The Mark 14 torpedo problems facing the Navy at the beginning of World War II were tragic and well-documented. Unknown at the dawn of the 21st century is the fact that there was a weapon on the drawing boards that would have solved our torpedo problems—and shortened the war by at least two years. The fact that this unique state-of-the-art torpedo was not manufactured is incomprehensible, and can only be attributed to bureaucratic stupidity.
Equally unknown to history is its developer, M. F. Stewart, whose fertile brain conceived this weapon in the early 1920s, after a long night of extensive research, aided by drinking Royal Navy grog. Although the pages of history are obscure on this point, it is believed that his loyal dachshund, Herman, was a full participant in the research, and should share the credit with his talented master. This drawing was only recently discovered in a forgotten underground vault at the Newport Torpedo Station, when a hotel, now built on the site, was excavating for a new and more extensive wine cellar.