Spar torpedo
![The Confederate torpedo boat CSS David showing the spar torpedo mounted to the bow](/Images/godic/202502/12/CSS_David_drawing4338.jpg")
![Explosive charge lashed to the boom of a spar torpedo](/Images/godic/202502/12/Explosive_charge_lashed_to_boom_of_spar_torpedo4339.jpg")
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 the end, so it would stick to wooden hulls. A fuse could then be used to detonate it.