Early Torpedo Use and Development
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Questions and Answers

What was the earliest known use of a torpedo?

  • Designed by Robert Whitehead in 1866
  • During the Battle of the Kegs in 1778
  • In the American Revolution by David Bushnell
  • By the Dutch in 1585 as a ship packed with explosives (correct)

Who developed floating mines that could stay in place indefinitely?

  • Robert Fulton (correct)
  • David Bushnell
  • Robert Whitehead
  • John A. Howell

Which torpedo was the first successful program by the U.S. Navy?

  • Floating mine
  • Whitehead torpedo
  • Howell torpedo (correct)
  • Turtle torpedo

What was a significant flaw in the first torpedoes developed at the Newport torpedo station?

<p>Air flask and hull did not maintain watertight integrity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What powered the first Whitehead torpedo?

<p>Compressed air engine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How far could the first Whitehead torpedo travel?

<p>200 yards (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When was the Navy's torpedo station established in Newport, Rhode Island?

<p>1869 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What propelled the Howell torpedo designed by John A. Howell?

<p>Flywheel and steam turbine (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What nickname was given to the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>Barracuda (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which year did the Navy begin developing the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>1972 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the development of the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>To counter the threat from the Alpha submarine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum speed that the Mk 50 torpedo can reach?

<p>40 knots (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How long is the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>9 feet (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the launch capability of the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>Dropped from a plane or launched from a surface combatant (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>20,000 yards (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which threat prompted the development of the Mk 50 torpedo?

<p>The introduction of the Alpha submarine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Mk 7 torpedo?

<p>It was the first steam-driven torpedo. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which torpedo was responsible for sinking over four million tons of Japanese shipping during World War II?

<p>Mk 14 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What advantage did the electric torpedo have?

<p>It was wakeless and required less manufacturing effort. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the nickname of the Mk 24 torpedo?

<p>Fido (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technological advancement was achieved with the Mk 45 torpedo?

<p>It provided speeds up to 40 knots and had an extended range. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the length of the Mk 13 aircraft launched torpedo?

<p>13½ feet (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of the Mk 48 torpedo?

<p>It can re-attack if it misses its target. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which torpedo was developed to detect enemy submarines near ship convoys?

<p>Mk 44 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the first all-Navy torpedo design created and where?

<p>Mark 11 Torpedo at Newport torpedo factory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which war was the Mark 14 torpedo balanced in shop 41 at the Naval Torpedo Station?

<p>World War II (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was depicted in the engraving by A. Stachic in 'Naval Battles of America'?

<p>A spar torpedo attack on the ironclad Albemarle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What year did the event of submariners drinking coffee take place at the New London Submarine Base?

<p>1943 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of torpedo is the Mark XVIII-2?

<p>Electric torpedo (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which torpedo was loaded on a Douglas DT torpedo bomber in July 1923?

<p>Mark 11 Torpedo (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which station is associated with balancing the Mark 14 torpedo?

<p>Naval Torpedo Station, Alexandria (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main focus of the photograph of the torpedo cart in July 1923?

<p>Loading a Mark 11 Torpedo (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of gas was used to drive the Lay-Haight torpedo on the surface?

<p>Carbonic acid gas (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What powered the Bliss-Leavitt Torpedo Mark 3?

<p>Turbine driven by alcohol and super-heated compressed air (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When did the Navy adopt the Bliss-Leavitt Torpedo?

<p>Circa 1904 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the electric current in the Lay-Haight torpedo?

<p>To steer the torpedo (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During what time period did Aerial Torpedo Exercises take place as shown in the content?

<p>Early 1920s (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which battleship was targeted in the Aerial Torpedo Exercises mentioned?

<p>USS Arkansas (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the dock-mounted twin torpedo tube test during World War II?

<p>To test torpedo firing mechanisms (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main propulsion method for the torpedo shown in the 18-inch torpedo tube aboard a U.S. Navy torpedo boat?

<p>Unknown propulsion method (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the early naval mines during the American Revolution?

<p>To destroy enemy ships and deny area access (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the first known use of naval mines?

<p>The American Revolution (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were mines initially laid before the advent of submarines and aircraft?

<p>Laid from surface vessels on special tracks (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the use of naval mines in World War II?

<p>It resulted in the sinking of Japanese ships and disrupted maritime shipping (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of naval mine is not expected to move at all?

<p>Bottom mines (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which notable figure authorized the use of sea mines during the American Revolution?

<p>George Washington (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which war did the Confederates effectively use mines to sink Union vessels?

<p>The Civil War (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a key consequence of the use of mines during World War I?

