IMPROVEMENTS IN RAM WAR SHIPS, AND IN TORPEDOES EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION THERE- WITH
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Palmer, junior, of Angel Court, Friday
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAM WAR SHIPS, AND IN TORPEDOES EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION THERE-
WITH." A communication from abroad by Francis Ingram Palmer,
Navigating Lieutenant, R.N., commanding H.M. Turret Ship
Magdala, in Bombay Harbour.
• Sealed the 24th February 1874, and dated the 1st September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Palmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st September 1873.
I, JOHN PALMER, junior, of Angel Court, Friday Street, in the City
of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN RAM WAR SHIPS AND IN TORPEDOES EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
"
This Invention consists, firstly, in constructing ram ships with a dis-
connecting spur ram, which on piercing an enemy's ship can be readily
disconnected from the ram ship so as to liberate the latter, to which
another spur ram can then be attached for further action. For this

page_text: purpose the spur ram is constructed of a somewhat similar form to that
of the spurs of ram ships now employed, but as an entirely independant
-structure, which
may either be affixed to the stem of the ship just before
actual war service, or else be permanently carried thereby. The spur
ram which is strongly built of steel or other metal fits with a semi-
circular rear end into a corresponding semicircular groove in the stem of
the ship, and it is there secured firstly by dropping with recesses over
two pintles fixed in the said groove; secondly, by means of a clamping
iron which binds the head of the spur to the upper part of the stem of
the ship; thirdly, by means of a strong screw spindle which is screwed
from within a chamber at the stem of the ship into a threaded recess in
the spur. In addition to these attachments the spur rests with its lower
surface upon a heel support projecting from the stem of the ship, which
is also provided with a shallow recess into which fits a strong stud in
the under surface of the spur, and in the lower part of the spur may
also be formed a cylindrical hollow into which projects a strong plug
spar passing through a cylindrical aperture in the stem of the ship.
The spur may in addition be stayed laterally by means of chains
attached to hooks at any point thereof, and passing back to the bows of
the ship where they are secured.
By the above described means the spur is firmly attached to the ship,
while when it has been run into an enemy's ship and cannot readily be
withdrawn by backing the ship this may be easily detached from the
spur by withdrawing the before-mentioned screw spindle, clamping iron,
and plug spar, and disconnecting the stay chains.
The before-mentioned pintles may be formed hollow to contain a
charge of explosive material, which on being fired by an electric fuze
will lift the spur off the pintles, and also raise its stud out of the recess
in the heel support so as to free the spur entirely from all connections
with the ship.
This Invention consists furthermore in the employment of certain
devices whereby the before described disconnecting spur ram may
utilised as a torpedo by exploding it after it has been run into an
enemy's ship, and whereby also other torpedoes of peculiar construction
.. hereafter described may be used in connection with such disconnecting
spur ram.
For the first-named purpose one or more chambers containing gun
cotton or other explosive.compound is or are enclosed within the fore

page_text: part of the said spur, and is or are connected by insulated conducting
wires to a galvanic battery within the ship, a certain quantity of such
wires being coiled up within the after part of the spur after the spur has
been run into the enemy's vessel and has been disconnected from the
ram ship, as before described, the ram ship is backed to a safe distance
from the enemy's vessel, at the same time drawing out the before-
mentioned coils of conducting wire, whereby the ship is still maintained
in electric connection with the spur. By then closing the circuit of the
galvanic battery and circuit wires, the before-mentioned charges of gun
cotton in the spur are fired by means of electric fuzes, thus producing a
destructive explosion within the side of the enemy's vessel.
In order to insure that the spur ram when run into the enemy's vessel
shall be firmly held therein while the ram ship is retreating to a safe
distance, there are provided on the outer surface of the spur hinged
spikes or barbs which before the spur strikes the vessel are turned down
flat into recesses in the spur. In these recesses beneath the barbs are
hinged flaps fitting closely over a charge of gun cotton also connected
by conducting wires to a battery within the ram ship. On the spur
piercing the enemy's vessel, and before it is detached from the ram ship
the said charges of gun cotton beneath the barbs are fired, which has the
effect of forcing these outwards so as to penetrate laterally into the
woodwork of the enemie's vessel, and thus assist in holding the spur in
the latter while the ram ship is retreating.
In combination with such ram war ships with detachable spur are also
employed torpedoes of peculiar construction and action, termed "needle
torpedoes." These consist of long steel or iron cylinders with pointed
or ogival heads, containing within them one or more chambers charged
with gun cotton or other explosive compounds.
When the ram ship is about to attack an enemy's vessel, one such
"needle torpedo" is by arrangement to be presently described made to
project from the front end of the spur, so that when the ram strikes the
vessel the needle torpedo first pierces and passes right into the latter
before the spur strikes.
The charges of gun cotton in the needle torpedo are connected by
insulated conducting wires with a battery on board the ram, a coil of
such wire being placed in the rear end of the torpedo cylinder so that
the ram can retreat to a safe distance while remaining in electric com.

