WWI Ships Feature Query: Diagonal Pipes Along Hull

[HP_Dreadnought]

Something I've been wondering about. . .

Looking at pictures of old WWI era battleships, I've noticed many of them have slanted lines running down the sides of their hull. What were these lines and what purpose did they serve?

Why don't WWII era ships have them?

[Batstiger]

If you mean what I think you mean they were booms which were extended from the side of the ship when in harbour or at anchor for the torpedo nets to be strung from.
This was a long and tedious process but at the time it was all the protection they had to be being sunk by the odd u-boat passing by.

[Batstiger]

These two pics should give you a rough idea as to how they were used.

[Harley]

Would that be Dreadnought in the left-hand picture?

Harley

[The Sailor]

Did these nets actually work? Did they afford protection?
A torpedo only 21 inches in diameter and doing over 40 knots would take some stopping. In fact they went right through 25mm ship's rolled steel plate and exploded inside.
This being the case, would a net stop one?

[BB60]

Not sure the intent was to "stop" it but rather cause it to explode far enough away from the ship's hill to limit or eliminate potential damage.

[BB60]

Would that be Dreadnought in the left-hand picture?

Harley
Looks very much like her with the apparent wing turret and stepped back main deck.

[BB60]

If you mean what I think you mean they were booms which were extended from the side of the ship when in harbour or at anchor for the torpedo nets to be strung from.
This was a long and tedious process but at the time it was all the protection they had to be being sunk by the odd u-boat passing by.
Wasn't the theory that nets would be replaced by torpedo bulges?

[The Sailor]

You mean like water protection double skins?
Anything like that would still mean a hell of a long time in dry dock for repairs if it got hit.

But the boom net practice seemed to be changed to torpedo nets on bouys around the ship further out during WW2.

[Harley]

I think it was HMS Goliath at the Dardanelles which had a double row of torpedo nets out, and still went to the bottom, as the torpedo just passed right through without detonating.

Harley

[astraltrader]

HMS Goliath along with two other battleships were sunk at the Dardanelles all with their nets deployed. This along with a few cases of nets damaged by shell fire that ended up badly fouling propellers, resulted in them ceasing to be used when warships were underway. However they continued to be used to protect anchored ships until after the second world war.

Terry
Exeter/Devon.

[The Sailor]

I guess the nets worked sometimes and it felt a hell of a lot better having them out than to be sitting there naked.

[Batstiger]

" Torpedo nets"

These were hung over the side of ships in an attempt to protect them against torpedo attack, from the new and very popular small and fast SURFACE torpedo boats. However a very simple but amazingly risky technique was devised to overcome this protection. This was a specialist vessel known as an "outrigger spar torpedo boat. The idea was really very simple, merely approach the enemy ship hiding behind a curtain of anti-torpedo nets, and at the correct instant, when virtually alongside the enemy,.. do an" up and over"
of a long pole.. a spar.... about 12 yards, 36 feet long.... that has an explosive 35lb. gun cotton charge on the end........ that is the spar is over the top of the nets, then slid under the water to about 10 feet to virtually touch the enemy ship's hull, and then detonate the charge..... with you aboput 25 feet away.... the safe distance!!! During all this the crew of the attacking boat will be hiding from incoming enemy fire in a small metal conning tower that protects against some small arms fire, and the big blast of the 35lb. gun cotton charge...."UNBELIEVABLE"!!! Surely these men had nerves of steel?

[The Sailor]

Presumeably everyone would hold their fire as that thing approached Bob.

Wonder if it was ever used successfully?

[Batstiger]

I don't know about that Graeme but I did come across this picture of an exercise in the late 1800's. It shows HMS Edinburgh with her nets rigged and it also shows a torped vessel rigged with two spars.

[The Sailor]

As spar torp era was pre WW1, what action could that painting depict Bob? Britain wasn't at war then.

[Batstiger]

If you read my answer again Graeme, I did say "EXERCISE"

Bob.

[The Sailor]

Well the'd better look where they are going with those bloody things poking around the harbour.

[Harley]

Back on topic somewhat, here's an interesting article about anti-torpedo nets from Russo-Japanese War.com;

http://www.russojapanesewar.com/russell.html

Harley

[Batstiger]

Very interesting. We learn something new every day.

