The Torpedo Experimental Establishment (T.E.E.) also known as the Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment was a former research department of the British
Department of Admiralty from 1947 to 1959. It was responsible for the design, development and production of torpedoes for the Royal Navy. In 1959 its work and staff merged with the
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
The Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment was an Admiralty research department dedicated to underwater detection systems and weapons. It was formed at the Isle of Portland in 1959 and later became part of the Admiralty Research Establishmen ...
. The department was administered by the Superintendent, Torpedo Experiment and Design.
History
Research into the development of torpedoes first occurred during the end of the 19th century. Initially this took place at the
Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich. Further research work was then undertaken at the
Royal Naval Torpedo Factory,
Greenock, Scotland
Greenock (; ; , ) is a town in Inverclyde, Scotland, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The town is the administrative centre of Inverclyde Council. It is a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...
with additional torpedo experimentation being undertaken by a private contractor, the
Whitehead Torpedo Works based in
Weymouth, Dorset
Weymouth ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the Dorset (district), Dorset district, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. Situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey, Dorset, River Wey, south of the county town of ...
.
In 1937, the Admiralty acquired
another factory at Alexandria, Scotland, to boost production. With the advent of World War Two the Whitehead Torpedo Works barely maintained the production outputs required of them. In 1943 the Admiralty decided to set up an additional department at their factory. Collectively these centers of research and development became known as the Torpedo Experimental Establishment. It continued to operate until 1959 when it was closed. Its work was continued by the newly created
Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
The Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment was an Admiralty research department dedicated to underwater detection systems and weapons. It was formed at the Isle of Portland in 1959 and later became part of the Admiralty Research Establishmen ...
(AUWE) based at
Portland, Dorset, England.
The establishment was administered the Superintendent, Torpedo Experiment and Design.
Superintendent, Torpedo Experiment and Design
Included:
# 1942–1950, Captain F. T. de. M. Morgan. (also Superintendent Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Greenock)
# 1951–1958, H. Turner. (also Superintendent Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Alexandria)
# 1958–1959, Captain G. O. Symonds.
References
Sources
# Archives, National (1930–1960). "Admiralty: Royal Navy Torpedo Factory and Torpedo Experimental Establishment: Reports and Technical Notes". Richmond, London, England: The National Archives.
# Commons, House of (1959). "Torpedo Experimental Establishment, Greenock (Hansard, 8 July 1959)". api.parliament.uk. Hansard.
# Great Britain, Admiralty (1945). The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office.
# Great Britain, Admiralty (1946). The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office.
# Great Britain, Admiralty (1956). The Navy List. London, England: H.M. Stationery Office.
# Harding, Richard (2002). The Royal Navy 1930-1990: Innovation and Defense. Cambridge, England: Routledge. .
{{Admiralty Department
Admiralty departments