page_text: munication with the needle torpedo, and can then fire the latter in the
same manner as described with reference to the spur torpedo.
is
For the above purpose the spur has formed in its lower part a tubular
passage extending longitudinally right through it. The front end of
this passage is closed in a water-tight manner by a plug when the ram
is not in action, and at the rear end it communicates with a corre-
sponding cylindrical aperture passing through the stem of the ram into
the torpedo room. Within the latter in a line with the said
passage
a tubular carriage capable of being run back for the purpose of allowing
the before described needle torpedo to be placed upon rollers in front of
the carriage with its rear end fitting into the end of the latter, and its
front end opposite the before-mentioned tubular passage. The torpedo
being so placed the carriage is moved forward so as to run the torpedo
into the tubular passage of the spur, and the carriage is then secured in
this position. Within the carriage is a sliding frame with a piston
butting against the rear end of the needle torpedo; this frame is moved
forward by means of a screw spindle also contained in the carriage
rotated by a winch handle whereby the needle torpedo is thrust still
further forward in the tubular passage of the spur, so that the greater
portion of its length projects beyond the front end of the spur. When
the torpedo has been brought into this position the carriage is run back
again, and a plug spar is inserted into the tubular passage so as to butt
against the end of the torpedo; and is secured firmly in this position so
as to act as an abutment while the torpedo pierces the enemy's vessel by
means of strong sliding bolts passing transversely through it and through
the tubular passage. A separate plug is also firmly secured in a water-
tight manner behind the plug spar in the cylindrical aperture in the
stem of the ram so as to close this against the entrance of water when
the spur has been detached.
.
In some cases a second needle torpedo may be made to project in like
manner, and by the same means, as above described, through a tubular
passage formed in the before described heel support for the spur.
The needle torpedoes may be provided with lateral projecting spikes or
barbs by which they are held firmly in the woodwork of the enemy's
vessel while the ram is retiring, and other hinged barbs may also be
provided which lie flat in recesses on the surface of the torpedo while
this is piercing the vessel, but which are afterwards made to project out

page_text: by a contrivance similar to that described with reference to the hinged
barbs on the spur.
It will be evident that the before described needle torpedoes may be
employed and manipulated in precisely the same manner as above
described with ram war ships having a fixed spur of ordinary con-
struction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Palmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PALMER, junior, of Angel Court, Friday Street, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Palmer, junior, Her
special license that I, the said John Palmer, junior, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Palmer,
junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAM WAR SHIPS, AND IN TORPEDOES EMPLOYED IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH, a communication to me from abroad by Francis
Ingram Palmer, Navigating Lieutenant, R.N., commanding H.M.
Turret Ship Magdala, in Bombay Harbour, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Palmer, junior, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
"

