Torpedo director
This is part of the military equipment from Torpedoboot V44, a German destroyer ship from the First World War. It is a ‘tube director’ used for aiming the torpedoes towards enemy ships, and is one of two torpedo aiming mechanisms in our museum’s collection from this ship, likely donated by the War Trophies Committee.
The V44 was ordered in 1914 and launched in February 1915, and served extensive action during the war years, with an important role in the Battle of Jutland. After the Armistice in November 1918, the ship was surrendered to the Royal Navy who stripped it of useful parts and later used it for target practice. Her wrecked remains were rediscovered in Portsmouth harbour in 2015 by the Maritime Archaeology Trust.
The V44 was ordered in 1914 and launched in February 1915, and served extensive action during the war years, with an important role in the Battle of Jutland. After the Armistice in November 1918, the ship was surrendered to the Royal Navy who stripped it of useful parts and later used it for target practice. Her wrecked remains were rediscovered in Portsmouth harbour in 2015 by the Maritime Archaeology Trust.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 467/1974/2
- Collection Class
- Social and industrial history
- Material
- brass
- Common Name
- torpedo director
- Simple Name
- torpedo director
- Inscription Transcription
- V44; 1579
- Period Classification
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Production Date
- 1914
