33:
523:
483:
535:
the technical details of the revolutionary torpedo, Assistant United States
Attorney General Malcolm A. Coles told a U.S. District Court Judge that the court must "protect the right arm of the nation's defense" – the Navy – by granting a U.S. government request for an injunction preventing Bliss from revealing the technical specifications of the weapon to a British company.
438:
noted that "the United States
Government is supplying its Navy with a new engine of destruction which will be a deadly step in the evolution of modern warfare. ... The new invention is known as the Bliss-Leavitt torpedo." The new devices, the newspaper noted, would cost the government $ 4,000 to
534:
The Navy considered the new weapon so essential to its arsenal that it sued in federal court in 1913 to prevent the E. W. Bliss
Company from revealing any details of its manufacture to foreign countries. In its petition asking an injunction preventing company officials from telling British officials
416:
Previous torpedoes were driven by radial engines powered by compressed air. Leavitt's idea was to use steam turbines to drive the torpedo. In 1904 Leavitt designed a new class of torpedoes, manufactured by his employer the E. W. Bliss
Company. The first model of the inventor's new torpedo was called
442:
The design was revolutionary, because of their larger warheads and much longer range, but not without problems. The single-stage turbine engine drove a single propeller, which had a tendency to develop unbalanced torque and thus to roll in the water, throwing off its accuracy. The manufacturer and
501:
The Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 was so cutting-edge that its design changed the face of naval warfare. Building on inventor Frank M. Leavitt's initial design, and incorporating his later improvements, the Mark 7 had a range of 6,000 yards at a brisk clip of 35 knots. The torpedo carried 326 pounds of
498:. "This innovative design featured the use of steam, generated from water sprayed into the combustion pot along with the fuel. The resulting mixture dramatically boosted the efficiency of the torpedo, leading to markedly improved performance."
443:
its inventor
Leavitt corrected the problem in subsequent models of the Bliss-Leavitt torpedo by using a twin-turbine engine driving contra-rotating twin propellers, thus steadying the armament's waterborne trajectory. The Bliss-Leavitt
510:
explosive. The Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 was introduced into the United States Navy Fleet in 1912, and the design proved so resilient and far-sighted that it remained in use for an unprecedented 33 years – up to and including service in
466:, and the competition between the two firms subsequently drove torpedo technology forward, resulting in a flurry of new models following the turn of the twentieth century. In short order the E. W. Bliss Company turned out its
515:. (During WW II, the Mark 7 was used to arm reactivated World War I destroyers still carrying 18-inch torpedo tubes. Also pressed into service during the conflict was the last model of the Bliss-Leavitt, the
885:
In a prior development five years earlier, a
Brooklyn machinist working for the E. W. Bliss Company was arrested and charged with theft of torpedo parts with the intention to sell them to the
538:
During WW I, most United States Navy ships were still functioning chiefly as anti-submarine escorts, and the use of torpedoes as offensive weapons was limited. On May 21, 1917, the
462:
The E. W. Bliss
Company had long enjoyed a close relationship with the United States Navy, acting as virtually the sole supplier of torpedoes. But an English competitor emerged,
401:. This cancelled the torque effect of the single-stage design, improving directional stability. All Bliss-Leavitt variants after the Mark 1 would carry this design feature.
370:
in 1892 and thereafter supplied the US Navy with this weapon. In 1904, an engineer with E. W. Bliss, Frank M. Leavitt, designed a torpedo with a "single-stage vertical
32:
451:
models of the weapon incorporated improvements to the design by
Lieutenant Davison. Ultimately, the Brooklyn manufacturing company introduced a Bliss-Leavitt
962:
676:
1367:
889:
government. In the 1908 case, machinist
William Esser was charged with the intention of stealing the technical secrets behind the weapon's design.
434:
in a front-page story on the development. "Missiles
Equipped with Turbine Engines the Navy's Latest Acquisition". In the story that followed, the
494:"In 1912, the E. W. Bliss Company produced its finest torpedo to date, the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7", writes Anthony Newpower in his authoritative
1362:
820:
474:
was the next great leap of technology, utilizing a water spray into the engine's combustion chamber to create a steam-powered torpedo.
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470:
model, which used horizontal turbines and could be launched above-water (but with limited range of 2,000 yards). A subsequent
519:, and the first US torpedoes to be designed totally within the Navy without industry collaboration, the Mk 11 and Mk 12).
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E. W. Bliss ceased production of the Bliss-Leavitt torpedo during the 1920s after the completion of the
390:
1185:
1054:
546:
60:
874:
Subsequent improvements in gyroscope technology rendered the old Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes obsolete.
