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Howell torpedo
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<p>The Howell Automobile Torpedo was the first self-propelled <a href="/facts/Torpedo/RLLPpktk">torpedo</a> produced in quantity by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a>, which referred to it as the Howell Mark I torpedo. It was conceived by <a href="/facts/Lieutenant_commander_(United_States)/nsSYGl9W">Lieutenant Commander</a> <a href="/facts/John_Adams_Howell/bav653vQ">John A. Howell</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a>, in 1870, using a 60 kg (130 lb) <a href="/facts/Flywheel/x6yw1efR">flywheel</a> spun at a very high speed (10,000 to 12,000 rpm) to store energy and drive <a href="/facts/Propeller/0IN0JKXC">propellers</a>. </p>