Howell Torpedo 1896 (Revised)

www.patreon.com/vbbsmyt. A revised version of an animation of the Howell 14.2 inch torpedo from 1896. This torpedo uses a heavy flywheel as its motive power, and for a time was considered an alternative to the Whitehead torpedo. The flywheel had to be spun up to 10,000 rpm by an external engine (Barker mill) before launching. The Howell had excellent directional stability and left no visible trail of bubbles, but had limited range (500 yards at 26 knots, carring a warhead of 128 pounds) (30 mph, 47.5 km/h, approx 500m and 58 kg). It was phased out of use in 1907. This model uses the drawings from the U.S. Navy's Manual on the Howell Torpedo 14.2 inch Mark I, 1896. My earlier version of this animation will shortly be deleted. Animation created using Cinema 4D. Music credits are shown at the end of the movie.

[@bdietz2]

The demo showing how the gyroscope steers the torpedo is especially good - first you show a tabletop gyro and then the same gyro surrounded by a cardboard cutout of the torpedo. What a great educational approach. Nicely done, congratulations.

[@blanchjoe1481]

One of the most sophisticated analog guidance systems possible for the period, a staggering piece of engineering design work.

[@mrOL100]

it is terrible to imagine how much one shot cost and in General the complexity of making a torpedo

[@SOS-ds8gq]

@@mrOL100 It's cheap by comparison

[@ArcanisUrriah]

@@mrOL100 Cheap compared to a battleship.......

[@haroldkline4898]

Agreed! I study mechanical engineering and it's sad that the most cutting edge tech is almost always employed in killing each other. This completely mechanical device is a marvel for the nineteenth century! Hard to believe that the Civil War had ended just a couple decades prior to this being thought up.

[@ethericboy]

@@haroldkline4898 A sad fact that most of the technology comes out of war and space tech since astronomical sums are spent on it;humans are very creative in inventing ever more advanced gadgets to more effectively kill their fellow humans

[@Kanhow]

Imagine being asked to build a torpedo without a single electric wire or hydraulic line.

[@khlailalshmary3843]

From where the move came

[@bob2161]

@@khlailalshmary3843 the spinning flywheel provided the energy, as well as the primary stability.

[@squidlybytes]

@@khlailalshmary3843 A steam engine onboard the launching vessel spun up the main flywheel before launch.

[@user-ro9zf9kz1h]

@@bob2161 It only have a range around 450 meter, but it does not leave a bubble column behind the torpedo.

[@bob2161]

@@user-ro9zf9kz1h True. However, at such a limited range, even with no bubbles, I would think the vessel launching the weapon is still at high risk of being detected. I guess I hadn't realized just how limited the weapons range was. Even so, it is hard to not admire the concept itself, and the engineering required to develop it into an operational weapon. Given the specified requirements and the technical limitations of the times, it was still an impressive feat.

[@charleshultquist9233]

I know enough about computer animation to appreciate how much work went into this. Kudos!!

[@vbbsmyt]

Thank you. Have you seen my other animations on my 'vbbsmyt' channel? Rob

[@gymntonic]

The technology used in the Victorian Era is amazing. Easy to understand how Steampunk grew out this.

[@Mima_the_vengeful_spirit]

pure mechanic and yet it's effective.

[@okokololol2128]

@@Mima_the_vengeful_spirit pp00ppppp0ppppppppppp0pp0ppppppppp

[@okokololol2128]

@@Mima_the_vengeful_spirit 0pppppp0ppppppp0p0p0pppppppppppp0ppp0ppp0p

[@FOX11GUY]

Technology? This is witchcraft!

[@oldschoolfoil2365]

Im building a replica in my backyard as this animation gives me all the technical measurements i require

[@plugs313]

Never realized that this would run only on the inertia of a spun up flywheel.

[@DaDaDo661]

500 yards under water is quite a distance. Amazing

[@Aereto]

@@DaDaDo661 Short range, but still great to use in coastal defense, as nobody has detection countermeasures besides their pair of eyes. And there is a lot less materials that self-degrade overtime. Clockwork tech remains functional so long as the parts don't physically fail or rust. The explosive components may degrade depending on material.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

It's the large mass of the flywheel (130 lbs.) and high revolutions (10,000 to 12,000 rpm.) that creates the stored energy.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

@@DaDaDo661 one was reported to have run true and at a high and constant speed for 900 yards during testing.

[@brycerichert]

Sorry boss, I can’t launch, my work of art is just too beautiful.

[@LeDibeau]

still the best outstanding technical animations on the Web. Thank you very much!