<p>It restricted German submarines to the North Sea (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of mines before World War II?

<p>To prevent enemy access to certain areas (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How were mines typically utilized during World War II compared to earlier periods?

<p>Employed predominantly for offensive operations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What innovative method was used in mine countermeasures to neutralize a minefield?

<p>Dragging a cable across the minefield (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mine is designed to be detonated from a shore station?

<p>Controlled mine (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the Quickstrike family of mines?

<p>Laid by aircraft in shallow waters (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What feature does the Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM) possess?

<p>It uses a MK37 torpedo for target detection (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of influence mines react to for detonation?

<p>Physical presence such as magnetic or acoustic changes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the common term used for mine countermeasures in naval warfare?

<p>Minesweeping (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was significant about the model of the underwater mine made in Sweden?

<p>It incorporated designs from Robert Fulton’s experiments. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which year did Lieutenant Colonel Kinckowstrom visit the U.S. to study Fulton's experiments?

<p>1818 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary use for steam winches in mine warfare operations?

<p>To haul fleets of mines to the feeding section. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the function of the marker buoy used by the mine squadron?

<p>To mark the end of a minefield for later operations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the explosion of a 500-pound underwater charge during testing?

<p>It demonstrated the power of underwater demolition. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did the mine laying crew of USS Utah have in mine warfare training?

<p>They raised mines planted for practice exercises. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is typically used to release mines overboard from a naval vessel?

<p>A mine trap mechanism. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the historical significance of the photograph of a 500-pound underwater charge explosion?

<p>It showcased early naval mine deployment strategies. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of Higgins Industries during World War II?

<p>Producing boats for military use (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of boat served as the basis for the LCVP designed by Higgins?

<p>36-foot ramped landing boat (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which event was Andrew J. Higgins, Sr. explaining his company's role?

<p>A presidential visit (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was highlighted in the commissioning ceremonies at Higgins Industrial Canal Plant?

<p>The commissioning of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 23 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of the boats produced at Higgins Industries as shown in the ceremonies?

<p>Standardized camouflage patterns (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the Higgins boats during World War II?

<p>Transporting troops and supplies (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What design served as the basis for the LCPL landing craft?

<p>Higgins 36-foot ramped landing boat (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of tractor was demonstrated by the Higgins “Eureka” landing boats for Latin American admirals?

<p>A seven-ton caterpillar tractor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where were the Higgins PT boats manufactured during World War II?

<p>New Orleans, Louisiana (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of boats were built for England and later influenced World War II designs?

<p>Higgins “Eureka” landing boats (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What event took place near New Orleans around May 1941 involving Higgins boats?

<p>A demonstration for Latin American admirals (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which feature was common to Higgins motor torpedo boats during the 1943-44 period?

<p>They had a conference in session aboard (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the completion state of the Higgins boats depicted in the assembly line photograph?

<p>They were in varying stages of completion (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of boats did Andrew J. Higgins primarily design and manufacture?

<p>Amphibious landing crafts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a significant factor in Higgins Industries' success during World War II?

<p>Higgins' persistence and superior product (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many employees did Higgins' manufacturing plants employ by the end of 1943?

<p>25,000 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What design was Higgins best known for during his career?

<p>Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many LCVPs were constructed by Higgins Industries by the end of World War II?

<p>12,500 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main advantage of Higgins' amphibious boats?

<p>Elimination of the need for conventional harbors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which year did Andrew J. Higgins pass away?

<p>1952 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the initial size of Higgins Industries in 1938?

<p>75 employees (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Early torpedo design (1585)

An explosive-laden ship used for naval attacks.

American Revolution torpedo (1775)

David Bushnell's underwater mine attached to a submarine.

Robert Fulton's mines (1700s)

Floating mines anchored to the ocean floor, significantly more stable than previous designs.

Whitehead torpedo (1866)

First self-propelled torpedo, a pivotal design for future naval warfare.

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1869 US Navy Torpedo Station

Built to develop and build torpedoes based on Whitehead's design.

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Howell torpedo (1870s)

A successful US Navy torpedo powered by a flywheel, marking a significant advancement.

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1874 torpedo program end

US Navy ends torpedo development program due to technical issues.

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Early torpedo limitations

Early torpedoes faced issues with watertight integrity, engine function, and propulsion.

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Whitehead Mk 5 torpedo

A US torpedo from the early 1900s with a range of 4,000 yards and speeds up to 27 knots.

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Improved torpedo detonators

Torpedoes designs from 1910 to 1915, allowing for explosions from glancing blows or any direction, not just direct hits.

