To impart a thorough knowledge of the management of such an arm as the
sea torpedo is a matter of easy accomplishment by personal explanation;
especially so, when the arm is in the water, and practised with under
conditions that would obtain in its application to the disabling of, or
to the destruction of vessels against which it may be employed.
But in the absence of such mode of instruction, the following directions
are offered, with a hope that they will prove sufficiently explanatory of
an arm, which, like other arms, requires skill and aptitude in using it
effectively.
By the instructions here given, it must be understood, there are two
torpedoes; though both are of the same kind, they differ in construction,
by reason of the difference in the position of their respective planes,
so that one may diverge to port, and the other to starboard; the
direction of the divergence is known by the position of the slings and
rudder. There is a like difference in the exploding bolts; the bolts
which respectively belong to the port and starboard torpedoes are known
by the direction of their safety keys.
[Illustration: (A)