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Palmer, junior, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the samo
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
This Invention consists firstly in constructing ram ships with a dis-
connecting spur ram, which on piercing an enemy's ship can be readily
disconnected from the ram ship, so as to liberate the latter, to which
another spur ram can then be attached for further action. For this
purpose the spur ram is constructed of a somewhat similar form to that of
the spurs of ram ships now employed, but as an entirely independant
structure, which may either be affixed to the stem of the ship just before
actual war service, or else be permanently carried thereby. The spur
ram, which is strongly built of steel or other metal, fits with a semi-
circular rear end into a corresponding semicircular groove in the stem
of the ship, and it is there secured, firstly, by dropping with recesses
over two pintles fixed in the said groove; secondly, by means of a
clamping iron which binds the head of the spur to the upper part of the
stem of the ship; thirdly, by means of a strong screw spindle which is
screwed from within a chamber at the stem of the ship into a threaded
recess. in the spur. In addition to these attachments the spur rests with
its lower surface upon a heel support projecting from the stem of the
ship, which is also provided with a shallow recess, into which fits a strong
stud on the under surface of the spur, and in the lower part of the spur
may also be formed a cylindrical hollow, into which projects a strong plug
spar passing through a cylindrical aperture in the stem of the ship. The
spur may, in addition, be stayed laterally by means of chains attached
to hooks at any point thereof, and passing back to the bows of the ship,
where they are secured.
By the above described means the spur is firmly attached to the ship,
while, when it has been run into an enemy's vessel and cannot readily be
withdrawn by backing the ship, this may be easily detached from the
spur by withdrawing the before-mentioned screw spindle clamping iron
and plug spar, and disconnecting the stay chains.
The before-mentioned pintles may be formed hollow to contain a
charge of explosive material, which, on being fired by an electric fuze,

page_text: will lift the spur off the pintles, and also raise its stud out of the recess
in the heel support so as to free the spur entirely from all connections
with the ship.
This Invention consists, furthermore, in the employment of certain
devices whereby the before described disconnecting spur ram may be
utilized as a torpedo by exploding it after it has been run into an enemy's
ship, and whereby also other torpedoes of perculiar construction hereafter
described may be used in connection with such disconnecting spur
ram.
For this first named purpose one or more chambers containing gun
cotton or other explosive compound is or are enclosed within the fore
part of the said spur, and is or are connected by insulated conducting
wires to a galvanic battery within the ship, a certain quantity of such
wires being coiled up within the after part of the spur; after the spur has
been run into the enemy's vessel and has been disconnected from the
ram ship as before described, the ram ship is backed to a safe distance
from the enemy's vessel, at the same time drawing out the beforc-
mentioned coils of conducting wire whereby the ship is still maintained
in electric connection with the spur. By then closing the circuit of the
galvanic battery and circuit wires the before-mentioned charges of gun
cotton in the spur are fired by means of electric fuzes, thus producing a
destructive explosion within the side of the enemy's vessel.
In order to insure that the spur ram when run into the enemy's vessel
shall be firmly held therein while the ram slip is retreating to a safe
distance, there are provided on the outer surface of the spur hinged
spikes or barbs, which before the spur strikes the vessel are turned down
flat into recesses in the spur. In these recesses, beneath the barbs, are
hinged flaps fitting closely over a charge of gun cotton, also connected
by conducting wires to a battery within the ram ship; on the spur
piercing the enemy's vessel, and before it is detached from the ram ship,
the said charges of gun cotton beneath the barbs are fired, which has
the effect of forcing these outwards so as to penetrate laterally into the
woodwork of the enemy's vessel, and thus assist in holding the spur in
the latter while the ram ship is retreating.
.
In combination with such ram war ships with detachable spur are also
employed torpedoes of peculiar construction and action termed "needle
torpedoes." These consist of long steel or iron cylinders with pointed

page_text: or ogival heads containing within them one or more chambers charged
with gun cotton or other explosive compounds.
When the ram ship is about to attack an enemy's vessel one such
"needle torpedo" is, by arrangement to be presently described, made to
project from the front end of the spur, so that when the ram strikes the
vessel the needle torpedo first pierces and passes right into the latter
before the spur strikes.
The charges of gun cotton in the needle torpedo are connected by
insulated conducting wires with a battery on board the ram, a coil of
such wire being placed in the rear end of the torpedo cylinder, so that
the ram can retreat to a safe distance while remaining in electric
communication with the needle torpedo, and can then fire the latter in
the same manner as described with reference to the spur torpedo.
For the above purpose the spur has formed in its lower part a tubular
passage extending longitudinally right through it. The front end of
this passage is closed in a water-tight manner by a plug when the ram
is not in action, and at the rear end it communicates with a corre-
sponding cylindrical aperture passing through the stem of the ram into
the torpedo room. Within the latter in a line with the said passage is
a tubular carriage capable of being run back for the purpose of allowing
the before described "needle torpedo" to be placed upon rollers in front
of the carriage with its rear end fitting into the end of the latter, and its
front end opposite the before mentioned tubular passage. The torpedo
being so placed the carriage is moved forward so as to run the torpedo into
the tubular passage of the spur, and the carriage is then secured in this
position. Within the carriage is a sliding frame with a piston butting
against the rear end of the needle torpedo. This frame is moved forward
by means of a screw spindle, also contained in the carriage, rotated by
a winch handle, whereby the "needle torpedo" is thrust still further.
forward in the tubular passage of the spur, so that the great portion of
its length projects beyond the front end of the spur. When the torpedo
has been brought into this position the carriage is run back again, and
a plug spar is inserted into the tubular passage so as to butt against
the end of the torpedo, and is secured firmly in this position so as to act
as an abutment while the torpedo pierces the enemy's vessel by means
of strong sliding bolts passing transversely through it and through the
tubular passage. A separate plug is also firmly secured in a water-tight
manner behind the plug spar in the cylindrical aperture in the stem of