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Mk 7 torpedo

The first torpedo firlable from both destroyers and submarines, steam powered, introduced after WWI

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Mk 13 torpedo

The first US airdrop torpedo, 13 ½ ft long, 7,000 yards range, and speeds up to 30 knots.

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Mk 48 torpedo

Current US submarine torpedo; 19-feet long, 3,500 pounds, 650-pounds high explosive and a capability to "re-attack"

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Electric Torpedo

A torpedo type that was quieter than other types and developed after the capture of German U-570. An example of this is the Mk 18.

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Homing torpedo

A torpedo that could detect and track sound of targets in order to attack; an example being the Mk 24

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Post-WWI/pre-WWII torpedo era

Defined the modern torpedo; airdrop designs and submarine torpedoes

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Douglas DT Torpedo Bomber

A type of aircraft used by the US Navy during the early 20th century, designed to carry and drop torpedoes.

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Alpha Submarine

A high-speed, deep-diving Soviet submarine that prompted the development of the Mk 50 torpedo.

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Torpedo Range (Mk 50)

The Mk 50 torpedo has a range of 20,000 yards.

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Torpedo Speed (Mk 50)

The Mk 50 torpedo can travel faster than 40 knots.

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Spar Torpedo

A basic torpedo design consisting of a long pole carrying an explosive charge, used for attaching to and detonating against enemy vessels.

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H-Gram 008-3

A document, likely a naval communication, related to torpedo technology or strategy.

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Torpedo Room

A dedicated compartment on submarines for storing, loading, and launching torpedoes.

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Albemarle

A Confederate ironclad warship sunk by the US Navy using a spar torpedo attack.

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H-Gram 010-3

A document, likely a naval communication, related to torpedo technology or strategy.

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USS Housatonic

A Union Navy ship sunk by a Confederate submarine in 1864.

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Mark XVIII-2

An electric torpedo model, showcasing advancements in torpedo technology.

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Torpedo Practice (1911)

Naval personnel training with torpedoes, likely on naval ships.

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Torpedo Cart

A specialized mobile platform used to transport torpedoes around a naval base or ship.

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Lay-Haight torpedo (1894)

A torpedo propelled by carbonic acid gas, steered using an electric current.

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Torpedo tube aboard a torpedo boat (circa 1905)

A launching tube used on torpedo boats to fire torpedoes at targets.

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Bliss-Leavitt Torpedo Mark 3 (1911)

A turbine-driven torpedo powered by alcohol and superheated compressed air.

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Aerial Torpedo Exercise (early 1920s)

A military training exercise involving planes dropping torpedoes on battleships.

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Torpedo Propulsion Methods

Early torpedoes relied on a variety of propulsion methods like carbonic acid gas, flywheels, and turbine engines.

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How were early torpedoes steered?

Early torpedoes were steered using cables connected to the launch platform or using internal mechanisms.

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Torpedo Shape

The shape of the torpedo plays a crucial role in its performance, affecting its stability and range.

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Torpedo Testing

Torpedoes were extensively tested in dedicated facilities to ensure their functionality and accuracy.

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Naval Mine

A self-contained explosive device placed underwater to destroy submarines or surface vessels. They are also used to deny enemy access to areas.

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Types of Naval Mines

There are three main types: Drifting (move with the current), Moored (restricted by anchor and rope), and Bottom (fixed in position).

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Early Mine Laying

Initially, surface vessels were used to lay mines. Then, submarines and aircraft took over for their strategic advantage.

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David Bushnell's Mine

An early invention during the American Revolution, using gunpowder in a keg with a trigger mechanism.

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Confederate Mine Use

During the Civil War, the Confederates successfully used mines to sink several Union vessels.

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World War I Mine Use

Mines were extensively used to restrict German submarines and limit their access to the North Sea.

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World War II Mine Use

Mines played a crucial role in disrupting Japanese logistics, starving their economy by damaging shipping routes.

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Mine Warfare Impact

Naval mine warfare has significantly impacted naval strategy and warfare throughout history by denying enemy access to areas, disrupting logistics, and enforcing strategic control over waterways.

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Contact Mine

A naval mine that detonates upon direct contact with a vessel.

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Influence Mine

A mine that detonates when triggered by a ship's presence, such as magnetic fields, sound waves, or changes in pressure.

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Controlled Mine

A naval mine that is detonated remotely from a shore station, used for defensive or offensive purposes.

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Mine Countermeasures

Techniques and technologies used to neutralize or disarm naval mines.

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Minesweeping

A method of mine countermeasures, often used to clear minefields.

