An old engraving of a Harvey’s Torpedo. It is from a Victorian book of the 1890s on discoveries and inventions during the 1800s. It was invented Britain in the late 1860s by Frederick Harvey and John Harvey. The torpedo or mine was an improvement on existing designs where it was suspended on a spar over the bow of the ship. The Harvey torpedo involved an explosive charge attached to a line that, using buoys and winches, was projected away from the ship carrying it, making it far less dangerous to detonate. Here the metal torpedo is seen with one of the floats or buoys and the towing rope.
An old engraving of a Harvey’s Torpedo. It is from a Victorian book of the 1890s on discoveries and inventions during the 1800s. The Harvey Torpedo was invented Britain in the late 1860s by Frederick Harvey and his uncle Captain John Harvey. The torpedo or mine was an improvement on existing designs where it was suspended on a spar over the bow of the boat. The Harvey torpedo involved an explosive charge attached to a line that, using buoys, lines and winches, was projected away from the boat that carried it, making it far less dangerous to detonate. Here the metal torpedo is seen with one of the floats or buoys (there were two needed per mine) and the lines of towing rope. After spending more than twenty years trying to gain official recognition for his invention, a Royal Navy order was agreed. However, the government insisted that Harvey Torpedoes were manufactured at their Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The torpedoes went into service briefly in the 1870s.
Size: 3307px × 2332px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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