Torpedo branch - Seaman Torpedoman

[RCN]

Torpedo branch

The Torpedo branch was part of the Gunnery branch until 1890 when it was then recognized as a separate branch, but did not become entirely independent of the Gunnery branch until 1907.
The Torpedo branch was also responsible for what was at that time referred to as ‘submarine mines’, & the newly introduced (in 1881) ship’s electrical systems.
Initially Gunnery & Torpedo rate badges were combined - a gun crossed over a torpedo indicated the rating was a gunnery specialist, & a torpedo crossed over a gun indicated a torpedo specialization.

The Torpedo branch received its own rate badges in 1903, those being a single torpedo or crossed torpedoes, with the further addition of stars & crown to indicate higher levels of specialization.

I have only illustrated the badges from 1903 onwards as the RCN came into being in 1910. By that time all of the older Victorian era rate badges would have become obsolete.


Seaman Torpedoman (ST):
A rating would attend either HMS Vernon or HMS Defiance to obtain his initial torpedo training & when rated ST 2nd class, he would wear the single torpedo rate badge with star above. This badge was introduced in 1903. When advanced to a higher level of training he would be rated ST 1stclass & add a star below the torpedo. This rate badge only lasted a few years & was gradually phased out. The star above the torpedo then became the
ST 1stclass badge.
The ST rate badge was still being used at the end of WWII.

Bryan

[RCN]

Leading Torpedoman (LTO):

The Leading Torpedo Man (LTO), was in reality a practical electrician as well as a Seaman torpedoman.
Those ratings who showed aptitude were encouraged to take a more advanced course to qualify as LTO. In those days this included electrical theory and power distribution, including wiring, switches, circuitry, circuit testing and batteries. By the time of WWI HM Ships were utilizing more & more electrical power & ratings were needed who knew how to operate & maintain the many electrical systems.

Examples of LTO rate badges are illustrated below.....

[RCN]

The LTO (Low power) rate badge was introduced in 1939 & was a star above & below the crossed torpedoes.
This badge & the LTO rate badge were used until 1947 & was abolished with the introduction of the Electrical branch.

[RCN]

ST (Wireman):

This rate badge was the ST rate badge with the addition of a letter L below the torpedo. These ratings were electrical specialists & were mainly involved with mines. Rate was introduced in 1940 & was phased out by 1947, the year the Electrical branch came into being.

The Leading Wireman rate badge was a star above the crossed torpedoes.

[RCN]

Torpedo Boat Coxswain (TC):

An ST, once he reached Leading Seaman or Petty Officer rank, could advance to Torpedo Boat Coxswain. This rate was introduced with the advent of Torpedo Boats (later Torpedo Boat Destroyers) in the late Victorian era.

The coxswain of the TB, either a Leading Seamen or PO 2nd Class, was given a special course in TB handling, which involved steering the TBD at high speed manoeuvring, and including night-time maneouvers. This senior rating was in charge of and responsible for all ratings carried in the boat. Consequently the position of Torpedo Boat Coxswain was granted a special distinguishing rate badge, this being crossed torpedoes of a LTO with a 6 spoke wheel above in place of the star. This rate badge was introduced in 1903 & lasted until approx 1932.

During WWI & the interwar period, Torpedo Coxswains were now the senior ratings in all destroyers, navy-manned patrol craft, coastal motor boats and, along with Submarine Coxswains, in submarines. They were usually experienced & senior PO’s & CPO’s. This practice was continued during WWII when TC's were involved with the various types of Landing craft.

In 1932 the TC badge was altered by moving the wheel below the crossed torpedoes & adding the Crown in its place. This badge was being phased out by the time the RCN changed its trade & rate badge structure in 1949-50.

Both pre war TC rate badges are illustrated below

[RCN]

Illustrated are WWII period TC rate badges.

Later in WWII (approx 1944) some of the TC rate badges have an 8 spoke wheel instead of the earlier 6 spoke wheel.

In late 1943, as a wartime economy measure, gold thread embroidered rate badges were brought in to replace the gold bullion wire embroidered badges, as a wartime economy measure & lasted thru the post war period.

[RCN]

Torpedo Instructor (TI):

During the period from 1903 to 1909 an LTO who was a Petty Officer could be advanced to Torpedo Instructor (TI) & he was just that - an Instructor of torpedos & electrical systems. By this time all of the specialized torpedo & electrical training was taking place at HMS Vernon, the Torpedo/Electrical school in Portsmouth harbour.

Illustrated ia an example of a TI rate badge of this period...

[RCN]

Torpedo Gunners Mate: (TGM):

In 1909 the TI rate badge became the Torpedo Gunners Mate (TGM) badge, this rate badge being the TI badge with an added star below the crossed torpedoes. This badge survived until 1932, when the upper star was abolished, leaving only the Crown & star below the torpedoes.

The TGM rate survived throughout the WWII period & postwar to approx 1947.
He was the senior torpedo rating on board a ship or base & was either a PO, or more likely a CPO.

Illustrated below are TGM CPO matched pairs for wear on the lapels of the tunic
These particular badges are WWI & interwar period rate badges.

Bryan

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

I thought that, in the UK at least, the "Submarine Miners" were a branch of the Royal Engineers. They were also responsible for the steam-driven Brennan Torpedo system which was installed at about a dozen coastal forts during the late Victorian period.

[RCN]

Originally, (in Victorian times) when they were first conceived, they were called "submarine mines", as they were underwater. They were fired electrically from shore.
Later in the pre WWI period the title was shortened to simply "mines".

There was indeed a unit, I believe of the RE, called "Submarine Miners" altho I must say I am not knowledgable of their time frame or specific duties.

Bryan

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

The Submarine Miners, RE, were a British unit, one of their bases being in what later became the TA centre at Falmouth, which was equipped with a narrow gauge trwmway to faciliate the movement of mines. I was, however, wondering if their were parallel arrangements in Canada and Australia?

[RCN]

Originally Posted by Stanley_C_Jenkins

The Submarine Miners, RE, were a British unit, one of their bases being in what later became the TA centre at Falmouth, which was equipped with a narrow gauge trwmway to faciliate the movement of mines. I was, however, wondering if their were parallel arrangements in Canada and Australia?

To the best of my knowledge Canada never had a Submarine Miners unit.

Bryan