Torpedoes, in early times (as in around the
U.S. Civil War), referred to what are today called
mines;
stationary floating or sunken
ordnance designed to destroy
shipping. The famous phrase "
Damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!" actually is this usage of the term; it was
uttered aboard a
Civil War vessel making a
hazardous run up a mined river.
Spuunbenda reminds me helpfully that the speaker was Vice Admiral David Glasgow Farragut.