Published Resources Details Journal Article
- Title
- Notes from the South-West: The Whitehead Torpedo
- In
- Engineering
- Imprint
- vol. 26, 29 November 1878, p. 436
- Description
Accession No.2254
- Abstract
'Some trials have recently been carried out at Portsmouth to ascertain the effect of a shot striking the air chamber of a Whitehead torpedo. The first shots were fired from a rifle, but beyond slightly indenting the torpedo no damage was done. The Gatling gun was then used at a range of from 100 to 200 yards, but it did little more injury than the rifle. It was then fired at point blank range, when a shot penetrated the chamber, letting the confined air, which was at a pressure of 1000 lb. per square inch, escape harmlessly.