Royal Laboratories 16 inch Torpedo, 1876 (revised)

Animation of 16 inch torpedo, Whitehead design, built by the Royal Laboratories in about 1876.
This is an expanded version of an earlier KZbin video, showing more details of how it worked. The torpedo had a warhead of 117 lbs (52.5 Kg) wet guncotton, a compressed air compound oscillating engine giving a speed of 9 knots and a range of 1,200 yards (1.1 Km). The animation shows the deck launch carriage that was used when HMS SHAH fired a 16 inch torpedo at the Peruvian armoured turret ship Huascar in 1877.
Whitehead's Secret method to keep a torpedo on depth. With the depth piston connected to the rudders, when deeper than set depth the depth rudders angle the nose up. Only when the torpedo reaches set depth are the rudders amidships but the torpedo is still pointing upwards so it continues to go shallow until the depth rudders reverse. The torpedo therefore oscillates between deep and shallow. Whitehead's Secret was to add a Pendulum which works against the depth piston. So the depth piston reacts to the depth error, while the pendulum tries to keep the torpedo level. When deep, the depth piston dominates, so forcing the nose up, but as the torpedo approaches set depth, the Pendulum becomes dominant, and reduces or reverses the depth rudder until both pendulum and depth piston are at their mid/set positions. Nowadays we call this 'negative feedback'.
Animation created using Cinema 4D. Music: 'Light Expanse' by Unicorn Heads
Sources:
The torpedo and launcher models were taken from drawings in ‘The Torpedo Manual for H. M. Fleet, 1881, Volume III Whitehead Torpedoes”, and the depth mechanism (Whitehead’s ‘Secret’) from a hand drawn drawing made by Chief Engineer George Weeks, in 1884.
The Target is the French ship Jauréguiberry (although this ship is about 10 years later than the torpedo, but I had the drawings and it is a beautiful ship)

[@gvii]

These old torpedo systems are absolutely fascinating.

[@dem0nchild610]

Just the pure mechanical engineering behind them is amazing

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

I love all the clever simplicity that went into old things like this. Using the same mechanism to both arm and disarm the torpedo is genius.

[@DAKOTA56777]

The automatic disarm is an interesting feature.

[@kieranmilner4208]

I guess it was to stop civilian ships getting blown up by stray torpedoes or to retrieve em if possible

[@beijing_duck6861]

Pretty insane engineering that went into these early torpedos

[@gilangw595]

i know rite? its crazy that radio wasnt even invented yet

[@KennyT187]

@@gilangw595 Crazy? Controlling electromagnetic radiation is a bit more complicated than basic mechanics :D also the proof of concept for the radio came just two decays after this torpedo was invented

[@gilangw595]

@@KennyT187 I see.. mechanical and electromagnetic technologies seems to have a quite different area of study

[@uwuowo4856]

@@gilangw595 well yea😐

[@dm3on]

Thank you so much for creating and sharing engineering marvels, to me, it is absolutely mind bugling that such systems where designed and build without computer simulations, then I have consciously remind my self, that system was designed, build, and deployed 145 years ago, at this point, I feel just stupid.

[@randomuruguayan]

I'm amazed by the amount of thoughts that was needed to make such a device. It's a self propelled, self arming/disarming, depth maintaining machine, in the 19th century. I can see some early computing thinking in the pressure and arming system by the way it solves a complex task by individual measurements or simple calculations. Look forward for more content like this.

[@logoseven3365]

Great production! Really nice. The changes you are making are seen and appreciated.

[@hailandervalverde4366]

A bunch of clever gears and tubes, victorian mechanisms are so cool

[@brennerheavy]

Unbelievable CAD work, and animation!

[@kilimli8824]

Both the engineering and your efforts in making of this video are amazing, well done thank you

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I had no idea weapons of this level of sophistication were this old. I'm happy I found this channel, your animations are incredible!

[@sikhswim]

Interesting low pressure 2nd piston. Amazing content. Thank you.

[@Crosshair84]

This is known as a "compound engine" or "double expansion engine". They were first used with steam engines to improve efficiency. This particular type is referred to as an "Angle compound". Steam engines eventually went to triple and sometimes quadruple expansion for greater efficiency. In the case of the torpedo here, a double expansion engine would be the ideal mix between efficiency, to get the most out of the compressed air, without being excessively complex.

[@d.cypher2920]

@@Crosshair84 nice. Thanks for the information.

[@stephenbond1990]

Very surprised to see an oscillating piston engine used and a compound expansion one at that, although in hindsight scaling one is a clever solution to the unique problem of powering a torpedo

[@kreterakete]

Hugs from bohemian forest, thank you for your marvelous and beautiful art and work

[@marklatimer7333]

Excellent video again, I hate to think how many hours you spend on these.

[@lyedavide]

Beautifully animated!

[@hrunchtayt1587]

I think that Frenchmen got a jolly good thrashing by that wonderful little device what what!

