USS Hoyt (1863) - Notes On Torpedo Warfare During The American Civil War

Notes On Torpedo Warfare During The American Civil War

Hoyt was a part of the small beginning of a most serious weapon in the 20th century. The Confederacy had first pointed the way to moderate success of torpedo warfare in the Civil War when a similarly-armed "David" damaged the USS New Ironsides. Union blockaders were much alarmed in February 1864 when the hand-powered submarine H. L. Hunley, armed with a spar torpedo, sank the steam sloop-of-war USS Housatonic. The importance of torpedo warfare was further underscored the night of 27–28 October 1864, when Lieutenant Cushing and a crew of 14 sank the ironclad ram CSS Albemarle with an improvised torpedo boat. These pioneers cast a shadow far ahead toward the enormous underseas combat capabilities of the 20th century.

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