spar torpedo

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 463 words | Copyright

spar torpedo, an explosive charge, exploded by a contact pistol, fixed to the end of a long pole and carried over the bows of a small vessel for use against an enemy ship. They were developed during the American Civil War (1861–5) and the most notable example of their use was the sinking of the Confederate ram Albemarle on 27 October 1864. They were rendered obsolete by the development of the modern torpedo which is still employed by submarines today.

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"spar torpedo." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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