External Torpedo Reserves

[Von Tonner]

Does anyone know when external torpedo reserves were introduced?

Why I ask is that I am busy reading Peter Padfield's excellent book, "War Beneath The Sea" and on page 12 he writes "... external tubes could not be reloaded until return to base".

It is not clear if he is referring to subs prior to World War II or not. But even if that is the case if one had to return to base to reload external's why have them in the first place?

It could be "base" could also refer a neutral port which would then make some sense for earlier subs.

Any ideas?

[Sailor Steve]

I just took a look at the relevant page and I believe he's referring not to external reloads, which could be transfered to the internal tubes, but to extra tubes mounted outside the pressure hull. These were in some British classes and could be fired once but there was no way to get to them from the boat, even surfaced.

Here is the 'T' class submarine HMS Thorn.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Thorn_zps57493d55.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Thorn_zps57493d55.png.html)

And HMS Triumph after hitting a mine in 1939. Fortunately none of the torpedo warheads were set off by the explosion.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Triumph_zpse751df9e.png (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Triumph_zpse751df9e.png.html)

[Von Tonner]

Thanks SailorSteve... you are correct...I overlooked the operative word "tubes":oops:

Really enjoying the book.