Giovanni Biagio Luppis

Giovanni Biagio Luppis (August 27th 1813 - January 11th 1875) was an Austrian naval officer, born with Fiume which it first had the idea of a Torpille autopropulsée.

First years

In 1813, Fiume belongs to the Austrian empire (and after 1867 of the kingdom of Hungary). Luppis makes its studies with the college of Fiume, then between at the naval college of Venice. He marries an young woman of the aristocracy: Elisa de Zotty.
It is useful in the Austrian marine and arrives at the rank commander. In 1848/1849 it takes part in the blockade of Venice intended to oppose the Italian unification.

The " Salvacoste"

It is at the same time that a naval artillery officer Austrian conceives the project of a small stuffed boat of explosive, propelled by a steam engine or compressed-air and directed remotely by ropes in order to go to strike the enemy ships. To its death, and before it could improve its invention or make it public, the files of this anonymous officer fall between the hands from Giovanni Luppis.
Taking up the idea on its account, Luppis envisages a kind of floating Mine which would be controlled since the shore. The first prototype is one meter long but is too primitive to be opérationnel.
The second version is built with a mechanism with spring to ensure the propulsion. The explosive is with the back but can be put at fire by an impact on the front one, the sides or the top in the event of reversal. The rudders are actuated by cables since the terre.
After many tests, the version known by the name " 6m" or " salvacoste" function enough bien.
In 1860, Luppis although reprocessed marine manages to organize a demonstration of the " 6m" for the emperor François-Joseph. It is a success. But the naval commission remains reserved and asks for the improvement of the propulsion and the guidage.

Meet with Robert Whitehead

In 1864, via the mayor of Fiume, it can meet the English engineer Robert Whitehead, director of the Stabilimento Technico Fiumano with which it makes an agreement for the development of the " salvacoste".
Whitehead prepares a new prototype, but concludes rather quickly that the idea is not viable. From its point of view one should not any more concentrate on an action on the surface but seek a more effective solution to attack the ships under the line of flottaison.
Its new model will sail under water, propelled by an engine compressed-air and equipped with an in-depth automatic guidance control and direction.
Whitehead deeply modified the original project, but it continues to allot the credit of discovered to Luppis.
December 21st, 1866, the first automobile torpedo is officially presented to the Austro-Hungarian authorities for an evaluation. The model has a diameter of 355 mm (16 "), a 3,35 meters length and a weight of 146 kg including 8 kg of explosif.
The impressed naval commission validates the tests and as of on March 6th, 1867 the Austrian government places a first order. Whitehead preserves the rights of sale in other states and negotiates a new agreement with Giovanni Luppis which ensures the total control of the sales futures.
to him This invention appears very promising, but during the first years there is not enough order and the Stabilimento Technico Fiumano passes through an serious attack which leads it to the bankruptcy in 1873.
Whitehead repurchases the business and transforms it into a private company in 1875.
Giovanni Luppis was withdrawn in Milan where he dies in 1875.

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