The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-10
WAR BENEATH THE WAVES.
Importance of Torpedo in Naval Fight
ing-It Can Be Dicharged
From Submarine.

An interesting feature Of the present
war is the great importance OF the
torpedo in naval fighting, now that 1t
can be discharged at close range by
the submarine, says @ ambers' Jour-
nal. All kinds of warships are fitted
with underwater torpedo tubes; but
the chances of getting close enough in
the face of modern gun-fire effectively
to discharge a torpedo are very re-
mote-hence the use of this weapon
will probably be confined to tie sub
marine in future.
Torpedoes are really submarines in
miniature without any crews, and they
are much larger than many people I'M
agine. The Whitehead torpedo now in
general use measures over 20 feet in
length, has diameter of 21 inches
and weighs over a ton. A torpedo con-
sists of a cigar-s-aped steel shell,
which contains an explosive charge,
the machinery for propelling it
through the water, and the automatic
device for directing it's course toward
the vessel aimed at. Fired from a
tube under water, it travels below the
surface at higher rate of speed than
the fastest warship a1oat, or nearly
so miles an hour, and it is effective UP
to distance of five miles. Torpedoes
are, however, seldom used at anything
like their full range, as there is little
chance of hitting a moving battleship
at over, say, 1000 yards. Moreover,
there is no need for a submarine to
fire :cer torpedoes at long range, as
she can creep up to within few hun
dred yards of hostile vessel, whose
only means of defence is to manoeuvre
out of tie way. Even at close range
it is by no means easy to nit vessel
with torpedo when she is moving
fast through the water; hence in fu-
ture most of the naval fighting will be
done at full speed.
A torpedo is fired from tube either
by compressed air or by a charge of
cordite; in fact, the torpedo tube is
practically gun, but othe small charge
of explosive used is only just sufficient
to give the torpedo a send off at its
correct speed and in the right direc-
ton. Il. ese tubes were originally car
ried on deck so that they could be aim
ed in any direction; but this plan has
now been aba doned in favor of I'M
derwater tubes. Of course, the latter
cannot be swiyelled, as in submarines
they are built into the ships plating;
hence it is necessary to aim the whole
vessel. Ttis is done from the coming
tower, and the torpedo is fired by an
electric switch at the right moment.
Coming to the actual details of the
torpedo itself, we lind the shell di-
vided up into number of compart-
ments by steel divisions or bulk
heads" as is the case of an ordinary
ship. TIE first compartment in the
head of the torpedo is filed with about
300 weight of gun cotton or s0me other
explosive. Right at the point metal
rod, known as the STRIKER" projects
in front, and when the torpedo Tits
the side of a vessel this striker is
forced inward on to the percussion
cap which explodes the gun cotton.
Without some safety device it would
be very dangerous to handle a torpedo,
as the striker migst be inadvertently
hit, and this danger is guarded against
by a safety-pin right through the
striker, which can not be pushed in
ward until the pin is removed. Tais
pin must, Of course, be taken out when
the torpedo is run into the tube for
firing, and there is still some risk OF
the striker being forced "home" by the
concussion or by hitting some small
object in the water close to the SIP.
to make certain that the charge shall
not be accidentally exploded until the
torpedo is some distance away, nut
with very fine screw-thred is screwed
to the striker. This nut las little
blades on it like propeller, and as the
torpedo rushes through the water these
blades unscrew the nut and leave the
striker free after a certain distance
has been trayersed.
After it leaves tie tube the orpedo
is propelled by compressed air en-
gine of about 1O0-horsepower. This
engine turns two propellers in opposite
5iroc+ionc ono haino mounted direct