Chapter 265 Brennan Torpedo

After listening to Tijani's explanation, Charles realized that the "Brennan torpedo" of this period was not the same thing as the wire-guided torpedo of modern times.

The biggest difference is that the wires of the "Brennan Torpedo" are responsible for "control" and also transmit power.

"It's equipped with an electric motor," Tijani explained: "Our batteries can't store enough power to drive it to the target, and the generator is too big to fit into the missile body, so we use shore-based power generation to transmit power to it. "

The method of generating electricity made Charles laugh. They even equipped this torpedo with a boiler room, used the boiler room to drive the steam engine to generate electricity, and then fed the power to the torpedo. The entire device was almost a small power plant.

(The picture above shows the working method of the "Brennan Torpedo". It is usually deployed on the shore. The observation tower is used to observe the direction of the torpedo, and then the personnel in the base are notified by phone to control the torpedo to correct its trajectory through the "steering wheel")

It was obvious that such a large torpedo mechanism could not be brought to a torpedo boat.

Even moving to destroyers and battleships is considered unrealistic. The internal space of destroyers and battleships is very precious. To develop a dedicated system for torpedoes and even set up lookout hands for coordination, it is better to try your luck with traditional torpedoes.

But Ciel quickly found a solution.

"Why don't we combine these two torpedoes?" Charles replied, "I mean, take the best of both worlds."

"The advantages of both..." Tijani suddenly understood: "You mean to install wires on traditional torpedoes, and the wires only control the steering of the torpedo?"

Ciel nodded.

There was already the "Brennan Torpedo" during this period, which meant that the system for electrically controlling torpedo steering was mature and was not difficult to develop.

Tijani was stunned for a while, then suddenly stood up with a solemn expression: "Thank you very much, Colonel. I'm not sure if this idea is feasible. I have to ask them! Of course there is this..."

As he spoke, Tijani raised the document in his hand: "I will come back to you soon..."

"Wait!" Charles stopped Tijani who was in a hurry to leave: "Maybe we should discuss the issue of torpedo range."

Tijani turned around as if being electrocuted, and looked at Ciel in astonishment: "You, do you still have a way to increase the torpedo range?"

…

In the 15th arrondissement of Paris, in a five-story villa on the banks of the Seine, Wells, wearing pince-nez, was immersed in a pile of design drawings and was extremely busy.

During this time, Wells had been implementing two directions proposed by Charles: upgrading destroyers and improving torpedoes.

Upgrading the destroyer does not pose any technical difficulty to the Brest Shipyard, but it is just a comprehensive consideration of the warship's speed, armor, and firepower.

The point is that it has a clear goal: to be faster than cruisers and battleships, and to have better firepower and protection than British destroyers.

In this way, asymmetric competition can be formed: those who can defeat the destroyer cannot catch up with it, and those who can catch up with the destroyer are vulnerable to it.

In a sense, it is invincible. It can run around on the ocean and no one can do anything to it.

However, it is difficult to improve torpedoes.

The most troublesome thing is that it uses compressed air to push the turbine to drive the propeller internally, and the compressed air only contains 21% oxygen, which determines that the torpedo's range is only about 2 kilometers.

(Note: The early range of white-headed torpedoes was only 640 meters, which later gradually developed to 10 kilometers)

If you want to increase the range of a torpedo, the only way is to increase its volume and load more compressed air. There seems to be no other way.

Unless it is powered by wires like the "Brennan Torpedo", this can in principle make the torpedo farther.

But that's only "in principle". In actual combat, the length of the wire has the problem of breaking due to its own weight, which also determines that its range is difficult to exceed 2 kilometers.

2 kilometers, this number is like a curse, tightly hooping Wells's head so that he cannot surpass it.

All designers and all design solutions cannot do it.

The more Wells looked at it, the more upset he became. In the end, he simply threw all the design drawings aside. He stood up angrily, took out a cigar from his arms and cursed angrily: "It's all rubbish. There are still people who want to change the air for oxygen. Don't they?" Do you know this will blow you up?"

At this time, there were rapid footsteps outside the door.

Wells knew it was Tijani, and he had doubts in his heart. Shouldn't Tijani be at the city defense headquarters?

Just as he was thinking about it, Tijani opened the door and came in. He almost jogged to Wells' desk and said breathlessly: "Father, we may have a way to improve torpedoes!"

Wells smiled and sat back in his chair. Just because you are an army major general?

Tijani did not explain. He glanced at the desk, rummaged through the documents and sketches, took two of them and placed them in front of Wells: "Father, look at this, what did you think of?"

"What?" Wells asked coldly.

One of the two pictures in front of you is a traditional white-headed torpedo, and the other is a "Brennan torpedo". What else could there be?

Tijani didn't say anything. He picked up the white-headed torpedo and ripped off the blank tail with a "click", and then piled it on the "Brennan torpedo"...

Wells was stunned for a moment, then his pupils gradually dilated: "Wire guide? Wire guide white-headed torpedo?"

"Yes!" Tijani nodded heavily: "We only control and do not transmit electricity, so we only need to bring a very thin and light wire, plus a battery that does not require much power, and we can complete it. Control of Whitehead Torpedoes.”

Tijani nodded thoughtfully. The wires were also a big problem.

If only control commands are transmitted without power transmission, it can be made thinner, and thinner means lighter weight, and lighter means farther launch.

But soon, Wells's fiery eyes dimmed again. It doesn't make much sense for the wire to be connected farther. The air is still insufficient, which is the key.

Tijani seemed to see through Wells's thoughts. He continued: "Father, in terms of range, Charles means that if we can't find something else to replace the air, then find something else to replace the explosives and fuel."

"Explosives and fuel?" Wells looked at Tijani in confusion.

"Yes!" Tijani explained excitedly: "For example, the same amount of explosives that can blow through battleships, a more powerful explosive formula only needs a smaller volume, and the same is true for fuel. If you can save space for explosives and fuel at the same time, you can load more compressed air."

Wells' eyes lit up.

It's a very novel idea, and the reason is very simple, but everyone's eyes are fixed on the difficulty of compressed air, but they ignore the explosives and fuel that are easier to improve.

Thinking of this, Wells couldn't help but be happy.

He found that it was the right decision to support Charles, as his talent could bring about earth-shaking changes to the navy!