Conservation of Howell Mark I Torpedo No. 24

Summary

Conservation of a 19th century Howell Mark I torpedo is currently underway at the Naval History & Heritage Command’s Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory in Washington DC. This torpedo, one of only 50 produced and one of only three surviving examples, was discovered in spring 2013 off the coast of San Diego by trained dolphins from the US Navy’s Marine Mammal Program. Designed by a US Navy officer, this revolutionary weapon was the first American-manufactured steam-powered locomotive torpedo. The artifact itself is a complex of precise mechanical components made up of copper alloy, iron alloy, and organic materials. This poster will present a brief history of the torpedo, discuss its significance in US naval warfare technology, and detail initial conservation research and treatment procedures.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Poster Session   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): POS-99,18