Bradley A. Fiske

Rear Admiral Bradley Allen Fiske (June 13, 1854 – April 6, 1942) was an officer in the United States Navy who was noted as a technical innovator. During his long career, Fiske invented more than a hundred and thirty electrical and mechanical devices, with both naval and civilian uses, and wrote extensively on technical and professional issues; The New Yorker called him "one of the notable naval inventors of all time."

Fiske resigned as Aide for Operations on April 1, 1915, and was replaced by Admiral William Shepherd Benson as the first Chief of Naval Operations.

Naval innovations In 1915, Fiske reported that aerial torpedoes could be used to attack enemy fleets in their own harbors. In the late 19th century, ships' guns were equipped only with open sights. Fiske, then a lieutenant on a gunboat, developed the idea of augmenting his ship's guns with a telescopic sight to improve accuracy. By 1890, he had taken out the first of several patents on his telescopic sights, which in time would be developed into the modern range finder.

In 1910, while considering the problem of defending the Philippine islands, Fiske conceived of the idea of equipping aircraft with lightweight torpedoes. Fiske worked out the mechanics of carrying and releasing an aerial torpedo from a bomber, and defined tactics that included a night-time approach so that the target ship would be less able to defend itself. Airplanes large enough to suit his purpose were not available until 1912, at which point Fiske was able to implement his design. Fiske reported in 1915 that, using this method, enemy fleets could be attacked within their own harbors, and remarked that he had invented not just a new weapon but an entirely new method of warfare.

Retirement and later years Following a year at the Naval War College, Rear Admiral Fiske was retired upon reaching the age of 62 in June 1916. His professional activities continued into the mid-1920s, however, with service as President of the U.S. Naval Institute and several sessions of temporary duty with the Navy Department.

In 1924, Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske was quoted in the New York Times stating that "the Japanese and the Americans have taken attitudes that are irreconcilable [regarding the Immigration Act] and such attitudes have usually preceded wars... We are prepared for war if it does come."

Among Fiske's improvements were an improved stadimeter, helm-angle indicator, engine-room telegraphs, speed and direction indicators, a turret range finder, a gun director system, and steering telegraphs.

On March 5, 1922, an article appeared in the New York Times stating that "Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, has turned his inventive genius to the literary field and has produced an instrument designed to revolutionize the reading of books." The article goes on to describe the Fiske Reading Machine as:

Though Fiske's intention was to allow a reader to carry a small library of books in a purse or pocket, his invention never caught on. Even so, twenty-first century observers have noted similarities between the Fiske Reading Machine and devices such as the Amazon Kindle.

Fiske Reading Machine with miniaturized text of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske died in New York City on 6 April 1942, aged 87. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery four days later.

Namesake The Navy has named two warships, , 1943–1944, and , 1945–1980, in his honor.