spar torpedo
Quick Summary
A spar torpedo was an early form of naval weapon consisting of an explosive charge attached to the end of a long pole or spar. This weapon was designed to be carried to an enemy vessel by an attacking ship, exploding upon contact with the hull.12
The term "torpedo" originally referred to any explosive charge, including naval mines. During the 19th century, the spar torpedo was used, predating the development of self-propelled underwater missiles. The modern torpedo, a self-propelled underwater missile, was developed by Robert Whitehead in the late 1860s.2
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