufficient speed
|, The third compartment OF the torped,
/ contains a small storage battery. mi
is not intended 10 drive the torpedo. bu
10 operate a relay that helps maneuve
/ tho boat under the Influence OF the Hert
Eian waves acting on special devices. Tn