Published Resources Details Journal Article
- Title
- French torpedo-boat experiments
- In
- The Engineer
- Imprint
- vol. 61, 12 March 1886, p. 213
- Description
Accession No.125
- Abstract
The French Minister of Marine, Admiral Aube, devised a series of experiments in order to prove the importance of the role played by torpedo boats in marine warfare. Six torpedoes were launched from two stationary torpedo boats at the Amiral Duperre whilst it was travelling at 14 to 14.5 knots. All of the torpedoes hit their target and exploded. In a second experiment the Amiral Duperre was attacked by a torpedo boat travelling at 9 knots giving a combined speed of about 23 knots, a single torpedo launched at the ironclad from a distance of 500 yards struck the Amiral Duperre 11 metres behind the spur and exploded. The experiment was repeated with the torpedo boat travelling at a speed of 12 knots, no change in the direction of the torpedo was observed when it entered the bow wave made by the ironclad travelling at full speed.