Sphingidae is the Hawkmoths family of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The members have thick antennae which is nearly always hooked, a robust spindle or torpedo-shaped body. Of the 1000 known species about 20 live in Europe, the rest in the tropics. Research Sphingidae
Robert Fulton was an American inventor and a pioneer of the steamboat.. He was born in 1765 at Little Britain and died in 1815. At first a portrait-painter, he went to England in 1786. After a few years he began to occupy himself with engineering and inventions. The subject of steamnavigation already interested him. From 1797 to 1804 he resided in France, where, inventing the torpedo, he attempted to induce Napoleon to adopt it, but in vain. In England from 1804 to 1806 he had similar want of success with the British Ministry, and in 1806 returned to America. At New York, in 1807, he successfully realized his project of a vessel propelled by steam power, his steamboat, the Clermont, successfully steaming from New York to Albany. His invention was of the first importance in developing the interior parts of the United States. Research Robert Fulton
The A244/S is an Italian anti-submarine torpedo that uses active, passive and mixed mode homing to a target range of 7 kilometres. The torpedo is armed with a 34 kilogram shaped charge. Research A244/S
The Battle of Dogger Bank was a naval action of the Great War. It took place on January 24th 1915 off the Dogger Bank between a German force of four battle cruisers, four light cruisers, and 22 destroyers which had left Germany to attack the English coast and the British Grand Fleet of six battle cruisers, eight light cruisers, and 28 destroyers which had left Scapa Flow on the same day to carry out a sweep of the North Sea. The British put on speed to overhaul the German line, the first shots were fired at about 9 am., and the two fleets exchanged shots for about three hours. The German battle cruiserBlucher was sunk by gun and torpedo fire, while the British flagship HMS Lion was hit in the engine-room and halted. Admiral David Beatty transferred his flag to a destroyer, but when the German fleet approached Heligoland the British disengaged due to the danger of attack by submarines and minefields. Research Battle of Dogger Bank
The Battle of Kolombangara was an inconclusive naval engagement between American and Japanese forces in July 1943 off Kolombangara, one of the Solomon Islands. Four Japanese transports escorted by a cruiser and four destroyers were attempting to resupply the Japanese garrison on Kolombangara when they were intercepted by three American cruisers and nine destroyers. The American vessels opened fire, sinking the Japanesecruiser; in reply the Japanese destroyers launched a torpedoattack which crippled one American cruiser. About two hours later the two forces met once more and the Japanese torpedoes crippled the two remaining American cruisers and sank one destroyer. By this time the Japanese had landed their troops and supplies and so they withdrew. Research Battle of Kolombangara
The Battle of Mobile Bay was a naval engagement between the Federal and
Confederate fleets between August the 5th to the 23rd, 1864 during the American Civil War. Farragut commanded the National fleet of eighteen vessels, fourteen of these being of wood and four ironclads, the Tecumseh, Winnebago, Manhattan and Chickasaw. The Confederate Admiral Buchanan had far fewer vessels, three gunboats, the Morgan, Gaines and Selma and the ramTennessee. Still he was defended by three strongly garrisoned forts, Gaines, Morgan and Powell, at the harbour's entrance, and the Tennessee was deemed a host in itself.
Farragut entered the harbour with the gunboatBrooklyn leading and the entire fleet firing upon FortMorgan, whence a lively reply was begun. The Tecumseh immediately struck a torpedo and was sunk. The fleet became confused and for some moments was in great danger. But Farragut forged ahead with the flag-ship Hartford and was attacked by the Tennessee. The other Federal vessels quickly destroyed the Selma and chased away the Morgan and the Gaines. The Monongahela and the Lackawanna were struck by the Tennessee, but the latter was disabled by a broadside at close range from the Hartford. The other boats closed around her. Her smokestack and steering chains were gone, her crew panic-stricken and she soon became unmanageable. She therefore surrendered. The Confederate forts were shelled for several days. FortPowell was blown up and abandoned. Forts Gaines and Morgan surrendered. Research Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Tsushima was a naval engagement between Russia and Japan on May the 27th and May the 28th 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War. The Russian fleet under Vice-Admiral Rozhdestvensky left Libau on October the 18th 1904 and after a seven month voyage was almost annihilated by an approximately equal force under Admiral Togo. The main action was fought in the afternoon of the 27th. After nightfall several flotillas of Japanesetorpedo craft, in spite of heavy weather, were sent against the battered and scattered remnants of the Russian fleet; and on the 28th a surviving division of battleships, under Rear-Admiral Nebogatoff was compelled to surrender, while various minor craft were rounded up and captured or destroyed. Research Battle of Tsushima
The catamaran was an experimental British torpedo created in 1804 in an attempt to destroy the French shipping at Boulogne. It consisted of a lead- lined wooden chest, having a flat top and bottom and wedge-shaped ends. It contained barrels of gunpowder and clockwork machinery, and was so weighted s to float with its surface flush with that of the water. It had to be towed to its destination. Research Catamaran
The DM2A3 is a torpedo supplied by STNAtlas Elektronik. The torpedo uses wire-guided active homing to deliver a 260 kg warhead at a maximum speed of 35 knots to a target range of over 13 kilometres. Using passive homing and a lower speed of 22 knots the torpedo has a range up to 28 kilometres. Research DM2A3
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
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