CSS ''Squib'', also referred to as ''Infanta'', was a small

torpedo boat A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of ...

in the service of the

Confederate States Navy The Confederate States Navy (CSN) was the Navy, naval branch of the Confederate States Armed Forces, established by an act of the Confederate States Congress on February 21, 1861. It was responsible for Confederate naval operations during the Amer ...

in 1864. She operated in the James River. Her armament consisted of one

spar torpedo A spar torpedo is a weapon consisting of a bomb placed at the end of a long pole, or spar, and attached to a boat. The weapon is used by running the end of the spar into the enemy ship. Spar torpedoes were often equipped with a barbed spear at ...

. On the night of 9 April, 1864, Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, CSN, the Confederate torpedo expert, sailed ''Squib'' through the Federal fleet off

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the 5th most populous city in Virginia and 140th most populous city in the Uni ...

, and exploded 53 pounds of powder against the side of flagship before returning up the James River to safety. The torpedo was exploded too near the surface to achieve maximum effect, and ''Minnesota'' escaped without serious damage. For his gallant and meritorious conduct in the performance of this exploit, Davidson was promoted to the rank of commander in the Confederate States Navy. The final disposition of ''Squib'' has not been established.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Squib Torpedo boats of the Confederate States Navy Squib-class torpedo boats