[The Sailor]

Thanks Harley. I read it all. That clears up a lot of questions about it.

[Rebecca Parris]

I don't know about that Graeme but I did come across this picture of an exercise in the late 1800's. It shows HMS Edinburgh with her nets rigged and it also shows a torped vessel rigged with two spars.

Great picture! As my great grandad was on the Edinburgh from 1895-1897 he may have been there at the time. Do you have any more exact idea of the date of the exercise please?

[thresher]

Certain ships,capitol ships, from early 1900s to the 20s had diagonal pipes
along the hulls above the waterline to the deck on both sides.They number
over 10 per side what were they for?After a certain time (past the 20s) they
were removed.thanks

[kc]

Probably want to check out this thread :
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=765

They are torpedo net booms, I think.

[culverin]

All battleships up to the King George V class, battlescruisers to Queen Mary and many armoured cruisers were fitted with various net defences for protection against torpedo attack.
It comprises a number of small interwoven steel wire rings kept in position by by a varying number of booms standing at right angles, 90 degrees, to the ships side, and by their supporting rigging.
Advantages, absolutely none.
Draw backs, numerous.
Ships could steam or be towed at 5 knots max with booms out.
The booms prevented attendant craft, such as colliers and victualling craft from coming alongside.
They were bulky and very labour intensive to both lower and stow.
At sea when in action they became a serious cause for concern if a part was damaged and went over the side, damaging fittings, the hull but most importantly getting tangled up in the screws and rudders.
They were heavy and a general hindrance.
Jellicoe in late 1914 ordered all ships in the GF and the BCS have them removed at the earliest opportunity, and certainly after the use of Lough Swilly as a base, it was a defended anchorage. He then suggested that assorted vessels, drifters and the like, moor alongside to act as the sacrificial lamb.
I believe the Princess Royal was the last major ship to have hers removed, early 1915, though some old pre dreadnoughts in the Med retained them a little longer.

[culverin]

Thresher, welcome here.
KC has added a link for you re torpedo net defence, as it is called, and i have put a post on that thread, amongst the others, explaining a little more.
WW1 ships design feature is the thread title.

[TCC]

I believe the Princess Royal was the last major ship to have hers removed, early 1915, though some old pre dreadnoughts in the Med retained them a little longer.

PR had hers up until Jutland. Lion got rid of hers just after Jutland so I assume PR removed hers removed about the same time. PR is the inboard ship, you can just see the heel of her foremost boom as it hides behind Tigers bow.

[tone]

PR had hers up until Jutland. Lion got rid of hers just after Jutland so I assume PR removed hers removed about the same time. PR is the inboard ship, you can just see the heel of her foremost boom as it hides behind Tigers bow.

Interesting photo for showing PR with director fitted.

tone

[thresher]

Having to attack a ship with a torpedo boat and a charge attached to a pole,
having nerves of steel! I can think of an easier assignment.I can just see somebody ooohhhh pick me! bwhahahahahaha

[Mitch Hinde]

Hi All

A look at this site may be of interest. Contains a good explanation of the nets.
www.russojapanesewar.com/russell.html

Mitch Hinde

[johnny07]

Did these nets actually work? Did they afford protection?
A torpedo only 21 inches in diameter and doing over 40 knots would take some stopping. In fact they went right through 25mm ship's rolled steel plate and exploded inside.
This being the case, would a net stop one?

I think that when the torpedo hit the net it would push the net along till it lost it's momentum, I doubt it it would actually go through the net.
Hitting a steel side it could go through as it does'nt have the same flexibility.
These are just the thoughts of a layman.

[johnny07]

I think that when the torpedo hit the net it would push the net along till it lost it's momentum, I doubt it it would actually go through the net.
Hitting a steel side it could go through as it does'nt have the same flexibility.
These are just the thoughts of a layman.

I have just read the attachment in # 30 which proves me wrong. :o:o

[Forester]

The nets seem to be a similar principle as the defensive anti-RPG screens seen on military vehicles in Afghanistan. Hitting the screen detonates the RPG warhead before it makes contact with the vehicle itself.

[kc]

Thought of this thread when I came across this photo in our archives :

http://www.directart.co.uk/bmall/images/mpl0101.jpg