[@vbbsmyt]

Thank you. Rob

[@benrobertson7855]

I totally agree. Just my best wishes.i care for a ultimate sailboat from this period, and the wood ,bronze ,copper.lead and gold skills

[@benrobertson7855]

Used in the construction are on this level. Just refined over centuries. Now almost lost.or dubbed down to a base skill.thanks .

[@bob2161]

Your animation is fantastic! Much respect for your skills. This torpedo design is remarkable for how it was given all of these functions, purely through mechanical means. It is as much a work of art as it is a machine. The engineering knowledge and machining skills required to design and build this torpedo is staggering. Even with 3D modeling, this would be difficult, and quite expensive, to reproduce today. And to think, it was all powered by a spinning flywheel. How revolutionary.

[@sikhswim]

it's truly amazing to see the ingenuity of the engineers at the time given what they had. I feel like they were a lot more capable than most engineers now.

[@EvitoCruor]

They had a better education system and higher standards for entry so it shouldn't come as that big of a suprise. Most college graduates couldn't pass an old entry exam when they graduate.

[@tobiaslang3621]

@@EvitoCruor And that's just total bullshit, what you're talking

[@Humbulla93]

@@EvitoCruor i saw teslas school certificate when he went to uni in graz and just the subjects broke my head, although here in germany especially bavaria we have challenging subjects, but nowhere as hard as they had it 100 years before

[@awesomefan86]

@@EvitoCruor Das hat damit doch gar nichts zu tun. Zu der Zeit war selbst eine Glühlampe Hightech. Schon mal eine rein mechanische Uhr gesehen und wie Komplex diese ist? Dieses Wissen hat sich über Jahrhunderte Entwickelt und war auch gut bekannt, es hat nichts mit dem Bildungssystem von damals oder Heute zu tun. Selbst die "einfachen" Verschlussregister von 100-120 Jahre alten Stellwerken (die es heute noch zahlreich in Deutschland gibt) sehen für einen Laien sehr eindrucksvoll aus. Übrigens, der Ottomotor kommt auch aus dieser Zeit und ist auch heute noch mechanisch komplex und hat sich nicht wesentlich zu damals verändert.

[@RyanBLKST]

I would like to see how those ancient enginner would do in front of excel...

[@51WCDodge]

Thank you for simple clear explanations of complex machinery and concepts.

[@Desmaad]

Surprisingly sophisticated for the late 19th Century. I like how the flywheel doubles as both power source and gyroscopic stabilizer!

[@VliegerNL]

Your animations are pure marvels. I never expected to be so captivated by the almost watch-like and ingenious mechanics of a torpedo! Thank you creating these beautiful visual explanations.

[@Aereto]

Clockwork-driven impact torpedo. Imagine if they discovered magnetic detonators at that time...

[@colbeausabre8842]

Imagine if they discovered magnetic detonators at that time... Then, they'd never blow up. "During World War II, magnetic pistols often exploded prematurely or not at all. The reason was that magnetic lines are more horizontal close to the equator than towards the poles. For example, the US Mark 6 magnetic pistol was designed and tested only once at 41° latitude (60° geomagnetic latitude) at Narragansett Bay, but was primarily used in equatorial latitudes. At the equator, the signal strength to the Mark 6 magnetic pistol was only about half that of where the Mark 6 was tested. Moreover, relative velocity (i.e. when a torpedo is fired from behind or in front of a ship) would additionally change the abruptness of the magnetic signal, resulting in the magnetic pistol being triggered prematurely or not at all."

[@Ruslyak]

Very high quality video, thanks for your work, and good luck!:)

[@patnolen8072]

The US Navy Undersea Museum in Keyport WA has a Howell torpedo. I was very impressed by the metalworking craftsmanship.

[@903strikerunit]

How much brass do you want? This torp: YES!!

[@manuelespanol4560]

Amazing engineering of the time. Thank you

[@PaperThinArmor]

With all the complex parts intricately built into these weapons and ordinances it is amazing you can animate and explain their functions so accurately.

[@bob2161]

I've watched two of your animations. Great stuff! Now I've got to watch the rest of your work. Thanks for posting such fascinating and interesting content.

[@klausoliveira3932]

Now I can build my own.

[@jorgeneo560]

and trowit into the sewer and wait to see who is the lucky one that get ass blowed up

[@vking4784]

You still dont know the chemistry involved into the explosives :)

[@klausoliveira3932]

@@vking4784 Says who?

