Dwight Bonham needs help from Torpedoman Mates with his research on Torpedo Testing History

Updated 07-14-03 with Dwight's contact information at page bottom

". . . My complements on the Torpedoman’s Association website. I find it both impressive and informational I only wish I’d found it sooner. I’m retired Army and am looking to write a paper/article regarding torpedo testing (or lack thereof) prior to WWII. 

The central figure in this project is of course the Mark XIV torpedo. A lot has been written about Mark XIV problems, some of it well documented and some less well. I’m hoping that your membership might be able to provide answers to a couple of questions, so I might improve the historical record somewhat. My understanding is that every WWII torpedo was a (somewhat) unique item with its own operational characteristics. Each torpedo’s individual maintenance history, as well as the operational conditions / results when fired were recorded. A picture of  this log is at http://www.members.aol.com/rayeso/index.html. Click on “torpbook.jpg” about mid-way down the index page there or click on the Icon below to see the form. (Bold Italics = text corrections and changes by Web Master)

torpbook.jpg

The problem is that I’m not sure what the picture actually says. I think the picture is of a logbook, Standard Ordnance Form 32 (St Ord 32, the form being dated as Oct 1934). The title of the logbook is Manufacture - Service Record of US Navy Torpedo. The cover indicates that the document is for a specific Number (SN#’d) torpedo. But the picture is blurry and I am not sure whether it really says St Ord 32, or some other number (St Ord 32 and the publication dates are in fact my best guess). Could anyone please clarify what the numbers actually are?

Perhaps more important is if anyone knows whether these logs have been kept, and if so where are they stored today as historical documents? The picture suggests to me that the logbooks might have been returned to Newport Torpedo Station (which is, of course no more). Also, CAPT Groneman’s article “A Torpedo Called Alice” suggests that he had access to such documents.

Neither the National Achieves (NARA), nor any of the Navy/Submarine Museums indicate that they have any St Ord 32 logbook(s). BUT admittedly I may not have been asking the question correctly, hence my first question above. NARA especially is famous for answer a research question exactly the way It’s asked. 

Anyway, I would appreciate any info you or your members should shed on the subject. Thanks.