TORPEDO NET. A net made of heavy wire rings connected with one another by small steel rings and surrounding a vessel of war below water as a defense against torpedoes. The net is made up in sections about 15 by 20 feet in size, and these sections join to make the total pro tection, which is divided into three parts called the 'main defense,' 'bow defense,' and 'stern de fense.' All except the main defense are frequent ly omitted, and it only can be carried if the vessel is moving slowly, while no nets are of any use if the ship is moving at fair speed. The type of net most in favor is that devised by Mr. Bulli vant, an Englishman in the employ of the Ad miralty. The Bullivant net is made of, wire rings or grommets (see KNOTTING AND SPLICING) Sirs: inches in diameter connected to each other by galvanized steel rings. Each section weighs about 400 pounds and has a heavy piece of chain at the foot to keep it as nearly vertical as possible when the ship is under way or anchored in a current; the sections are joined to each other by stout wire lashings. The upper edge of the
net has small rings sliding on a wire rope, called a jackstay, which is shackled to the outer ends of the booms. Each of the booms is of hollow steel tubing, and is about 30 feet long. The inner end is fitted with a ring which passes through another ring at the upper end of a pivot bolt which works in a lug secured to the ship's side. The outer end is fitted with two topping lifts and two guys. The booms are placed about 45 feet apart. When not in use the booms are swung in alongside and with the net landed on a sort of shelf, or if there is no shelf the net is drawn up snugly and the whole lashed to eye bolts on the ship's side. Torpedo nets are not regarded with favor by many naval officers, as they cannot be used except when at anchor, and many torpedoes are now fitted with net cutters which enable them to get through.