[ 21 1 
COAST DEFENCE AGAINST TORPEDO- 
BOAT ATTACK. 
— BY — 
MAJOR-GENERAL J. B. RICHARDSON. 
D URING the last few years, thanks to the cordial co-operation of 
the Naval Authorities, considerable experience has been gained 
at Gibraltar in the matter of attacking shipping by Torpedo-Boats and 
Manamvres at re P e ^ D g these attacks by Q.F. guns, both in moon- 
Gibraltar light and with electric lights. In the belief that this 
experience, and deductions made by its aid, may prove 
interesting and instructive to the Artillery generally, this paper is 
put forward. 
Naval Defence ^ ava ^ maT b defence against Torpedo-Boat at- 
against Torpedo- ^ck a y ital matter, and receives earnest attention. 
Boat attack. His ex iste nce ma y depend on his ability to keep ex¬ 
ceedingly fast but small boats at a distance of say 
1,000 yards from his ship. He naturally maintains all means of doing 
so of which he knows in a very high state of efficiency by constant 
trial and practice. A free hand is given him and he has everything 
under his undivided control. Scouts may be out in the shape of 
destroyers, torpedo-boats, guard-boats, etc., but he does not trust 
only to these ; attacking boats may slip through such outposts and 
he then relies on a great mass of what is practically, except as regards 
direction, unaimed fire, from light Q.F. and machine guns, aided by 
electric lights, nets, etc., all under his own hand. Looking to the 
value of his charge, he is granted a considerable amount of ammuni¬ 
tion for the practice which can alone make his defence perfect; and 
he is little hampered by the need of reference, that curse of the Army. 
He has a serious business to perform and he does not mince matters. 
In his own element, the open sea, his precautions probably enable him 
to beat off torpedo-boat attacks with ease, the balance of probability 
being decidedly in his favour. As he approaches narrow waters his 
chances of successful defence diminish ; and his individual powers are 
at a minimum when his ship is at rest in a crowded harbour, though 
he can surround himself with obstructions and can then, in many 
places, be very excellently defended from the shore. 
1. VOL. XXVI. 