[@vking4784]

@@klausoliveira3932 FBI WANTS TO KNOW YOUR LOCATION

[@emptyplanet]

You can try 3D printing 😜

[@deltavee2]

Jumped over based on Othiais' many recommendation and the quality of the work you do for C&Rsenal. This is mindbogglingly good work. Subscribed in the first 30 seconds.

[@AlanHowellphotovideo]

Amazing design for that time period. Thanks for posting!

[@rohitkumar-wx2uo]

Rob How intense work u have done to explain the coplexity with such excellent animation. U have become my favorite tech animator. I appreciate that eras engineers as well.

[@harpagon2]

I love your videos that show in technical detail the thoughts of engineers and military that we would never know about. Please do more!

[@graham2631]

Ingenious design it took a few views for me to rap my head around it. I can just picture a old grey haired guy on a lake with his grandkids testing his prototype.

[@zendher]

Impressive!! All mechanic, without any computer, GPS and elethronics.

[@chiron13]

Great content, especially the animation. Matching music too.

[@Dirtbug473]

Im a welder, fabricator. I came accross the story of this torpedo few years sho...absolutely stunning what they accomplished. I almost didnt believe it.

[@ethanspaziani5269]

In this modern-day of Technology we need to start looking back at what we could have done over a hundred years ago you never know what Solutions you might find from then that could fix a problem now more reliably and easily it's astonishing the ingenious work that went into things like this

[@victor-oc9fl]

Such beautiful system, the blade pitch increase when the flywheel speed decrease, and the deepth control system are incredible smart, using the excentric to push the control surfaces with the stairs looking piece. the people who made it where wise and intelligent thats for sure.

[@McDylanNuggets]

I thought when it started o wouldn't get how it all works, but this explained it so well!

[@Thesamjam5]

It's truly a revolutionary marvel of warfare the amount of technology and thought between engineering and science put into this, even with limited resource of the past theys till made something of a marvelous wonder, it would be an amazing thing to see what a true universe of Steampunk to Cyberpunk would be like if technology like this occurred a century before

[@earthq1077]

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen on KZbin. Edit: I forgot to mention about the genius design of the torpedo.

[@sebbes333]

3:23 I love the gyroscopic navigation explanation! :o :D

[@motolabru]

Спасибо!. Отличная работа.

[@slowneutron6163]

I always wanted to know how one of these things work. And now that I do, I find myself stoned and quite hungry.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

Fun Trivia: In 2013, over 110 years after the Howell torpedo was no longer used by the U.S. Navy, trained U.S. Navy dolphins located a Howell torpedo (broken into two parts) near Coronado, CA. (vicinity of the U.S. Navy's largest West Coast Naval Base). The only other two examples of the Howell torpedo are located at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington (State), and the Naval War College museum in Newport, Rhode Island. If you're LUCKY enough to be near one, it's definitely worth the visit.

[@rhysmodica2892]

That demo of the steering is almost like analog to digital. You can't be proportional all the way, but you can use small stepped intervals like you see here. It's almost like they had it before computers even came out. In fact, the pulses or clock 'ticks' it makes is kinda like pulse width modulation such that rather than keep the entire depth plane down until level, it pulses so that the effect is smaller.

[@SamDru]

Now I'm going to make one for myself

[@bagoistvan3182]

Fascinating ! Always wanted to know more about the Howell design. Sad fact that the propulsion principle was never perfected further. I think that pearing the flywheel with an electric motor would be an interesting proposition. Intial start with steam - the flywheel momentum sustained by the electric motor . Also it would required a smaller battery pack versus if you use pure electric drive. The warhead could easily be double in size .Interesting.

[@advorak8529]

If you keep the flywheel spinning at the same speed using an electric motor, you do put in all the energy needed to run the torpedo ... and then you might as well remove the flywheel and use the space and mass for more explosives or more batteries. If you run down the flywheel, just slower, all you add is the power inherent in the flywheel, again sacrificing a larger warhead or space for batteries --- and you will find that batteries have a better power to weight and space to weight ratio, especially in something as small as a 14.4" torpedo ... a larger flywheel inherently stores a lot more power. Also, spinning the flywheel up to 10k RPM needs a power source, like steam --- not a great idea in submarines --- and the flywheel made a hell of a racket, too. Then comes the extra complexity with the added flywheel and mechanism ... more stuff to break, more stuff to maintain. And it is only useful when you have trainable torpedo launcher platforms, because it will not make a turn to the final course after leaving the torpedo tube. Which precludes submarines from operating it.

[@johnmyviews3761]

The cost and amount of resources used to develop these engineering marvels would huge

[@jdl2444]

I remember working on these, I just thank god they were a relatively simple system.

