Abstract :
BY THE middle of the 19th Century naval warfare tactics had developed in such a way that there was a pressing need for shorebased counter-attacking weaponry. Harbour defence was becoming critical as the range and power of ships´ guns increased. Although Louis Brennan had once thought his fish-shaped wire-guided missile to be suited for shipboard launching, eventually it would be the standard British port defence, operating in eight locations over the period 1890-1906.