AERIAL TORPEDO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 211, 6 August 1937, Page 7

AERIAL TORPEDO.

MINEFIELDS DISTRIBUTED. TIME-BOMBS ON ROCKETS. LONDON, July 25. A remarkable story' of a device to lay “aerial minefields” to counter raiding aircraft is described in tbe Sunday Chronicle, which says it lias been examined and praised by aeronautical experts. It is stated that the inventor, Mr Harry Grindell-Matthews, lias designed an aerial torpedo which will reach a height of 32,000 feet within a few seconds. At this height, the rocket will discharge upwards of 20 parachutes, to v'hich time-bombs are attached by high tensile quality steel wires. The parent rocket is provided with its own parachute, which blows out at the end, thus enabling the rocket to be retrieved and recharged.

Large numbers of these rockets would be discharged in a short time, releasing colonies of 20 to 30 smaller rockets and so creating an aerial minefield over a wide area. The cost of the rockets would be a lew hundred pounds each. ... , Tbe Sunday Chronicle describes the inventor’s experimental station as situated on a lonely Welsh plateau surrounded by an electrified fence and barbed wire fences. In tbe workshops, it adds, the rockets will be manufactured soon. Mr Grindell-Mattliews, who was born in 1880, lias devoted many years to scientific research, especially in the sphere of air defence. In 1911 lie succeeded in establishing wireless communication with an aeroplane in flight. His inventions include an automatic pilot for aeroplanes, control of boats by searchlight beams, and submarine detectors. He lias been engaged on defence against aircraft and submarines since 1930.