[@vbbsmyt]

The Howell flywheel driven torpedoes were retired by 1900, either you are referring to 'torpedoes' in general or my congratulations on living past 120 years.

[@dcolb121]

This is the most fascinating one yet.

[@coleparker]

What is interesting is that they found one of these still intact off the California Coast just north of San Diego about a 1 year ago. It was being shipped to Mare Island for testing. It was found by dolphins used by the Navy to locate torpedoes and missiles.

[@colbeausabre8842]

Cole Parker, Actually they found the halves of one that broke apart - maybe on impacting its target (as a practice round it wouldn't have a live warhead so no boom)

[@coleparker]

@@colbeausabre8842 Really? I thought they found the whole thing. Thanks for the info.

[@Roybasset]

This is my new favourite channel on youtube. My respects sir.

[@md.tanwir9108]

In those days Mechanical engineering was so advance, wondering what about today.

[@ethanspaziani5269]

Sadly in many ways mechanical engineering has regressed as technology has moved in to fill the areas with cheaper alternative Solutions this is my conclusion and it has left me unsatisfied with the way today's machines work I like computers don't get me wrong but some things were done right back then and should still be done right today

[@KarriKoivusalo]

Where's mechanical engineering at today? Regular hard drive disk head mechanisms. Mechanical precision down to trackings few hundred nanometer wide tracks, mass produced and costing so little that memory chips have hard time keeping up with byte per buck ratio.

[@lightningslim]

A steampunk torpedo! 🧐🎩👍

[@Willy_Tepes]

Can you do the same kind of video on the V-1 rocket guidance system?

[@blockstacker5614]

nazi space magic

[@Willy_Tepes]

@@blockstacker5614 The guidance system ran off compressed air. Magic indeed.

[@anthrazite]

@@Willy_Tepes Wasn't it a compass header?

[@Willy_Tepes]

@@anthrazite I saw some technical drawings of it years ago in a AGARD publication and it was quite ingenious and totally mechanical. The gyro was amazing.

[@harryzampetakis7279]

Excellent presentation!👍😃

[@lonecyclist22]

Now i understand .. torpedo is powered up by winding the flywheel . Very educational 👍👍

[@launch4]

Absolutely magnificent work, to all involved (video and weapon).

[@puchaipoisonheart2153]

Every one got unique talent n that unique is wow.👍

[@sebbes333]

*@vbbsmyt* (or anyone else) 5:55 What are those "hollow"(?) tubes across the torpedo in front of the flywheel? What's their purpose?

[@conservativemike3768]

Officially, the heavy AF torpedo.

[@mr.pebblestheii6495]

This video deserves more likes

[@khameeleeon]

That's a serious piece of machinery.

[@SamDru]

The times before the servo and stepper motors invented

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

Torpedoes is a true marvel of engineering.

[@logoseven3365]

Great video.

[@brettb.7425]

Amazing engineering! It’s sad all that would be destroyed upon detonation.

[@wypkewypkema6306]

War always uses the best technology

[@BHARGAV_GAJJAR]

Love the music !

[@blockstacker5614]

A scaled down version would make a helluva neat pool toy

[@oldschoolfoil2365]

Love the realistic pants pooping explosions at the end of you uploads. Nice XD

[@AMAN2150]

Meisterwerke der Technik.

[@maravillavexanderphilipm.5014]

Similar to the whitehead torpedo that sank Blucher the flagship of german army in ww2 during the invation of norway and it work pretty good

[@CJB-]

cell phones are bullshit compared with this, the year of 1896 rocked

[@frankyepiz1473]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@vbbsmyt]

Glad you liked it. Have you seen my other animations on my 'vbbsmyt' channel? Rob

[@superpussycat6648]

Wow,what a complex engineering just to blast somebody.

[@crazyivan030983]

Wow that is amazing...

[@michalisn.115]

Well explained ,outstanding renderings , congrats to creator !

[@gloomiehoodie]

Fascinating!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!

[@AKAtheA]

mechanical PWM for the controls...that is awesome

[@RaeSyngKane]

Incredible

[@Shepard_AU]

It's just mind boggling to think that they only had pen and paper to come up with something like this.

[@advorak8529]

Slide rule. Also, Abacus. And computers (humans doing mathematical calculations, see "Hidden Figures" for how they were still used for the Mercury program).

[@atfyoutubedivision955]

I kinda wish this had gone somewhere.

[@leeyangproductions4119]

Wow... very good...

[@ExtremumGame]

Nie sądziłem, że torpedy były wykonywane tak wcześnie i do tego są tak skomplikowane.

