Spar torpedo
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A spar torpedo is a weapon consisting of a bomb placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a boat. It was used by driving the spar directly into an enemy vessel. These torpedoes often
A steamboat with a spar torpedo, in transport position
The Confederate torpedo boat CSS David showing the spar torpedo mounted to the bow
Explosive charge lashed to the boom of a spar torpedo
NMS Rândunica
CSS David
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CSS David was an American Civil War-era torpedo boat. On October 5, 1863, she undertook a partially successful attack on USS New Ironsides which was participating in the blockade of Charleston, South
Spar torpedo
…which managed to sink the Union screw sloop USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864, although the Hunley was lost. Spar torpedoes were also used by the David-class of semi-submersible attack boats. In April 1864, Confederate torpedo boat CSS Squib employed a spar torpedo against USS Minnesota. At night on…
Torpedo Boat David at Charleston Dock, Oct. 25, 1863 by Conrad Wise Chapman
Photograph of a captured David-class torpedo boat (possibly CSS David herself), taken after the fall of Charleston in 1865
The wreck of CSS David