Q&A · 37:22-37:40

Destroyers lower deck rails before torpedo action

Whether a torpedo clears a destroyer's rail depends on launcher height, but rails in the firing arc were normally lowered at action stations.

Deck Operations Destroyers Ship Design Torpedoes

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Question

Must a destroyer move its deck handrails before launching torpedoes?

Short answer

It depends on launcher height, but the rails were normally lowered as part of going to action stations.

Notes

The immediate geometry depends on the height of the launcher. Normal preparation did not leave the question to chance, however. As part of going to action stations, the relevant handrails were dropped to clear the torpedo's path.