page_text: after be described. At the edge, which comes next the prow, it is
made rounded so as to fit into a corresponding hollow in the prow, from
which project the pintles C, C, so as to enter recessed bearings in the
after edge of the spur. The spur when attached rests on the projecting
foot D (into a recess of which enters a stud d projecting from the lower
edge of the spur), and is held at top by the clamping iron E and by a
screw F and stay chain G. For detaching the ram the screw F is
withdrawn, the clamp E is disengaged, and the chains G are disconnected.
The tops of the pintles C, C, are formed with cavities charged with gun
cotton or other explosive material, which can be fired by electric fuzes
communicating by conducting wires with a battery in the interior of the
vessel. The explosion of these charges lifts the spur off the pintles C
and its stud d out of the recess in the projecting foot of the prow, and
thus the spur may be completely detached from the vessel.
Besides the means above described of connecting the spur to the prow
of the vessel use may be made of the cylindrical cavity H running
lengthways along the lower part of the spur in line with a corresponding
cavity N in the prow of the vessel. A strong plug spar may be thrust
out from the prow of the vessel into the cavity of the spur, so as to
steady it when attached, such spar being drawn into the vessel when
the spur is to be disconnected. The cavity H when not utilized
in this manner serves as a channel for the needle torpedo of the spur,
another torpedo being contained in a similar channel I formed in the
lower part of the prow of the vessel, as will presently be described. On
the sloping edge of the spur, and if necessary on its sides, are mounted
several barbs K, one of which is shewn to an enlarged scale at Fig. 8.
These barbs lie in their beds (as shewn in Fig. 8) when the spur is driven
into the hostile vessel, but can be thrown out (as shewn in Fig. 2) by
firing charges of gun cotton or other explosive L placed under them
(such charges being fired by electric fuzes communicating by the wires B
with interior of the vessel), so as to act as barbs to hold the spur in the
vessel which it has penetrated.
Portions M of the interior cavity of the spur may be charged with
gun cotton or other explosive, to be fired by electric fuzes after the spur
has penetrated a hostile vessel and has been detached from the prow of a
the attacking vessel. The wires B conducting from the interior of the
vessel to those fuzes are coiled at 6 to allow of their paying out for the
retreat of the attacking vessel before exploding the detached spur.

page_text: In operating with a detachable spur, such as has been described, it is
to be understood that before striking the clamping iron E, and screw F,
and chains G have to be disengaged, and the spar is to be withdrawn
from the cavity H. The spur then remains resting on the projecting
foot of the prow, held in place by the pintles C and the stud d, which is
rounded to a curvature struck from the axial line of the pintles and fits
into a recess of corresponding curvature in the projecting foot of the
prow. This mode of temporarily holding the spur for striking, and its
rounded heel fitting into a hollow of the prow, permit of its swinging to
one side or the other when its stroke is delivered, and thus, if a hostile
vessel in motion should be struck by it on the. broadside the spur will
swing with the movement of the struck vessel without unduly straining
the striking vessel before it becomes detached.
The Figures on Sheet II. represent longitudinal sections of the lower
part of the spur and the prow of the vessel with the needle torpedoes
and the means of working them.
In Fig. 9 both torpedoes are shown in their respective cavities,
namely, the upper in the cavity H of the spur, and the lower in the
cavity I of the vessel's prow.
In Fig. 10 the upper torpedo is shewn protruded from the cavity H
and projecting in front of the spur, while the lower torpedo still remains
in its cavity I.
In Fig. 11 is shewn part of the upper torpedo protruded ready for
attack, the cavity H being plugged behind it so as to take the thrust
of the torpedo when it is driven into a hostile vessel.
In Fig. 12 the spur with its torpedo being supposed to have been
detached from the prow the lower torpedo is protruded ready for pene-
trating a hostile vessel.
Referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the torpedo cavity H is closed
is in front by a cap scuttle / held in place by a spring bolt h³,
engaging in a recess on the flange of the cap. This spring is raised by
hauling a rope /* (see Fig. 2) led to the interior of the vessel, and the
cap scuttle h is liberated. The torpedo is then thrust forwards by a
screw worked by winch gear within the vessel, the said screw working
5 in a nut in a tubular carriage a, and propelling a second cap scuttle b,
which bears on the breech of the torpedo. The torpedo is thus advanced
till a second spring bolt.h³ drops into a recess near its breech when it is

