SEAMEN STEER TORPEDOES

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24237, 20 April 1944, Page 5

SEAMEN STEER TORPEDOES

DIVERS’ SUITS WORN AWARDS FOR ATTACK IN SICILY (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 18. Another, of the Royal Navy’s secret weapons was revealed to-night when awards were made to officers and men of the submarine service for undertaking what is described as one of the most dangerous missions of this war. The new weapon is the “human torpedo.” . The Admiralty reveals that during a night attack in January last year against the strongly defended enemy base of Palermo in Sicily, several "human torpedoes” negotiated the net defence and proceeded under water across the whole length of the harbour. One craft, manned by Lieutenant R. T. H. Greeland and Leading Signalman A. Ferrier, attacked and sank the s.3ingunned Italian Regolo class cruiser Ulpio Traino, which was ’ completing for service. A second “human torpedo” manned by Sub-Lieutenant R. G. Dove, R.N.V.R., and Acting-Leading Seaman H. Freel, attacked the transport Viminale, of 8500 tons, which was lying at a jetty. Their torpedo so severely damaged her aft that she had to be .towed away for repairs. During this passage she was sunk. The “human torpedoes” are approximately the same size and shape as ordinary torpedoes. They are driven by electric batteries and are manned by g, crew of two. who wear diving suits and sit astride the body of the torpedo. A charge similar to the warhead of a torpedo is attached to the nose. These craft are manpeuvred at slow speed towards the targets and they dive under them. The charges are then detached from the main body and fixed to the bottom of the enemy ships. Time fuses are set and the "human torpedoes." minus- their warheads, are driven away in order to be clear of the target area before the charges detonate. The crews responsible for the successful attacks on Ulpio Traino and Viminale reached the shore* in safety and were made prisoners of war, together with Petty Officer H. M. Miln and Able-Seaman H. V. Worthy, members of the crew of the other "human torpedo” which took part in the operations. The London Gazette to-night says that Lieutenant Greenland and SubLieutenant Dove have been awarded the D.5.0., Leading Signalman terrier and Acting-Leading Seaman Freel the D.C.M.. and Petty Officer Miln and Ablo-seaman Worthy receive mention m dispatches. Process for Hardening Wood.—The “U Pont laboratories have announced that they have developed a new chemical process for transmuting imp any desired hardness all types of soft wood through impregnation with dimethololurca. Poplar, it is stated, becomes harder than maple and maple harder than eboajt,— IS,