Improvements in and relating to the above-water torpedo armament of surface war-ships

摘要

388,368. Launching torpedoes. CHAMPNESS, E. L., Dilston House, Corbridge, Northumberland. July 21, 1931, No. 20837. [Class 9 (ii).] Torpedo carriers movable athwartship are provided on the deck of a surface ship to load one or more torpedo tubes thereon. As shown, the carriers c, Fig. 1, each comprise semicircular rings c1, Figs. 2 and 3, connected by rods c2 and axles h fitted with wheels h1 running on rails d1 on a frame j mounted on the deck. These carriers can be moved by a strop and wire led around fairleads v, and when a carrier is brought to the loading position in line with the torpedo tube, it rests on a bogie e fitted with rails d2 in line with the rails d, which truck e is itself provided with wheels q1 running on rails f in the fore and aft direction on a frame r on the deck. The bogie e can be hauled by a wire from a winch w to load the torpedo into the tube. Two tubes a1, a2 are shown separately mounted so as to be turned fore and aft for loading and athwart for launching and for each tube there is a set of three carriers c and a davit g for embarking the torpedoes. This loading apparatus may be enclosed by steel screens s and canvas screens t, and may be covered by a platform. The bogies e may be replaced by overhead loading rails. The two tubes may be rotatably mounted together pointing in opposite directions.