Anniversary Address. xxxv. 



Locomotive torpedoes are submarine weapons which possess 

 within themselves the power of locomotion. Of these I will specially 

 notice the Whitehead torpedo, the Lay torpedo, and the Brennan 

 torpedo. 



The Whitehead or " fish " torpedo is an uncontrollable weapon, whitehead 

 i.e., after it is projected from the bow or side of a vessel it cannot ipe °" 

 be controlled or directed by the will of an operator. It is made 

 of various sizes, ranging from 14ft. long and 14in. maximum diameter, 

 to 19ft. long by 16in. maximum diameter. The larger size carries 

 a charge of 801b. of gun-cotton at its bow. Its motive-power is 

 compressed air, which, by means of small engines, drives two screw 

 propellers. It is capable of being adjusted, by means of certain 

 mechanical apparatus, to a certain depth, and when launched will go 

 at a rate of about twenty-five knots an hour or more for several hun- 

 dred yards. 



Properly to use the Whitehead torpedo, however, an expert's 

 knowledge of the weapon and special training is required. In words 

 used by Admiral Boys, once Naval Director of Ordnance, to make it 

 a success you must " love it." It has only been tried as yet — so far 

 as I am aware — on three occasions in actual warfare, but on one 

 of these it was perfectly successful. This was in 1878, when a 

 Russian steamer fired a Whitehead torpedo against a Turkish vessel 

 off Batoum and destroyed her. 



I may mention that the Governments of Austria and Great 

 Britain each gave Mr. Whitehead something like ,€20,000 for the use 

 of his torpedo, and that nearly all the other European Governments 

 have since purchased the secret. The Turks, however, picked up two 

 of these torpedoes, which they found on the shore after having been 

 unsuccessfully fired at their ships, and so obtained the use of the 

 weapon without paying for it. 



The Lay torpedo and the Brennan torpedo are shaped some- 

 thing like the Whitehead ; and, like that weapon, are provided with 

 charges at the bow end, which explode on contact. Unlike the 

 Whitehead, however, they are not intended to be discharged as 

 missiles, but are controllable whilst in motion. 



The Lay torpedo, an American invention, about 25ft. long, with La y torpedo. 

 a maximum diameter of 24in., is a sort of torpedo-boat propelled 

 by screws worked by machinery, the motor of which is carbonic- 

 acid gas. It is controlled by an operator on shore or ship by an 

 electric cable attached to it, and has an apparatus within it by 

 means of which a rudder at the stern can be moved to port or star- 

 board as desired. Upon it are two guide rods by which it is directed, 

 and which can be raised or lowered at will. Each of these is pro- 



