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| A '''spar torpedo''' is a ] consisting of a ] placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a ]. The weapon is used by running the end of the spar into the enemy ship. Spar torpedoes were often equipped with a barbed spear at the end, so it would stick to ]en ]s. A ] could then be used to detonate it. | A '''spar torpedo''' is a ] consisting of a ] placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a ]. The weapon is used by running the end of the spar into the enemy ship. Spar torpedoes were often equipped with a barbed spear at the end, so it would stick to ]en ]s. A ] could then be used to detonate it. | ||
| The spar torpedo was invented during the ] by ], a private engineer who worked on secret projects for the benefit of the ]. (Singer was the nephew of ], inventor of the sewing machine.) Singer's torpedo was detonated by means of a trigger mechanism adapted from a rifle lock (see ] for a similar device). The spring-loaded trigger was detonated by means of a long cord attached to the attacking vessel. The attacking vessel rammed its target, embedding the barbed torpedo in its hull, then backed off. When the attacker reached the limit of the trigger cord, the torpedo was detonated. | The spar torpedo was invented during the ] by ], a private engineer who worked on secret projects for the benefit of the ]. (Singer was the nephew of ], inventor of the sewing machine.) Singer's torpedo was detonated by means of a trigger mechanism adapted from a rifle lock (see ] for a similar device). The spring-loaded trigger was detonated by means of a long cord attached to the attacking vessel. The attacking vessel rammed its target, embedding the barbed torpedo in its hull, then backed off. When the attacker reached the limit of the trigger cord, the torpedo was detonated. | ||
| The most famous use of a spar torpedo was on the ] submarine ], which managed to sink the Union screw sloop ] in 1864, although the ] was lost. Spar torpedoes were also used on the ]-class of semi-submersible attack boats. | The most famous use of a spar torpedo was on the ] submarine ], which managed to sink the Union screw sloop ] in 1864, although the ] was lost. Spar torpedoes were also used on the ]-class of semi-submersible attack boats. | ||
Revision as of 20:39, 8 February 2006
A spar torpedo is a weapon consisting of a bomb placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a boat. The weapon is used by running the end of the spar into the enemy ship. Spar torpedoes were often equipped with a barbed spear at the end, so it would stick to wooden hulls. A fuze could then be used to detonate it.
The spar torpedo was invented during the American Civil War by E.C. Singer, a private engineer who worked on secret projects for the benefit of the Confederate States of America. (Singer was the nephew of Isaac Singer, inventor of the sewing machine.) Singer's torpedo was detonated by means of a trigger mechanism adapted from a rifle lock (see flintlock mechanism for a similar device). The spring-loaded trigger was detonated by means of a long cord attached to the attacking vessel. The attacking vessel rammed its target, embedding the barbed torpedo in its hull, then backed off. When the attacker reached the limit of the trigger cord, the torpedo was detonated.
The most famous use of a spar torpedo was on the Confederate submarine Hunley, which managed to sink the Union screw sloop USS Housatonic in 1864, although the Hunley was lost. Spar torpedoes were also used on the David-class of semi-submersible attack boats.
On October 27, 1864, Lieutenant Cushing employed a spar torpedo to sink the Confederate armor-clad ram Albemarle. Because the Confederate navy was tiny, the sinking of the Albemarle was the Union navy's only successful sinking of a Confederate vessel by torpedo. Lieutenant Cushing employed a spar torpedo designed by John Lay.
Spar torpedoes were also used on small wooden launches in the late 19th century, although they were not very useful weapons. The locomotive torpedo (what we think of today as a torpedo) replaced the spar torpedo as a weapon for submarines and small boats in the 1870s.
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