14-in Mark I Torpedo (UK)
The 14-in Mark I Torpedo (or 14-in R.L. I) was an early British torpedo manufactured by the Royal Laboratory.
A total of 236 were manufactured between 1876 and 1880, at which time production was switching over to the Mark II torpedoes.[1]
By the end of 1884, the Royal Navy evaluated 14-in Fiume Mark III torpedoes and found that they had a 3 knots advantage over the Mark I at 600 yards range.[2]
These torpedoes, along with 14-in torpedoes R.L. Marks II & III and Fiume Marks I-II were deemed obsolete in 1892.[3]
An extensive report on torpedoes being adjusted at the test ranges shows they are not in use in 1896.[4]
In 1919, it was approved to break up all 14-in torpedoes except for a reserve of fifty each of 14-in Mark X* torpedo and 14-in Mark XI torpedo.[5]
Mark I*
In 1881, Portsmouth was in the process of altering 30 Mark I torpedoes to Mark I* standard, and also received 50 from Woolwich, though it is not clear if these were conversions or fresh manufacture. Additionally, two were repaired for Hercules.[6]
Before the end of 1884, some 115 of these were apparently made by altering Mark I torpedoes.[7]
Mark I**
34 of these were apparently made by altering Mark I or Mark I* torpedoes, some time before the end of 1884.[8]
Footnotes
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1884. p. 47.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1881. pp27-8.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1892. p. viii.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1896. pp. 42-44.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1919. p. 11.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1881. p. 34. The source seems to have a typo here, however.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1884. p. 47.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1884. p. 47.
Bibliography