363:
339:
137:
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712:
542:
430:
394:
347:
343:
94:
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The design was seen as groundbreaking in the armaments race. "New, Deadlier Torpedo", headlined
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US 21-inch torpedo (probably Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 or Mark 8) being loaded onto the USS
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in 1904 and variants of the design would remain in its inventory until the end of
1328:
422:
371:
264:
806:
756:
302:
925:
Iron Men and Tin Fish: The Race to Build a Better Torpedo During World War II
787:
Iron Men and Tin Fish: The Race to Build a Better Torpedo During World War II
652:
Iron Men And Tin Fish: The Race to Build a Better Torpedo During World War II
539:
456:
318:
314:
288:
228:
855:
Hellions of the Deep: The Development of American Torpedoes in World War II
972:
331:
310:
63:
940:
551:
507:
425:, fueled by alcohol used to heat the air before entering the engine.
521:
481:
944:
389:
The Mark 1 had a tendency to roll on its axis, affecting its
271:
490:
loading a Mark 7 torpedo while on Manila Station c. 1912
455:
model, an 18-inch torpedo used in the torpedo boats and
37:
Bliss-Leavitt 21-inch Mark 8 torpedoes intended for USS
421:. The weapon was powered by a single-stage, vertical
1280:
1199:
1088:
979:
397:who proposed a two-stage turbine design that drove
294:
280:
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133:
125:
115:
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100:
90:
82:
77:
69:
56:
23:
812:Nineteenth-Century Torpedoes and Their Inventors
550:reportedly fired a single torpedo at a German
956:
378:preheated by alcohol. This design became the
8:
624:"Torpedo History: Bliss-Leavitt Torpedo Mk1"
618:
616:
614:
612:
610:
608:
382:, the first non-Whitehead design after the
963:
949:
941:
655:. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 18.
644:
642:
640:
606:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
20:
677:"Aircraft Spotlight: Whitehead Torpedo"
584:
891:"Held for Bliss-Leavitt Torpedo Theft"
7:
907:"Navy Sues to Guard Torpedo Secrets"
366:secured manufacturing rights to the
759:. Historic Naval Ships Association.
726:Milford, Frederick J (April 1996).
393:. This was remedied by Lieutenant
14:
346:. It was put into service by the
757:"History of the Early Torpedoes"
216:Effective firing range
31:
1368:Torpedoes of the United States
928:. Greenwood Publishing Group.
790:. Greenwood Publishing Group.
1:
46:
1363:Unmanned underwater vehicles
1065:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo
1060:Bliss–Leavitt Mark 8 torpedo
1050:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 7 torpedo
1045:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 6 torpedo
1035:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 4 torpedo
1030:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 3 torpedo
1025:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 2 torpedo
1020:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1 torpedo
380:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1 torpedo
1272:Mark 54 lightweight torpedo
769:"Hit Mark 3,200 Yards Away"
1389:
1310:
922:Newpower, Anthony (2006).
784:Newpower, Anthony (2006).
649:Newpower, Anthony (2006).
399:contra-rotating propellers
1306:
1010:Whitehead Mark 2C torpedo
1000:Whitehead Mark 1B torpedo
815:. Naval Institute Press.
255:
210:
70:Place of origin
30:
18:Anti-surface ship torpedo
1317:American 21 inch torpedo
1313:American 18 inch torpedo
1040:Whitehead Mark 5 torpedo
1015:Whitehead Mark 3 torpedo
1005:Whitehead Mark 2 torpedo
995:Whitehead Mark 1 torpedo
338:and manufactured by the
1373:Bliss-Leavitt torpedoes
852:Gannon, Robert (1996).
708:"New, Deadlier Torpedo"
531:
491:
336:Frank McDowell Leavitt
251:War Nose Mk 1, contact
120:Frank McDowell Leavitt
25:Bliss-Leavitt torpedo
1293:Schwartzkopff torpedo
1288:Bliss-Leavitt torpedo
1141:Mark 21 Mod 2 torpedo
1136:Mark 21 Mod 0 torpedo
990:Howell Mark 1 torpedo
728:"U.S. Navy Torpodoes"
525:
496:Iron Men and Tin Fish
485:
391:directional stability
328:Bliss-Leavitt torpedo
1186:Mark 30 torpedo mine
1055:Short Mark 7 torpedo
858:. Penn State Press.
716:. November 27, 1905.
419:Bliss-Leavitt Mark 1
775:. October 23, 1907.
364:E. W. Bliss Company
340:E. W. Bliss Company
236:Warhead weight
138:E. W. Bliss Company
1321:Project Kingfisher
911:The New York Times
895:The New York Times
773:The New York Times
738:on August 29, 2009
713:The New York Times
532:
492:
431:The New York Times
395:Gregory C. Davison
348:United States Navy
344:Brooklyn, New York
176:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 9
172:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 8
168:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 7
164:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 6
160:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 4
156:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 3
152:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 2
148:Bliss-Leavitt Mk 1
111:Production history
95:United States Navy
1350:
1349:
1341:UUM-125 Sea Lance
1298:Whitehead torpedo
1200:Post-World War II
833:"Torpedo History"
821:978-1-59114-341-3
569:Whitehead torpedo
368:Whitehead torpedo
324:
323:
61:Anti-surface ship
1380:
1333:RUM-139 VL-ASROC
965:
958:
951:
942:
936:
920:
914:
913:. June 26, 1913.
