|
Siluro Lenta Corsa
The Siluro Lenta Corsa ("slow-running torpedo" in Italian), also known by its acronym SLC or as the "maiale" ("pig" in Italian), was a human torpedo used as an underwater assault vehicle by the Italian Regia Marina. Similar in shape to a torpedo, it was adapted to carry at low speed two operators, equipped with autonomous underwater breathing apparatus and a limpet mine to be applied covertly to the hull of an enemy ship at mooring. It was used by the ''Decima'' ''Flottiglia MAS'' during World War II for sabotage actions against enemy ships, often anchored in heavily defended ports, such as during the 1941 Raid on Alexandria. History The slow-running torpedo was derived from Raffaele Rossetti's ''Mignatta (''Italian for "leech"), used in World War I to sink the Austrian battleship '' Viribus Unitis''. The nickname "''maiale''" (Italian for "pig") was adopted as a code name by Tesei to protect the secrecy of the craft. The idea was born during training, when an exasperated sail ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Siluro San Bartolomeo
The Siluro San Bartolomeo (St. Bartholomew Torpedo) was an Italian human torpedo designed during World War II, used by the Decima Flottiglia MAS for commando style operations. Some limitations had been noticed when using the Siluro Lenta Corsa (also known as ''Maiale'') human torpedo, demonstrating the need for an updated version. The project was managed and developed by the engineer of the Genio Naval, Mayor Mario Masciulli, with the help of Captain G.N Travaglino and engineer Guido Cattaneo. The improvement in the materials available for the assembly and parallel new technologies led to a far superior product to its precursor. Just three Siluro San Bartolomeo had been manufactured before the date of the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces; two remained in La Spezia and one which was sent to Venice was found at the end of the war. Both of La Spezia were consigned to the La Castagna Task Force, an old battery of the Decima Flottiglia MAS under the command of Lie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gino Birindelli
Gino Birindelli (20 January 1911, in Pescia – 2 August 2008, in Rome) was an Italian admiral and chief of the fleet of the Italian Navy. After his retirement from the Navy, he was elected as a member of the lower house of Parliament for the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement. Early life In 1925 he was admitted to the Italian Naval Academy and in 1930 he became sub-lieutenant of the Regia Marina. Assigned to submarines, he commanded ''Dessie'' and after, ''Rubino''. After the degree in civil engineering from University of Pisa in 1937, in 1939 he was a trainer for frogmen commandos and human torpedoes and was sent to the V Flottiglia MAS. World War II On 21 October 1940, the submarine departed La Spezia and sailed to Gibraltar carrying three manned torpedoes and four crews. The Decima MAS frogmen, commanded by Birindelli, entered the harbour but were unable to attack any ships due to technical problems with the torpedoes and breathing equipment. Only one human torpedo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bubble Level
A spirit level, bubble level, or simply a level, is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical ( plumb). Two basic designs exist: ''tubular'' (or ''linear'') and '' bull's eye'' (or ''circular''). Different types of spirit levels may be used by carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, other building trades workers, surveyors, millwrights and other metalworkers, and in some photographic or videographic work. History The history of the spirit level was discussed in brief in an 1887 article appearing in ''Scientific American''. Melchisédech Thévenot, a French scientist, invented the instrument some time before February 2, 1661. This date can be established from Thevenot's correspondence with scientist Christiaan Huygens. Within a year of this date the inventor circulated details of his invention to others, including Robert Hooke in London and Vincenzo Viviani in Florence. It is occasionally argued that these "bubble levels" did n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ammeter
An ammeter (abbreviation of ''ampere meter'') is an measuring instrument, instrument used to measure the electric current, current in a Electrical circuit, circuit. Electric currents are measured in amperes (A), hence the name. For direct measurement, the ammeter is connected in series with the circuit in which the current is to be measured. An ammeter usually has low Electrical resistance and conductance, resistance so that it does not cause a significant voltage drop in the circuit being measured. Instruments used to measure smaller currents, in the milliampere or microampere range, are designated as ''milliammeters'' or ''microammeters''. Early ammeters were laboratory instruments that relied on the Earth's magnetic field for operation. By the late 19th century, improved instruments were designed which could be mounted in any position and allowed accurate measurements in electric power systems. It is generally represented by letter 'A' in a circuit. History The relatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Voltmeter
A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring electric potential difference between two points in an electric circuit. It is connected in parallel. It usually has a high resistance so that it takes negligible current from the circuit. Analog voltmeters move a pointer across a scale in proportion to the voltage measured and can be built from a galvanometer and series resistor. Meters using amplifiers can measure tiny voltages of microvolts or less. Digital voltmeters give a numerical display of voltage by use of an analog-to-digital converter. Voltmeters are made in a wide range of styles, some separately powered (e.g. by battery), and others powered by the measured voltage source itself. Instruments permanently mounted in a panel are used to monitor generators or other fixed apparatus. Portable instruments, usually equipped to also measure current and resistance in the form of a multimeter are standard test instruments used in electrical and electronics work. Any meas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Depth Gauge
