.27Torpedoes.27 Fortress of Humaitá



brazilian ironclad rio de janeiro sunk torpedo in front of curuzú. painting adolfo methfessel (1836-1909).



paraguayan torpedoes , other weaponry. 1867 illustration brazilian military engineer conrado jacó de niemeyer (1831-1905). torpedoes of both floating , underwater (moored) types illustrated. on left paraguayan armour-piercing ordnance, of lópez had limited supply.


for invading force of ironclads dangerous aspect of humaitá not artillery batteries torpedoes released in confined, shallow , uncharted stream of river paraguay.


these torpedoes improvised contact mines. first devised yankee, mr. krüger . consisted of zinc cylinder containing charge of gunpowder. largest ever made used charge of 1,500 lbs (680 kilos) , explosion shook ground @ town of corrientes, argentina twenty miles off. fuses designed , made george frederick masterman, chief apothecary paraguayan army: glass capsules of sulphuric acid which, when broken striking heavy object, ignited potassium chlorate/sugar mixture.


although of these devices failed go off, except prematurely, 1 did sink 1,000 ton brazilian ironclad rio de janeiro killing 155 men, had taken seriously. since torpedo (simulated or real) released every night, brazilian navy had have patrol boats out rowing in 3 shifts tried spot floating torpedoes; if did, attempted hook floats grappling irons on long lines. wrote commander kennedy rn, service of great danger .


apart more common floating type, seen , removed, paraguayans deployed torpedoes moored river bed, not. these potent psychological barrier.


deploying torpedoes not without dangers either. after kruger s death – blown 1 of torpedoes – work taken on paraguayan called ramos had served apprenticeship in england. met same fate, , work given polish refugee named michkoffsky. michkoffsky used take torpedoes down river in canoe paddled 4 boys. 1 day distracted , boys absconded allies torpedo: arrested, reduced ranks , sent front, killed. anonymous, if brave, paraguayan diver tried attach torpedo brazilian ironclad brasil hand: deduced when found entangled in rudder-chains, drowned.


the paraguayans deliberately moored empty demijohns in river make brazilian navy suppose marked situations of torpedoes. made them noticeably reluctant navigate waters.








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