These rare photographs on board Battleships and Cruisers of Queen Victoria's navy in 1896 -1899.  show sailors involved in the often arduous tasks involved with the preparation, firing, and defence against torpedoes.

Torpedo Net Drill: Out Nets (1901)

Torpedo Net Drill: Rolling up Nets (1901)

One of the most arduous exercises which a bluejacket had to perform was that which follows on the order being given "Out Net Defence", or more briefly "Out Nets". The practice meant the shifting of steel wire nets, each of which weighed about 400 lbs, from where they were stowed on deck, generally around the barbettes and amidships, to the sides of the vessel where the net sections were connected with each other, mesh by mesh, furled in one continuous length and attached to booms. Each section of net was about 15 ft x 20ft, so that a number of them were required to provide defence of the ship. Net defence was only used when the ship was at anchor.

Recovering a Torpedo After Torpedo Practice

Torpedo Tube Closed

Bringing in torpedoes.

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A destroyer fires a torpedo

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