Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-15
FIRES TORPEDOES
FROM AEROPLANE

A Swoop From Sho SKY, ana MtSsHo -
Sent on It's Way. Dropping From Air
Craft at High spsed-NavaI Guns Of
Present Day Cannot 30 Trained On
Asropiane When Going swiftly.
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske. IN
81 recently in command Of the drst d.
vision of the Atlantic fieet. now on
duty as aid for operations in the navy
department at Washington, has invent
ed an apparatus which Is believed to
make possible the firing Of submarine
torpedoes from aeroplanes. The device
can be fitted to any type OF aeropiane.
Naval officers who have seen the
model in the patent Office In Washing
ton are enthusiastic over the possibili-
ties Of the Fiske invention as means
Of defense.
! The torpedo which the aeroplane at
tachment IL designed to discharge ma!
be of any Of the standard types and
is carried in chocks on the bottom or
lower frame Of the aeroplane. A strap
connected with the aeroplane passes
below the torpedo. holding it. and Is
then again connected with the operat-
Ing part of the aeroplane proper. The
torpedo Is held dgidly in place. Its bow
pointing in the same direction as the
airship. The projectile is released by
4 lever apparatus operated by the foot
Of the aviator, the torpedo falling hori-
zontally out Of the chockssinto the wa
ter and then speeding on its way to
the ship against which 1t Is aimed.
How Torpedo 10 Dir ,ted.
In directing and deliver 8 the at
tack the naval aviator dies at COM
paratively high altitude to a point
| about 1890 yards distant from the tar
get He then swoops downward ut
high rate of speed and as nearly YER
ically as possible until within ten or
fifteen feet of the water, directing his
fight so that on reaching the desired
low elevation the bow Of the torpedo
bears on the target. The aviator then
throws bis lever which starts the pro-
pelling mechanism in the torpedo. aft
er which the projectiis drops into the
water and thereafter performs its
! work.
The advantages of the Fiske inven-
ton are that the torpedo is held Arm
" to the airship and practically be-
comes q part Of 1t, so that the direct
ing of the aeroplane toward the tar
get also directs the torpedo. 1t is sus-
pended in the position which it as.
sumes in the water-that is, horizontal
and retains that position after being
released. The releasing device is un.
der the control Of the aviator at al
times.
The advantage of approaching the
target at relatively high elevation
and then rapidly descending to lower
one before releasing the torpedo r.
supposing the target to be a battle
ship, that It Is practically impossible
with present day naval guns to hit ar
object falling from great height ow
ing to the resulting change In range
and the consequent elevation Of tn
guns.
Advantage o. Invention.
The advantages obtained BY proceed
ing to within about 1900 yards Of th,
enemy are that the chances Of the tor
pedo getting homo are Increased and
j the aersplane II able to carry torpe
does Of lighter than ordinary weigh
since toepedoes. designed for lonl
ranges are much heavier than tho0'
nred at shortsr distances.
while tho Fisko invention u attract
Ing tho attent1on Of naval officers hsf,
and abroad, there comes news Of sttl
another wonderful invention, thu oh
! 3ect Of which Il to trotect. yasa6l