Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels 1870-1914. By Les Brown. Seaforth Publishing. Barnsley, Yorkshire 2023.
Reviewed by John Mortimer
Along with the rapid development of capital ship technology in the latter half of the 19thcentury, there came the parallel challenge of small, fast ‘mosquito fleets’ of torpedo-armed vessels.
These revolutionary vessels threatened the line-of-battle both at sea and in anchorages. Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels 1870-1914 addresses the early development of this form of naval warfare, culminating in the ‘torpedo boat destroyer’ which, by 1914 became simply the ‘destroyer’.
The book’s initial three chapters backgrounds torpedo development, launching systems and Royal Navy torpedo training establishments. This is followed by an examination of the various types of torpedo vessels built for the Royal Navy and includes: First Class Torpedo Boats TB1-TB79, First Class Torpedo Boats TB80-TB117, The Cricket, Gadfly and Mayflyclasses TB1-TB36, Second Class Torpedo Boats, Torpedo Gunboats, and HMS Hecla and HMS Vulcan.
Appendices provide additional detail on an Experimental Cruise of a Torpedo Flotilla, the Disposition of First-Class Torpedo Boats, Comparative Trials of Second-Class Torpedo Boats, Quick-firing Guns, the Davits of HMS Vulcan, Turbinia, and Aluminium Torpedo Boats.
The text is supported by colour plates of shipbuilders’ drawings comprising numerous ship plans, cutaway views and ship cross sections.
The author draws heavily on the annual reports of HMS Vernon from the late 19th and early 20th century as well as other contemporary papers, such as the Navy and Army Illustrated, the Engineer and Engineering publications.
Of interest to Australian readers is the chapter on development of torpedoes and launching systems which includes details of the torpedo boats Acheron and Avernus, built in Sydney for the New South Wales Government. The discussion covers ship characteristics, plans and photographs, the running of speed trials on Sydney Harbour, watertight subdivision and modification from spar torpedoes to more capable 14-inch torpedoes dropped from cradles.
The chapter on development of torpedoes and launching systems is very detailed and while the book’s coverage extends to 1914 the final discussion concerns the 21-inch triple torpedo tubes. These tubes were not introduced into general service until the flotilla leaders of the Shakespeare class launched in 1917/18. Trials had previously been carried out onboard the ‘V’-class leader, HMS Vampire, later HMAS Vampire.
Australia’s technological contribution is acknowledged in the following terms:
“Cardigan Dann, chief torpedo gunner in the Victorian (Australia) Navy, was paid £500 by the British naval authorities for his torpedo dropping
gear which was invented locally and first used in the Victorian Navy. The dropping gear could hold a torpedo in three positions. The first position was when retracted for travelling to the target. The gear would be extended for firing. There were two extended positions, one for fine weather and one, higher, for rough weather. The dropping gear came in a heavy pattern, which could hold 14in and 15in torpedoes. The light pattern could only hold the 14in torpedoes. Dann applied for a patent for an ‘improved universal torpedo dropping-gear’ on 27 February 1887, and this was granted twelve months later.”
The chapter on HMS Vernon, HMS Defiance, HMS Vesuvius and HMS Polyphemuscomprises a history of the development of the first two establishments and their training functions. The latter two were built as torpedo boats for trials and development purposes. Discussion of the torpedo boats mainly comprises extracts from the Illustrated London News and Engineering, which provide a detailed description of the two torpedo boats. ThePolyphemus is particularly interesting and is described in the following terms:
” The leading features of the Polyphemus are a strong ram bow, a powerful torpedo battery, great speed and handiness, moderate size, and a small extent of surface above water exposed to the enemy’s fire, such portion of the vessel as is above the water line being convex in form, so as to deflect any projectile that may strike it. The appearance she will present when at sea will be that of a cylinder ….4ft 6in above the water line, and will be flattened over a large portion of its area to form a deck.”
With the potential effectiveness of the Whitehead torpedo demonstrated during trials and the Admiralty’s interest in higher speeds, Thornycroft was awarded a contract in 1876 for the first torpedo boat Lightning (later TB1). This evolved into a concept for a larger first-class boat intended for operations from naval bases, and a smaller second-class boat for harbour and inshore work as well as carriage on larger cruisers and battleships. Coverage of the various first- and second-class torpedo boats is very extensive and includes their technical characteristics, design and build evolution, trials, modifications and ship operations. This approach is common across all the ship classes described in detail. The gradual growth in torpedo boat armament and ship size is evident, as is the design evolution towards the development of the torpedo boat destroyer.
The primary purpose of the torpedo gunboat, like that of the torpedo boat destroyer, was defensive – smaller and faster than traditional cruisers, they were intended to protect the fleet from attacks by torpedo boats. They were powerfully armed with guns and carried torpedos as well, so they could also fulfil an offensive role. They were larger and more seaworthy than torpedo boats, but were constructed using conventional techniques and powered by conventional machinery. Hence, they were not able to achieve the speeds of the smaller torpedo boats. Although the Admiralty persisted with the design of these vessels for some years, they were not a great success, primarily because of their lack of speed. Two torpedo gunboats of the Sharpshooter class, HMS Boomerang and HMS Karrakatta were employed on the Australia Station as part of the Royal Navy’s Auxiliary Squadron between 1891 and 1904.
HMS Hecla and Vulcan were officially classified as torpedo depot ships. They were intended to accompany a torpedo flotilla to sea, carrying on their own deck several torpedo boats and their equipment, together with a full complement of stores for mining and countermining. Vulcan was also fitted as a factory or workshop, equipped to carry out repairs to torpedo boats and mines.
Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels 1870-1914 fills an important gap in the available literature on the detailed design and technical development of this type of ship. It also provides insights into the development of weapons, propulsion machinery, radio communications, trials and assessing procedures, and overall ship capability and performance. Importantly, the authors approach of utilising official records, contemporary literature and drawing on his own experience to inform his discussion, leads to a sound analytical approach to the subject. The text is complemented with excellent photos, technical drawings, diagrams and shipbuilders’ drawings.
One of the major lessons from the book is the complex and painstaking process involved in developing an effective system around a new technology weapon and its employment in an effective manner. Development of the torpedo boat involved resolution of a whole range of related issues, including ship strength and sea-keeping, development of suitable propulsion machinery, ship construction materials, suitable weapon launching facilities, radio communications, logistic and training support, etc. In hindsight the gestation period from development of the Whitehead Torpedo, to evolving and developing a capable carriage and launching platform took some 30 to 40 years. The complexities of developing new weapons and integrating them into appropriate platforms remains and is a major reason why the lead times of 30 to 40 years are relatively valid in today’s environment. Lead times are also extended by today’s torturous planning, procurement and phased approval processes which seek to reduce financial and schedule risk by extensive study, development of design, infrastructure, logistic and training infrastructure.
