What were torpedoes used for in ww1?

Torpedoes were widely used in World War I, both against shipping and against submarines. Germany disrupted the supply lines to Britain largely by use of submarine torpedoes, though submarines also extensively used guns. Britain and its allies also used torpedoes throughout the war.

Why do missiles have wires?

As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out behind it (command guidance). This guidance system is most commonly used in anti-tank missiles, where its ability to be used in areas of limited line-of-sight make it useful, while the range limit imposed by the length of the wire is not a serious concern.

How do wire guided torpedoes work?

A wire-guided missile is a missile that is guided by signals sent to it via thin wires connected between the missile and its guidance mechanism, which is located somewhere near the launch site. As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out behind it (command guidance).

How do wire-guided torpedoes work?

What is a torpedo missile?

torpedo, cigar-shaped, self-propelled underwater missile, launched from a submarine, surface vessel, or airplane and designed for exploding upon contact with the hulls of surface vessels and submarines. The modern torpedo was developed by Robert Whitehead, a British engineer.

What happens when a torpedo misses its target?

In World War II, US Navy torpedoes detonated at the end of their range if they hadn’t hit anything. So if a torpedo was fired and went its maximum range (4500y for the Mark 14) without otherwise detonating, it would self-detonate.

Why do torpedoes not sink?

they are actually sinking, rather than floating. Designers make such weapons with carefully ballasted weight so that the device is level and just slightly heavier than neutrally buoyant. This makes then use slight upwards fins when driving forward. Not too light so they don’t breach the surface.

What are some examples of wire-guided missiles?

Some torpedoes can be wire-guided, such as the U.S. Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedo, Russian UGST torpedo, or the Swedish Torped 613, which is guided by an insulated wire. This is a timeline of notable early wire-guided missiles.

How do missile guidance systems work?

As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out behind it (command guidance). This guidance system is most commonly used in anti-tank missiles, where its ability to be used in areas of limited line-of-sight make it useful, while the range limit imposed by the length of the wire is not a serious concern.

When was the first guided missile invented?

At the same time inventors were working on building a guided torpedo. Prototypes were built by John Ericsson, John Louis Lay, and Victor von Scheliha, but the first practical guided missile was patented by Louis Brennan, an emigre to Australia, in 1877.

Which German guided air-delivered ordnance uses radio guidance?

The pair of deployed German guided air-delivered ordnance designs, the Fritz X and Henschel Hs 293, both used the Kehl-Straßburg radio guidance system for control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnWq6iJDmWA