A depth gauge is an instrument for measuring depth (coordinate), depth below a vertical reference surface. They include depth gauges for underwater diving and similar applications. A diving depth gauge is a pressure gauge that displays the equivalent depth below the free surface in water. The relationship between depth and pressure is linear and accurate enough for most practical purposes, and for many purposes, such as diving, it is actually the pressure that is important. It is a piece of diving equipment used by Underwater diving, underwater divers, submarines and submersibles. Most modern diving depth gauges have an electronics, electronic mechanism and Digital data, digital display. Earlier types used a machine, mechanical mechanism and analog circuit, analogue display. Digital depth gauges used by divers commonly also include a timer showing the interval of time that the diver has been submerged. Some show the diver's rate of ascent and descent, which can be is useful for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Compass
A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with North magnetic pole, magnetic north. Other methods may be used, including gyroscopes, magnetometers, and GPS receivers. Compasses often show angles in degrees: north corresponds to 0°, and the angles increase clockwise, so east is 90°, south is 180°, and west is 270°. These numbers allow the compass to show azimuths or bearing (angle), bearings which are commonly stated in degrees. If local magnetic declination, variation between magnetic north and true north is known, then direction of magnetic north also gives direction of true north. Among the Four Great Inventions, the magnetic compass was first invented as a device for divination as early as the history of science and technology in China, Chinese Han dynasty (since c. 206 BC),#Li, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ballast Tank
A ballast tank is a Compartment (ship), compartment within a boat, ship or other floating structure that holds water, which is used as ballast to provide hydrostatic stability for a vessel, to reduce or control buoyancy, as in a submarine, to correct Trim (vessel), trim or Angle of list, list, to provide a more even load distribution along the hull to reduce structural Hogging and sagging, hogging or sagging stresses, or to increase Draft (hull), draft, as in a semi-submersible vessel or platform, or a SWATH, to improve seakeeping. Using water in a tank provides easier weight adjustment than the stone or iron ballast used in older vessels, and makes it easy for the crew to reduce a vessel's Draft (hull), draft when it enters shallower water, by temporarily pumping out ballast. Airships use ballast tanks mainly to control buoyancy and correct trim. History The concept of ballast tanks, inspired by nature, can be seen in aquatic life forms like blowfish and the argonaut octopus, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rudder
A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, airship, or other vehicle that moves through a fluid medium (usually air or water). On an airplane, the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane. A rudder operates by redirecting the fluid past the hull or fuselage, thus imparting a turning or yawing motion to the craft. In basic form, a rudder is a flat plane or sheet of material attached with hinges to the craft's stern, tail, or afterend. Often rudders are shaped to minimize hydrodynamic or aerodynamic drag. On simple watercraft, a tiller—essentially, a stick or pole acting as a lever arm—may be attached to the top of the rudder to allow it to be turned by a helmsman. In larger vessels, cables, pushrods, or hydraulics may link rudders to steering wheels. In typical aircraft, the rudder is operated by pedals via mechanical linkages or hydraulics. H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Electric Battery
An electric battery is a source of electric power consisting of one or more electrochemical cells with external connections for powering electrical devices. When a battery is supplying power, its positive Terminal (electronics), terminal is the cathode and its negative terminal is the anode. The terminal marked negative is the source of electrons. When a battery is connected to an external electric load, those negatively charged electrons flow through the circuit and reach the positive terminal, thus causing a redox reaction by attracting positively charged ions, or cations. Thus, higher energy reactants are converted to lower energy products, and the Gibbs free energy, free-energy difference is delivered to the external circuit as electrical energy. Historically the term "battery" specifically referred to a device composed of multiple cells; however, the usage has evolved to include devices composed of a single cell. Primary battery, Primary (single-use or "disposable") batter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chariot Manned Torpedo
The Chariot was a British human torpedo used in World War II. The Chariot was inspired by the operations of Italian naval commandos, in particular the Raid on Alexandria (1941), raid on 19 December 1941 by members of the Decima Flottiglia MAS who rode "''Maiali"'' manned torpedoes into the Alexandria Port, port of Alexandria and there placed limpet mines on or near the battleships HMS Valiant (1914), HMS ''Valiant'' and HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913), HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' as well as an 8,000-ton tanker, causing serious damage which put both battleships out of operational use until 1943. History Official development of the Chariot began in April 1942, primarily led by two officers of the Royal Navy's submarine service: Commander Geoffrey Sladen DSO*, DSC and Lieutenant Commander William Richmond Fell, William Fell. Training of crews was based out of the depot ship HMS ''Titania'' initially stationed at Gosport and later in Scotland at Loch Erisort (known as port "HZD"), Kingairloc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