[@d.cypher2920]

Very cool videos! *appreciate your attention to fine details, and animated sections, which help anyone understand. Thank you.* ☀️😎🇺🇸☀️

[@johnroos5807]

The only thing might be that the enemy might see the torpedo, and may alter the course, but still, what a great leap forward, non the less!:) Semper Fidelis

[@macdjord]

Weird to see a torpedo so old it isn't even, well, _torpedo shaped._

[@s-san4249]

The first ship in history to be sunk by a torpedo was the chilean battleship Blanco Encalada in 1891

[@juanpagg88]

Nice video.

[@darkefoxx]

This is incredible work!

[@dipling.pitzler7650]

Imagine replicating this as a 1:10 scale toy and launching it at Hyde park pond , it would be a menace to all model ships sailing there at the time.

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

Amazing video, liked & subcribed!!

[@marklatimer7333]

So the trim was set by trial & error (multiple test runs) I guess that saved having a gyro. Looks like the most dangerous operation would have been cocking the fuze pistol before getting the safety pin in place.

[@vbbsmyt]

Mark, The striker rod is screwed in after the fuze pistol has been cocked and the safety pin inserted. I would suggest that Removing the safety pin was the most risky operation. The instructions explicitly warn the operators not to remove the pin is ANY resistance is felt.

[@shelbyeleanor2266]

Very interesting video, great work

[@MinecraftGamer3.0]

Very nice! Good job.

[@jakubcesarzdakos5442]

Great video!

[@fwdna2765]

great work!

[@Stannum-Aura]

Very impressive work! I love your Machine gun videos

[@joebfnl1079]

When you get some time later on. Could you please do a video of the Type 93 Long Lance!?!. P.S. excellent job!.

[@juphikie3559]

with all the torpedos you do, it would be nice to see how the ships are made to try and counter the damage done

[@schnizzyfizz7832]

This is a pressurised air tank torpedo from the late 1800s. Similar propulsion to the also late 1800s Whitehead torpedo. Austrian made Whitehead torpedos were used in the Battle of Drøbak during the invasion of Norway in 1940. By the time they were 40 years old, outdated but still effective. Oscarsborg fortress is situated in a narrow part of the Oslo fjord and were armed with 28cm Krupp main canons ,15cm secondary battery cannons and various AA armaments. Whitehead torpedoes were located in a land based torpedo battery on the fortress island with launch tubes going into the fjord. The torpedoes delivered the final death blow to the german heavy cruiser Blücher. Here is the battle with Blücher depicted in the 2016 movie The King's Choice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4uaapxnZq-GpLc The torpedo attack is at the end.

[@BazilRat]

Um. It IS a Whitehead torpedo.

[@isabuckles]

Those claws on the pistol mechanism seem frighteningly sensitive.

[@janczaplinski658]

So you say this would fit into a 16 inch naval gun barrel *narrows eyes*

[@ЯТакой-р8л]

Amazing, as usual.

[@ilike8590]

Were Pre-Dreadnoughts built with any torpedo defense? Based on WW1, it seems like they sunk more easily to them than other battleships.

[@hancehanson4000]

*Wonderful!... truly-Amazing*

[@cipofly]

Un bellissimo lavoro 👍

[@malakiblunt]

excellent

[@rhysmodica2892]

The video said 'depth servo motor'. Where is the interface to the air supply though in order to power it? It shows it looking more like direct connection...which surely wouldn't have enough force move the depth planes?

[@vbbsmyt]

Good point. The drawings do not show that level of detail, but you are right that the depth servo would have to have been powered by the reduced pressure air supply.

[@LuciusQuinctiusCincinnatus111]

Very very good! Hi from Russia!👌👍

[@petebeatminister]

How is that supposed to stay level, with the heavy war head in the front half and the hollow air tank in the rear half? I can't see this working, it will just hang vertically in the water.

[@vbbsmyt]

It worked perfectly in 1876.

[@petebeatminister]

@@vbbsmyt The probably had different water back then.... :)

[@francesconicoletti2547]

Guncotton has a density of .77 g/cm cubed. Water has a density of 1 g/cm cubed. So the stuff floats. It’s produced from cotton or wood things that float. The tanks are pressure tanks, so they need thick steel walls to hold the pressure. I’m pretty sure that metallurgy was not as good in the 19th century as it was today so the walls would be extra thick. So they would be heavy.

[@jjtay4165]

Hey, vbbysmt what videos should everybody expect in the future from you? (Btw is it possible if you can make more videos on artillery (mountain guns,siege artillery,field guns,mortars, etc)

[@vbbsmyt]

I keep my patrons informed of progress on my current projects and discuss future ones. Sometimes they suggest excellent topics for follow-on. I hear what you say regarding artillery, however I am interested in ‘how things work’ so every one of my projects shows a particular ‘iconic’ machine. There has to be something interesting or revolutionary or simply a significant improvement in design. The next requirement is a set of (isometric) drawings. These do not need to have show the actual dimensions. So, No drawings - No animation. A User manual helps. I find it very useful to be able to examine a real example (or if small enough, persuade the owner to let me dismantle it to photograph). So, I would welcome suggestions for future projects BUT you will have to state a particular item, WHY it is interesting / iconic, and WHERE I can find drawings. If no drawings are available, I will ignore the post. I have enough interesting projects lined up to keep me busy for many months.

