"In this book, Thomas Wildenberg and Norman Polmar provide a definitive work on the development and use of the torpedo by the U. S. Navy. Their book begins with an overview of the early undersea weapons developed by Bushnell and Fulton, the spar torpedo of the Civil War and attempts to imitate the Whitehead torpedo, and then focuses on American torpedo development for use from submarines, surface warships and small combatants, and aircraft. "--Publisher's description.