904:
898:
897:. April 5, 1908.
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747:
745:
743:
734:. Archived from
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717:
705:
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698:
696:
694:
688:
682:. Archived from
681:
673:
667:
666:
646:
635:
634:
632:
630:
620:
439:$ 6,000 apiece.
374:" that utilized
273:
219:4000 yards (Mk1)
198:197 inches (Mk1)
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48:
35:
26:
21:
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1267:Mark 50 torpedo
1262:Mark 48 torpedo
1257:Mark 46 torpedo
1252:Mark 45 torpedo
1247:Mark 44 torpedo
1242:Mark 43 torpedo
1237:Mark 39 torpedo
1232:Mark 37 torpedo
1227:Mark 36 torpedo
1222:Mark 35 torpedo
1217:Mark 34 torpedo
1212:Mark 33 torpedo
1207:Mark 32 torpedo
1195:
1191:Mark 31 torpedo
1181:Mark 29 torpedo
1176:Mark 28 torpedo
1171:Mark 27 torpedo
1166:Mark 26 torpedo
1161:Mark 25 torpedo
1151:Mark 23 torpedo
1146:Mark 22 torpedo
1131:Mark 20 torpedo
1126:Mark 19 torpedo
1121:Mark 18 torpedo
1116:Mark 17 torpedo
1111:Mark 16 torpedo
1106:Mark 15 torpedo
1101:Mark 14 torpedo
1096:Mark 13 torpedo
1084:
1080:Mark 12 torpedo
1075:Mark 11 torpedo
1070:Mark 10 torpedo
975:
969:
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689:on May 12, 2013
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574:Type 93 torpedo
560:
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206:21 inches (Mk1)
174:
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83:In service
78:Service history
52:
49:
41:DD-300 and USS
24:
19:
12:
11:
5:
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1325:Mark 60 CAPTOR
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1281:Related topics
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372:turbine engine
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190:1500 lbs (Mk1)
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182:Specifications
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1156:Mark 24 mine
1089:World War II
982:World War II
924:
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848:
836:. Retrieved
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740:. Retrieved
736:the original
731:
721:
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691:. Retrieved
684:the original
671:
651:
627:. Retrieved
545:
537:
533:
527:
513:World War II
500:
495:
493:
487:
478:Significance
461:
459:of the era.
441:
435:
429:
427:
415:
403:
388:
361:
352:World War II
334:designed by
327:
325:
134:Manufacturer
105:World War II
91:Used by
42:
38:
15:
1329:RUR-5 ASROC
807:Gray, Edwyn
303:battleships
50: 1925
1357:Categories
1311:See also:
971:U.S. Navy
580:References
457:submarines
319:submarines
315:destroyers
245:Detonation
973:torpedoes
540:destroyer
530:, c. 1919
464:Whitehead
408:project.
289:Gyroscope
247:mechanism
229:guncotton
129:1904–1915
86:1904–1945
809:(2004).
742:June 27,
558:See also
547:Ericsson
528:Oklahoma
311:cruisers
298:platform
282:Guidance
203:Diameter
144:Variants
126:Designed
116:Designer
43:Thompson
39:Farragut
838:May 28,
693:June 1,
629:May 27,
358:History
332:torpedo
265:Turbine
239:200 lbs
224:Warhead
64:torpedo
45:DD-305
1339:, and
932:
887:German
862:
819:
794:
659:
552:U-boat
517:Mark 9
472:Mark 7
468:Mark 6
453:Mark 4
449:Mark 3
445:Mark 2
412:Design
406:Mark 9
330:was a
296:Launch
284:system
261:Engine
195:Length
687:(PDF)
680:(PDF)
488:Adder
436:Times
231:(Mk1)
980:Pre-
930:ISBN
860:ISBN
840:2013
817:ISBN
792:ISBN
744:2022
695:2013
657:ISBN
631:2013
486:USS
447:and
417:the
362:The
326:The
317:and
227:wet
187:Mass
101:Wars
57:Type
543:USS
508:TPX
506:or
504:TNT
342:of
1359::
1335:,
1331:,
1327:,
1323:,
1319:,
1315:,
909:.
893:.
771:.
730:.
710:.
639:^
587:^
554:.
386:.
354:.
313:,
309:,
305:,
47:c.
964:e
957:t
950:v
842:.
746:.
697:.
665:.
633:.
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