ANTI-SUBMARINE TORPEDO USED FROM AEROPLANE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 175, 19 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

ANTI-SUBMARINE TORPEDO USED FROM AEROPLANE.

To liable an aircraft effectively to attack ail enemy submarine, a Aew Jersey (U.S. A. J inventor lias developed a rather novel aerial torpedo which will cxpiode at a pre-dotormuied depth beneath the water. It is slenuer and cylindrical in lurui, and provided with a sharp uo.se to ensure its rapid and straight descent beneath the water after it iias been dropped from a a height. The head of tlie bomb is tilled with a high-explosive, while in a compartment at the opposite end are batteries an da detonator. A light cable, several yards in length, is attached to it aad carries a pair of wires connected with the butteries. At the free end of the cable ict a small parachute and immediately beneath it a contact device to which the wires leading from the batteries ato attached. When this strikes the surface of the water it collapses, allowing two metal pieces to come together and close a circuit. This actuates the detonator and in turn causes the bomb to explode. A series of somewhat similar circuit-dosing contrivances is arranged along the length of the cable and lilted with water-tight caps to prevent them from acting except when set to do so. An airman flying at a reasonable height is able to sight an under-water craft and also estimate its approximate depth. By setting one of the cable switches, or by relying upon the device at the parachute, according to the depth at which he wishes the explosion to occur, he drop-: the bomb in the cour-e of the submarine. Vhc resistance of the parachute keep- (be cable practically straight, but does nut interfere with the fall of the tcr|-i|o. s 0 that the explosion lakes |.j ; „.p at (.],<. pro tier depth.---'' Popular .Mechanics.-''