Torpedoes and Torpedo Warfare / Containing a Complete and Concise Account of the Rise and Progress of Submarine Warfare

by Charles William Sleeman

As it is against these defences that torpedo boats would have to contend, therefore they have been described previous to explaining the mode of conducting a torpedo boat attack.

The first two methods of defence are of course quite impracticable when the attacked vessel is one of a blockading squadron, and it is against such vessels that a torpedo boat attack will generally be used and oftenest be successful.

In the case of a vessel forced to anchor in a harbour which is accessible to the torpedo boats of the enemy, by the application of either of the first two methods, supplemented by guard boats and electric lights, she would undoubtedly be almost impregnable against a torpedo boat attack, even were the boats armed with the fish torpedo, though she would of course not be in that state of readiness which is essential to a man-of-war's efficiency. As a general rule, no man-of-war should anchor unless absolutely necessary in the vicinity of an enemy's ports, and then should retain the power of moving in any direction in the quickest space of time possible, using the electric light and guard boats as a means of protection.

An attack by boats armed with the spar torpedo must always partake of the nature of a forlorn hope, this especially applying to the boats themselves, the crews of which, provided they are supplied with good life belts, would seem to run a far greater risk of a wetting and a prison than of being shot.

Not less than four torpedo boats should compose the attacking force. The crews of the boats, consisting of only those actually required, should fully understand "that the hostile vessel is to be torpedoed," i.e. they are not to give up the attack on the vessel opening fire, nor in the case of one or more of the torpedo boats being sunk, but to remember that one boat is sufficient to effectually carry out the object of the attack, viz. the sinking of the ship.

In making the attack, one boat should be directed on each bow, and one on each quarter, the final rush being as combined as possible. There must not be the slightest hesitation, and each boat must make direct for her point of attack.

The cause of the Russians failing so often in their torpedo boat attacks during the war of '77 may be traced to the absence of anything like a system, and to their giving up the attack directly they supposed themselves discovered.

When using the towing torpedo, two boats only could be used, and they should make the attack, either coming down from ahead, one on each side of the vessel, or coming up from the stern, one on each side of the vessel, or by the boats crossing the bow and stern of the vessel in different directions.

In the case of the fish torpedo the attack must be conducted in a different manner, the object in this case being to get within a certain distance only of the vessel undetected, and from thence send the missile on its deadly course. The distance should not be more than 500 yards; the closer up to 200 yards the better. In connection with such an attack, the torpedo boats might be supported by guard boats, whose particular duty it would be to engage the enemy's guard boats and so leave the torpedo boats free to do their particular work.