An Improved Arrangement for Launching Torpedoes.
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW of the Firm of Yarrow and Company of the
Isle of Dogs Poplar Shipbuilders do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement of the launching apparatus for
Torpedoes and consists in so arranging the launching apparatus that the Torpedoes
when fired shall have slightly diverging paths-This is effected by arranging the
Torpedo launching apparatus in groups of two or more so that in plan each
launching apparatus will have a slightly different variation from a common centre
whereby when the Torpedoes are fired the paths taken by them will cover an
extended area and thus obviate the uncertainty of aim at present experienced.
Dated this 24th day of December 1885.
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the said Alfred Fernandez Yarrow.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement for Launching Torpedoes.
I, ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW of the firm of Yarrow & Company of the
Isle of Dogs Poplar, Shipbuilders do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement of the launching apparatus for
Torpedoes and consists in so arranging the launching apparatus that the Torpedoes
An Improved Arrangement for Launching Torpedoes.
I, ALFRED FERNANDEZ YARROW of the firm of Yarrow & Company of the
Isle of Dogs Poplar, Shipbuilders do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement of the launching apparatus for
Torpedoes and consists in so arranging the launching apparatus that the Torpedoes

page_text: when fired shall have slightly diverging paths. This is effected by arranging the
Torpedo launching apparatus in a group (or in groups) of two or more so that in
plan the launching apparatus will have a slightly diverging line of fire or a
radiation from a common centre in the case of two, or from one or more than one
centre in the case of three or more, whereby when the Torpedoes are fired the
paths taken by them will cover an extended area and thus obviate the uncertainty
of aim at present experienced.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shews a cross sectional elevation and
Figure 2 a plan of part of a Torpedo boat fitted with launching apparatus arranged
according to my Invention to carry two Torpedoes. A. A is the Boat upon the
deck of which is mounted a turntable B B which is capable of being turned to any
required position by means of the internal wheel and pinion and bevel wheels Ċ
or by any other suitable means. The turntable B carries two fixed guns or tubes D
for ejecting the Torpedoes the centre lines of which guns are shewn in plan at
Figure 2 to diverge from each other towards their ejecting mouths at a sinall
angle.
Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an attack by a Torpedo boat (shewn at F)
fitted with launching apparatus according to my Invention upon an ironclad E³
say 300 feet long going in the direction from E¹ to E³ at say 500 yards range from
the Torpedo boat. The paths of the Torpedoes are shewn by the dotted lines G H
and shew that by the simultaneous discharge of the two Torpedoes a hit by one of
the Torpedoes is secured even if a considerable error be made in aim, judgment of
distance or speed of the enemy for it will be seen the vessel would be hit if in the
position E¹ or E³ or any intermediate position.
It will be, understood that more than two launching tubes D may be similarly
arranged if so desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Apparatus for launching Torpedoes wherein the guns or tubes are arranged in a
group or in groups of two or more as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this.94th day of Santembar 18eR