TORPEDOPLANE, an invention combining submarine and aerial warfare which makes possible the discharge of submarine automobile torpedoes from aeroplanes. The automobile torpedo has self-directed power. (See TORPEDOES.) It is ordinarily projected from a tube in the bow of the war vessel by means of compressed air or gunpowder. The torpedo is started toward the enemy ship under the influence of this projecting force.
As the torpedo nears the end of the tube a "starting lever" on the upper surface on the torpedo runs against a projection within the tube admitting the compressed air in the air flask of the tor pedo to the engine. The torpedo engine starts at once and revolves the propellors thus causing the torpedo to advance under its own power.
Other apparatus inside the torpedo (q.v.) causes it to keep on a predetermined course, and also to descend to a predetermined depth.
In 1910 and 1911, Rear-admiral Bradley A. Fiske, U.S.N., ex perimented with the launching of this type of torpedo from an aeroplane in such a way that it would drop into the water and take its course toward the enemy ship. He secured a torpedo in a
fore-and-aft position under the plane, so that when dropped in the water the great forward speed of the aeroplane itself would perform the work which was ordinarily done by the projecting charge.
In releasing and starting the torpedo a simple mechanism is actuated by the aviator. In practice, the distance above the water adopted for dropping, is about 15 feet.
As the torpedoplane was an instrument of warfare wholly new, it was necessary to devise a special method of attack. This method was fully described in the first claim of Admiral Fiske's patent of July 1912.
During the World War the torpedoplane was used successfully by several navies. Since 1921 it has been somewhat extensively developed by the United States as an instrument of warfare. In 1929 about four hundred torpedoplanes had been constructed and equipped by the United States Government.