MODERN TORPEDOES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 11 April 1936, Page 14

MODERN TORPEDOES.

COSTLY WEAPONS. VALUE MAINLY STRATEGIC. " (By R.S.) Among the weapons used by modern ships of war not the least interesting is the torpedo. Contrary to general belief the torpedo is not the deadly weapon that some think it is. The number of torpedoes carried by a battleship is twelve, but often enough in a battle not a torpedo is fired by a battleship. This is due to the fact that in a conflict between warships pf a' major type the battle may be carried on s at a distance of twelve miles from each ship and that is too far a distance from the object for the torpedo to be of much value. It would be a miracle of workmanship should it hit an object so far away, but in any case its power would be completely spent and it is doubtful if tho torpedo would ever reach the object. E\ en in closer warfare between smaller ships, one torpedo would never sink a ship, even if it were hit broadside on from a short distance. It would take three or four torpedoes to do that and even then it is doubtful whether those toi-pedoes would ever hit their mark. Seeing the torpedo launched and noting most carefully its course, the ship fired at would immediately change its direction and sail parallel, say, to the oncoming projectile, and so the torpedo would pass harmlessly by. on one side to eventually come to a standstill. Another ship of course, mky then strike the spent procome to a standstill. Another ship, of fare that is rare.

The question arises, what is the value then of the torpedo ? They are so costly, why use them at all? Their value is mainly strategic. If a battleship or a destroyer can keep its guns sighted on an enemy vessel without haying to change its course, that ship has a huge advantage over the ship that is compelled ’ to change its course in order to avoid an oncoming torpedo. Many a ship has been sunk because having to avoid an oncoming torpedo it had to change its course and so could not keep its guns sighted on the enemy. In naval practice a torpedo will actually be launched at a passing ship, but good care is taken to so aim the projectile so that instead of hitting the ship it passes deep underneath it. It sounds dangei’ous, but it is obvious there can be no risk attached to the practice or it would never bo done. In gunnery practice in New Zealand the target consists of something much loss, a mere floating piece of trellis work. When in motion a torpedo has a negative buoyancy, when spent a positive buoyancy of twenty-five per cent. It is this positive buoyancy that .enables the

torpedo to float and so be picked up after the “battle” is over. If the torpedo has a negative buoyancy when in action and a positive buoyancy when spent, it may be wondered how it is that a torpedo gets lost at all. This is due to the fact that the mechanism like the mechanism of anything else is liable to fail. The salt-water for instance may get into it and throw the whole thing out of action ; it will then most likely plunge straight to the bottom, there to lie, a nice little nest-egg of £2OOO for—the fish. In the case of a lost torpedo which may still be floating a substantial reward is offered for its recovery. Actually, however, few torpedoes are ever lost and in practice if one is lost it is usually .obsolete and would in any 'case have been discarded or broken up for old metal. So if one is lost in practice there is no real loss at all. It was noted in the begining of this article that a battleship throws a projectile (not a torpedo) twelve miles and more. One cannot help but think of a battle carried on by these monsters at such a huge distance and think of those projectile weighing a ton which hurtle through the air, and compare such a battle with a naval conflict in the “good old days,” when men o’ war came along side each other, often lashed themselves to the other, and blew one another to bits. It was real fighting in those days, not slaughter, and gallantry and chivalry did play a part. Sailor’s swarmed over °each ship’s decks, fought manfully hand-to-hand, and the best man won. But gallantly and chivalry still play a part even amid the horrors of modern warfare. Witness young Cornwall, a mere lad of fourteen. He was at a gun on the most exposed part of the ship; every other man had been killed; he himself was mortally wounded; yet he stood at attention by his gun awaiting further orders until the battle was over. But to come back to our modern battleships, what happens when, this monster does throw her projectile weighing a ton a distance of twelve miles or more? A tremendous amount of energy is liberated. If you were upon the deck you would fee) the ship give a lurch and roll, but if you were beneath you would hear a hiss and the whole ship would creak, steel though it is, for it is the steel work of the ship that absorbs the terrific strain when the guns boom and jibe ship lurches and sways and a ton shell hurtles through sapee on its errand of death.