page_text: in the position shewn in Fig. 10. The tubular carriage a is then
retracted by working the screw in the reverse direction, and a strong
wooden plug spar c (see Fig. 11) is inserted behind the torpedo to take
its thrust when it is driven into a liostile vessel, a bolt f¹ being let down
from the interior of the spur through a mortice in the plug spar c.
Behind the plug spar c is placed a shorter plug e occupying the hole in
the prow of the vessel, through which the torpedo has been passed, and
when this plug is in place a sliding bolt f is let down through a mortice
in it to hold it fast and to plug the hole in the vessel after the torpedo
and spur have been detached, as shewn at Fig. 12. The lower torpedo
in the cavity I is thrust out in a similar manner, a short plug g (sec
Fig. 12) is placed behind it; and the bolt f being let farther down
secures the plug and supports it against the thrust of the torpedo. The
plugs e and remaining in their respective holes after the torpedoes
have been detached serve to prevent access of water to the interior of
the vessel.
To facilitate the manouvering of the torpedoes, as above described,
rollers are provided, on which they and the tubular frames employed
for propelling them run. The torpedoes have long tubular bodies
(which may be made of sheet steel) with longitudinal guide ribs, and
with ogival heads for penetration, and may have barbs projecting at
various parts of their peripheries to prevent them from drawing out of
the hostile vessel which they have penetrated. Their interior may be
divided longitudinally into several compartments each charged with gun
cotton or other explosives with electric fuzes.
Along the centre of the torpedo is formed a tubular channel con-
taining the conducting wires for firing the. charges; and in the breech
of the torpedo is provided a chamber, in which a considerable length
of these wires is coiled (as shewn at 1, Fig. 10), so that when a-torpedo
has penetrated a hostile vessel the attacking vessel may retire to a safe
distance before firing, the wire being payed out from the coil to allow of
such retreat without breaking the electrical connection with the interior
of the attacking vessel, into which the wires are let, having been passed
through holes provided in the plugs inserted behind the torpedoes.
Although arrangements have been described above for working a
torpedo in a detachable spur and also in a cavity of the vessel itself, it is
obvious that the construction and manner of operating which have been
described for the detachable spur might be employed without the use of

page_text: torpedoes, and farther, that without the use of the detachable spur
needle torpedoes might be protruded, as described, from cavities in the
prow of a vessel.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I claim,—
First. The use, for ram war ships, of a ramming spur of structure
independent of the vessel and capable of being detached therefrom,
substantially as herein described.
Second. The method of employing a detachable spur, such as is
referred to above, as a torpedo by charging cavities within it with
explosive materials provided with electric fuzes, which are connected to a
source of electric power within the attacking vessel by wires of sufficient
length to admit of the retreat of the attacking vessel after the spur is
detached from it to a safe distance before firing the said charges.
Third. The use, for ram war ships, of needle torpedoes, which can be
protruded from the prow or spur of the vessel so as to penetrate and
remain in a hostile vessel, and can be exploded by electricity after the
retreat of the attacking vessel, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The method, substantially as herein described, of protruding
needle torpedoes, such as are referred to above, butting them to take the
thrust of penetration, and plugging the holes through which they are
protruded.
'
Fifth. The method, herein described, of raising the detachable spur,
referred to above, off the pintles, and of elevating the barbs of the said
spur by firing explosive materials under the pintle bearings and the barbs,
by means of electric fuzes connected to a source of electricity within the
vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Palmer, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.