Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels

1870 - 1914

Royal Navy Torpedo Vessels
Les Brown
RRP:
NZ$ 123.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 99.19
Hardback
h260 x 216mm - 200pg
30 Jan 2023 UK
Eta 3-5 days from NZ Market Release
9781399022859
Out Of Stock
- Preorder Title for delivery after release -
Quantity:
 
 
The self-propelled or locomotive torpedo was probably the greatest game-changer in the history of naval warfare. For the first time the largest warship could be sunk by a weapon carried by the smallest, and most navies were quick to see the potential. Although the 19th-century Royal Navy had a reputation for technological conservatism, it was an ' early adopter' of the torpedo and was instrumental in the development of the small fast craft that became the delivery system of choice, the steam torpedo boat. Britain' s most important contribution to torpedo warfare, however, was the invention of its antidote, the torpedo boat destroyer, or ' destroyer' as it came to be called. This often-told story has overshadowed the earlier but no less significant history of the torpedo boat itself in the Royal Navy, an injustice set to right by this new book. Torpedoes were derived from earlier underwater explosive devices mines, spar and towed torpedoes, and the like so the first chapter briefly reviews their history before moving on to Robert Whitehead' s revolutionary invention that made the self-propelled torpedo a practical weapon. The Admiralty was so impressed it purchased the rights to Whitehead' s device, and thereafter the Royal Navy made much of the early running in torpedo boat design. In this they were greatly assisted by existing boatbuilders like Thornycroft and Yarrow who already specialised in small fast craft. The core of this book is a detailed developmental history of British torpedo craft, from the early experiments like Vesuvius and Polyphemus, through the 1st Class TBs to the so-called Coastal Destroyers of the early 20th century. There are also separate chapters on 2nd Class boats, on Torpedo Gunboats and on the ' Torpedo Depot Ships' Hecla and Vulcan. The book concludes with a number of appendices devoted to background issues like quick-firing guns and reports on performance of the boats in various circumstances. As it fills a surprising gap in the technical history of British warships, this book will be welcomed by naval enthusiasts, modelmakers and historians. AUTHOR: Les Brown spent his working life at the specialist warship builder Vosper Thornycroft so is particularly well-equipped to write this book. In addition, he is a leading light in the Small Warships Group of the IPMS and the editor of their newsletter. He is the author of a number of titles in the ShipCraft series, and also wrote the volume on Black Swan Class Sloops in Seaforth' s ' Original Builders' Plans' series. 8 page colour, 200 b/w illustrations
LES BROWN spent his working life at the specialist warship builder Vosper Thornycroft so is particularly well-equipped to write this book. In addition, he is a leading light in the Small Warships Group of the IPMS and the editor of their newsletter. He is the author of a number of titles in the ShipCraft series, and also wrote the volume on Black Swan Class Sloops in Seaforth' s Original Builders' Plans' series.

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information