[@user-rv6sh8ej4o]

Ciekawe, ile mogło kosztować takie urządzenie i jak często trafiało do celu

[@billwilson7841]

Ive been looking forward to this

[@demos113]

Such beautiful work. :-)

[@vbbsmyt]

Thank you, Rob

[@ricardoleyton4913]

Una maravilla de ingeneria..que se destruye en pocos minutos..

[@allrounder0095]

Wow , these every thing happen without any electronics and battery.

[@1Modeus]

Great 3D!

[@nasimsk5832]

Nice model

[@manuelespanol4560]

I think something interesting would be the Ager single barrel machine gun used in the American Civil War. Thank you

[@vbbsmyt]

As always, I need drawings. If you know of a good set, please let me know. R

[@whydahell3816]

Excellent work! I'm sure that took some hours to put together!

[@Koo_pootra]

How can anyone dislike this?

[@kutamsterdam]

Did this incredibly complicated piece of machinery actually work??!.😶

[@tabaciberez6502]

Yes: quite well in fact. The Whitehead beat it out because they figured out how to make the internal engine better than the flywheel driving engine, so the decision was made to load torpedoes in batteries to fire instead of storing multiple torpedoes for one launcher.

[@joealtmaier9271]

Also the Howell couldn't be fired below the water line, and ships were designed to do that. The Howell fell out of favor as few ships could equip one. Even though the Howell had a larger range and better accuracy.

[@nobeltnium]

@@tabaciberez6502 can you share some info about internal engine torpedo? sounds interesting

[@tabaciberez6502]

@@nobeltnium Internal engine torpedoes would be models like the Bliss-Levant or Whitehead models. They worked by having a piston or turbine engine as the working mechanism for power generated by compressed air initially, which steadily became more advanced as kerosene engines and wet heater systems were developed to increase engine power per pound. Electric-driven torpedoes would also count for this I suppose; although those are about as complicated as mud. Take battery, hook to motor, put propeller on end, done.

[@vbbsmyt]

To add to Matthew's post, have you seen my animation of an early (1876) Whitehead-type torpedo? kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5e6pHt5n5yEgLc. I have also started an animation of a Bliss-Leavitt Mk 7 torpedo, but these damn machine guns keep getting in the way. Rob

[@hotrodmercury3941]

Purely mechanical. Wow...

[@gizmophoto3577]

I have a copy of a Harper’s Magazine from the 1870s that has an article on “Torpedoes and Torpedo Boats” which includes a description of a wire-guided torpedo concept.

[@vbbsmyt]

Yes, there were a number of inventors trying to develop a torpedo in the years following Whitehead's invention. John Louis Lay developed a semi-submersible torpedo powered by a carbonic engine (no information) and steered by laying out a trailing electrical cable. This large torpedo did (occasionally) work during demonstrations and Lay sold a few to Russia, 2 to the US Navy and some to Peru. The only offensive use was by Peru when the Huascar launched a Lay torpedo at the Chilian corvette Abtao. Unfortunately the electrical controls shorted out and the torpedo turned around and headed back towards Huascar (at about 9 knots). One man jumped overboard and pushed the torpedo off course at the last moment. There were some good ideas in the Lay torpedo, but the technology to make it work just did not exist at the time. It was also about 7 times the cost of a Whitehead.

[@gizmophoto3577]

@@vbbsmyt Thanks for that information. I don't have the article in front of me, but I believe it was describing Lay's design.

[@darkshadowsx5949]

its a shame this amazing contraptions sole purpose is to blow up destroying itself in the process.

[@hyphen2612]

Well, if it took out a battleship, then it's all worth it! Considering how much a ship costed for the enemy.

[@ChrisVTitus]

Think of torpedoes of the modern era. Much more complex.

[@yvc9]

I love how cyberpunk that thing looks.

[@shailashelu8075]

Outstanding!

[@troidesproject9631]

For today era, it is still complicated.

[@emmanuelquerol]

i agree

[@TheWonderman1964]

Fantastic.

[@alamnaboss1404]

Captain should we fire torpedoes ate the enemy ship? Captain: nah.. that shit's expensive, use the cannons

[@miaoyu2238]

纯机械的，简直就是艺术品

[@freedomloverusa3030]

Hey, GREAT VIDEO, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dcolb121]

Who does a thumbs down on this kind of stuff?

[@Galihdutasuseno]

Mostly genius mechanism sir

[@Hooty52]

I Think this is the type of torpedo that the US Navy Dolphin found off California a few years ago. Lost from the USS Iowa (the First one) it was on training maneuvers in 1900?