[@saphyr7868]

is it possible that you will ever do a video on the German G7a torpedo in the future?

[@vbbsmyt]

German G7a torpedoes were very similar to the compressed air RNTF Mk2. They had the same layout, used a 4-cylinder Brotherhood wet-heater engine, and used a gyro and depth regulator with air-driven servos, so I see no value in animating these (even if I had the drawings - which I do not). However, in 1916 Germany started development of electric torpedoes - which would be cheaper to build and more amenable to mass production. An order was placed July 1918 for 2,400 E/7 torpedoes, for delivery starting February 1919. For the Allies, the Armistice came just in time. After the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles expired, the E/7 evolved into the G7e. Now that is a torpedo worthy of animation.. (but of course I would need drawings...)

[@trescatorce9497]

how come this torpedo was more hydrodynamic than the new ones?

[@vbbsmyt]

Is it not more hydrodynamic. In 1884, Edmund Froude, in England, demonstrated that a torpedo with a blunt nose had less resistance than the spindle shape. It also meant that the nose could contain more explosive.

[@trescatorce9497]

@@vbbsmyt point taken, but how come fighter jets have become more and more streamlined? I get the increase in warhead content

[@vbbsmyt]

Basically air and water have different fluid flow properties. Look at the bows of submarines and the bulbous underwater protrusions of modern merchant ship bows rather than aircraft. Futher explanations are way beyond my knowledge.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@trescatorce9497look up supersonic aircraft design. The plane designers have to figure out what to do when the plane is travelling faster than the air around it can move out of the way.

[@trunglechi8513]

Rất hay và bổ ích, cảm ơn bạn nhiều

[@ВиктроКранов]

Magnifised !

[@importantname]

it is a baby ship without a crew that is single use.

[@antar9394]

👍

[@U.F.O.Technology]

Отлично.

[@The7humpwump]

Any recorded sinkings with these?

[@vbbsmyt]

HMS SHAH fired a 16 inch torpedo at the Peruvian armoured turret ship Huascar in 1877. It did not hit.

[@Ciliaris1]

If this is the Whitehead torpedo, then it was used against Blücher april 9th 1940. 2 torpedoes together with 2 shots from 28cm cannon shots and some 150mm and 57mm shells from smaller cannons sank the German heavy cruiser. First torpedo hit near the first gun turret about 3 meters down with not much visible damage. The second torpedo was aimed a bit further back and hit near midships where the 28cm cannons already had made good damage. It turned out to be critical. The distance from the torpedo battery to the ship was about 500 meters, and both of the 40 year old torpedoes worked flawlessly. The last of the torpedo ramps was not fired, and they reloaded the first to after the shooting of Blücher ready for the next ship in line, but the ship turned around and went further back out the Oslo fjord to disembark the troops there. So Old but dangerous never the less. I would say Norway got ther money worth of of these old Austrian Hungarian torpedoes.

[@ltcajh]

I don't get how these are powered? I'd better look it up.

[@thalesnemo2841]

Compressed air used to drive a two cylinder engine driving two counter rotating propellers.

[@Crashed131963]

And 70 years later at the start of ww2 the us torpedoes were 80% duds.

[@chang.stanley]

Why need to disarm?

[@vbbsmyt]

These early torpedos had low speed and very little range, so the expectation was they would be used in harbours and coastal situations against anchored targets. The last thing anyone would want is a torpedo with an armed warhead floating around, so the honourable thing to do is to sink it, and, for good measure, disarm it.

[@Lodimerg]

Superior

[@rcajavus8141]

So its not a Whitehead (Austrian) but British, because it was built by Whitehead designs under licence in Royal Lab?!?!!? Funny way Brits rewrite history

[@vbbsmyt]

Robert Whitehead was a British engineer working in Fiume (Austria) when he developed the first automotive torpedo in 1966. In 1874, the British Government bought the rights to the design with the agreement that any improvements would be shared. One of the most obvious British enhancement was the invention of contra-rotating propellers, which Whitehead’s team adopted. There were a number of other British design changes, so the torpedo built by the Royal Laboratories in 1876 differed from any built by Whitehead’s factory. You should be more critical of the German Schwartzkopff torpedo which (after a complete set of drawings disappeared from Whitehead’s office) seems to be an exact copy of Whitehead’s, apart from the hull being made of phosphor-bronze rather than steel.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@vbbsmyt1866 perhaps ?

[@DickHolman]

Thanks Robert, wonderful animation.

[@TAR3N]

Make a Chaingun and a revolver cannon video. ( not Gatling gun ). Like the 35mm orelikon and the 25mm bushmaster

[@TAR3N]

Can you make one of the 35mm revolver cannon by rheinmetal and the bushmaster 25mm

[@dmanx500]

Amazing work as always.