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Quickstrike Mine

A family of shallow-water mines designed for use against surface and subsurface vessels.

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Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM)

A mine deployed by submarines, typically used in hostile areas.

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Mine Warfare

The use of naval mines as weapons for attacking or defending ships and other maritime assets.

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Higgins Industries

A shipbuilding company that played a crucial role in the Allied war effort during World War II, particularly by producing landing craft for the invasion of Normandy.

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PT Boat

A small, fast, and maneuverable naval vessel used in the Pacific Theater during World War II, known for its speed and agility in combat.

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LCVP

A type of landing craft widely used during World War II, designed to transport troops and vehicles from ships to shore.

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Amphibious Warfare

A military strategy that combines naval and land forces, primarily involving landing operations on enemy shores using landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

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Camouflage Pattern

A strategic pattern of colors and shapes applied to military vehicles and ships to make it difficult for the enemy to detect them.

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Higgins Boats

A type of amphibious landing craft designed by Andrew J. Higgins during World War II, known for efficiently transporting troops and equipment from ships to shore.

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Amphibious Operations

Military operations that involve landing troops and equipment from watercraft onto a shore.

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Andrew J. Higgins

An entrepreneur who founded Higgins Industries and designed the famous Higgins boats.

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Landing Craft

A type of boat designed specifically for landing troops and equipment on shore.

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World War II Significance

Higgins boats played a crucial role in many Allied amphibious landings in Europe and the Pacific during World War II, significantly impacting the course of the war.

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Large Government Contracts

Due to the effectiveness of Higgins boats, his company received massive government contracts, contributing to his company's rapid expansion.

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Eureka Landing Craft

An early design by Higgins, a 36-foot landing craft that evolved into the later LCPL landing craft used extensively during World War II.

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World War II Amphibious Operations

Military operations that involved landing on enemy-held beaches, typically with the use of landing craft, to gain a foothold on land.

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Study Notes

Early Torpedo Use

  • Earliest known torpedo use: 1585 by the Dutch. A ship packed with explosives.
  • Torpedoes descended from mines.
  • American Revolution: Kegs of gunpowder used as a primitive torpedo during the Battle of the Kegs (1778).
  • First American torpedo use: 1775. David Bushnell invented a submarine and a gunpowder-filled mine to be attached to ships. His attempts were unsuccessful.
  • Robert Fulton's improved version: He developed floating mines that could be anchored to the ocean floor and maintained place in the water. This version was more effective.

Torpedo Development

  • 1866: Robert Whitehead designs the first self-propelled torpedo.
  • 1869: US Navy creates a torpedo station at Newport, RI.
  • 1870s: The first successful US Navy torpedo program, designed by Howell, creating a torpedo driven by a flywheel.
  • 1910-1915: Advancements in torpedo detonators allow for explosions from various directions.
  • Post-World War I: Development of the modern torpedo, leading to aircraft-launched and submarine-launched versions, many different types, including a significant improvement in the Mk13 (range of 7000 yards, 30 knots).
  • 1920s and 1940s: Improvements in both submarine and aerial torpedoes. The Mk14 torpedo deployment from submarines was significant during WWII. The mk 15 torpedo was on destroyers and had an 825-pound warhead.
  • 1941: The German submarine U-570 captured. This lead to the development of the electric torpedo.
  • Improved torpedoes: Wakeless and requiring less manufacturing effort. Homing torpedoes (Mk 24, "Fido") were developed which could detect and track their targets. 
  • 1950s: Introduction of rocket-propelled torpedoes (Mk-44, Mk-46) and submarines acquiring nuclear propulsion, necessitating further development of faster torpedoes (Mk-45, which could reach 40 knots).
  • 1970s: The development of the Mk-50 "Barracuda" Designed to counter the Alpha submarine. This torpedo could reach speeds greater than 40 knots.
  • Different types: There were different types designed for different uses, at different times, in different wars.

Civil War Mine Warfare

  • Confederates used mines to counter the Union's larger Navy.
  • Mines were a significant factor in opposing the Union.

Additional Information (Artifacts, Images, etc.)

  • Various documents, artifacts, and images are mentioned in the text.
  • There are numerous images of torpedoes, personnel involved in torpedo operations and the like.
  • There are documents, photos, and images related to the Civil War submarine, the H.L. Hunley, and the sinking of the USS Housatonic.

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Navy's Use of Torpedoes PDF
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Description

Explore the fascinating history of torpedo inventions and deployments, from their origins in the 16th century to advancements made in the early 20th century. Learn about key figures such as Robert Fulton and the evolution of torpedoes during significant historical events.

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