Bradley Allen Fiske
Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske (13 June, 1854 – 6 April, 1942) was an innovator in gunnery, and served in the United States Navy as America's closest analog to Britain's Percy Scott. Amongst his many other contributions, he was best known for arguably inventing the optical Rangefinder, his inaugurating use of telescopic gunsights, and for advocating the use of aerial torpedo bombers.
Life & Career
Fiske was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1887.
Fiske was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1899.
Fiske was promoted to the rank of Commander on 1903.
Fiske was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1907.
Fiske was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in August, 1911.
Fiske proved "an early and ardent advocate of the torpedo plane": in 1911 he seriously proposed entrusting the defense of the Philippine Islands to a force of 400 torpedo planes. Given that no such aircraft existed at that time, the General Board understandably "gave this idea short shrift". Subsequently, Fiske was granted a patent for an aircraft fitted to carry and launch torpedoes.[1]
The British noted that Fiske was advocating the use of torpedo seaplanes in 1912.[2]
See Also
Bibliography
Service Records
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Rogers H. Galt |
Captain of U.S.S. Arkansas 10 Mar, 1906[3] |
Succeeded by Harry M. Dombaugh |
| Preceded by Thomas B. Howard |
Captain of U.S.S. Tennessee 9 Jul, 1908[4] – 13 Aug, 1910[Inference] |
Succeeded by Harry S. Knapp |
| Preceded by Charles E. Vreeland |
Aide for Naval Operations 13 Feb, 1913 – 11 May, 1915[5] |
Succeeded by William S. Benson as Chief of Naval Operations |
Footnotes
