Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels: 1870 - 1914

The self-propelled or locomotive torpedo was a game-changer in naval warfare, allowing the largest warship to be sunk by a weapon carried by the smallest. The 19th-century Royal Navy was an early adopter of the torpedo and was instrumental in the development of the steam torpedo boat. Britain's most important contribution to torpedo warfare was the invention of the torpedo boat destroyer, or destroyer. This book provides a detailed developmental history of British torpedo craft, from the early experiments to the Coastal Destroyers of the early 20th century. It will be welcomed by naval enthusiasts, modelmakers, and historians.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The self-propelled or locomotive torpedo was undoubtedly the most significant game-changer in the history of naval warfare. For the first time, the largest warship could be sunk by a weapon carried by the smallest, and most navies were quick to recognize the potential. Although the 19th-century Royal Navy had a reputation for technological conservatism, it was an early adopter of the torpedo and played a key role in developing the small, fast craft that became the delivery system of choice, the steam torpedo boat. Britain's most important contribution to torpedo warfare, however, was the invention of its antidote, the torpedo boat destroyer, or destroyer as it came to be called. This oft-told story has overshadowed the earlier but no less significant history of the torpedo boat itself in the Royal Navy, an injustice set to right by this new book.

Torpedoes originated from earlier underwater explosive devices such as mines, spar, and towed torpedoes, and the like, so the first chapter briefly reviews their history before moving on to Robert Whitehead's revolutionary invention that made the self-propelled torpedo a practical weapon. The Admiralty was so impressed that it purchased the rights to Whitehead's device, and thereafter, the Royal Navy made much of the early running in torpedo boat design. In this, they were greatly assisted by existing boatbuilders like Thornycroft and Yarrow, who already specialized in small, fast craft.

The core of this book is a detailed developmental history of British torpedo craft, from the early experiments like Vesuvius and Polyphemus, through the 1st Class TBs to the so-called Coastal Destroyers of the early 20th century. There are also separate chapters on 2nd Class boats, on Torpedo Gunboats, and on the Torpedo Depot Ships Hecla and Vulcan. The book concludes with a comprehensive examination of the impact of the torpedo on naval warfare, including its use in the First World War and the Second World War.

In conclusion, The Self-Propelled or Locomotive Torpedo: A History of British Torpedo Craft is a groundbreaking work that sheds new light on the history of naval warfare and the development of the torpedo boat. It provides a detailed developmental history of British torpedo craft, from the early experiments to the Coastal Destroyers of the early 20th century. The book also examines the impact of the torpedo on naval warfare, including its use in the First and Second World Wars. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of naval warfare and the development of the torpedo boat.

Weight: 1012g
Dimension: 226 x 269 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399022859