Torpedo vessels should, as a rule, attack under the cover of darkness. By
the experience gained in blockade running in the late American conflict,
we are assured that a vessel in rapid motion can, when it is dark, pass
with impunity close under the fire of hostile vessels, armed with cannon.
In the more early stage of the torpedo, the tactics of vessels armed
with torpedoes embraced modes of attack that are not now entertained. So
general is becoming the use of torpedoes as a means both of defence and
offence, that vessels, which may be at anchor or moored in a harbour or
roadstead, would be protected by stationary torpedoes; the use of which
admits also of vessels, when at anchor or moored, protecting themselves
by placing a web of torpedoes in such manner as to render the attack
of a hostile vessel or boats extremely hazardous, and therefore not
likely to be attempted. But in the event of a vessel being at anchor in
a harbour or roadstead unprotected, she could be attacked, as shown in
the illustration of Tactics, under such conditions. As, however, vessels
armed with torpedoes are intended to work the arm against vessels at sea
or in motion, the management of the torpedo in so attacking vessels is
the more important part of the code of Tactics.
It should be here remarked, that with a view to simplicity, the
explanations will be confined to a single steamer, the attacking vessel
adapted to the service of the arm in question, and confined also to a
single vessel, the object of attack.