The cruelty of war is not only reflected in the rain of bullets, but also in the destruction of people's hearts. Against this backdrop, the U.S. Navy introduced the strictest prohibition in history in order to strengthen military discipline. Alcohol, which can bring a moment of selflessness and relaxation to officers and soldiers in peacetime, has now become taboo. However, just when everyone thought that the imprisoned freedom would never be touched again in the deep sea, an unexpected discovery ignited hope - the ethanol inside the torpedo.
1. Prohibition after Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the early morning of Pearl Harbor was torn apart by the sudden sound of bombing and explosions, and the peaceful harbor was instantly transformed into a battlefield. The Japanese aircraft swarm was like an eagle striking into the sky and launched a thunderous blow at the US naval base. Artillery fire, explosions, and screams mingle to form a symphony of disaster that day. The US Navy suffered an unprecedented blow: four warships sank in smoke and fireworks, four destroyers were badly damaged, more than 200 aircraft were scrap metal, and thousands of officers and men were killed and wounded in the raid. This attack not only destroyed a large number of combat power of the US Navy, but more importantly, it directly pushed the United States into the vortex of World War II.
In the aftermath of this incident, the U.S. Navy faced the dual pressure of reconstruction and revenge. In order to quickly increase the combat effectiveness and discipline of the army, the leadership of the US Navy made a big decision - to implement the strictest prohibition in history. In wartime, alcohol was often seen as a means for soldiers to find solace in fear and stress. However, the issuance of this new order has made many officers and soldiers who originally relied on alcohol to relieve psychological pressure feel unprecedented restraint and dissatisfaction. In the harsh environment of war, the ordinary solace of alcohol has been lost, and the emotions of many officers and soldiers have become heavier.
Inside the U.S. Navy base, former bars and lounges were closed, and the gathering place for officers and soldiers became eerily quiet. On ships, the alcohol, which was meant to celebrate victories or relieve tension, disappeared and was replaced by more rigorous training and discipline requirements. The way officers and soldiers lived and had to play was forced to change, and the traditions of building team cohesion and friendship through drinking were interrupted. This is undoubtedly a major blow for those looking for spiritual solace in the harsh life at sea.
II. The Unique "Antidote" for Submariners
During the grim period when the U.S. Navy imposed Prohibition, submariners found a unique way to deal with this challenge in a confined and lonely underwater world. Their creativity and adaptability were demonstrated in the repurposing of ethanol used in the MK14 and MK10 torpedoes. These torpedoes, as the main weapon of the submarine, had in their fuel a high concentration of ethanol, which was very similar in purity and properties to drinking alcohol.
After in-depth research and testing, submariners began experimenting with mixing this ethanol, which was originally used to propel torpedoes, with edible juice. In the process, they discovered that by mixing in the right proportions, they could make a drink that was both safe and tasty, which they named "torpedo juice." The invention of this drink was not only a smart response to Prohibition, but also a way for submariners to maintain morale and team cohesion in difficult conditions.
The process of making torpedo juice became a ritual inside the submarine. First, they needed to carefully extract the ethanol from the torpedo, a step that required precision and care to ensure the safe handling of this highly flammable liquid. Next, they mix the extracted ethanol with the pre-prepared juice in a specific ratio. Depending on the supply on board, the type of juice is sometimes citrus juice, sometimes it may be apple or grape juice, which not only provides the necessary vitamins, but also produces a unique flavor when mixed with ethanol.
During the mixing process, the submariners carefully adjust the ratio of ethanol and juice to ensure that the drink is both pleasant and safe to drink. Through experimentation and tasting, they gradually found the best recipe. After this process, the torpedo juice was prepared and became a special drink for submariners during long underwater missions.
The existence of torpedo juice is not only a response to Prohibition, but also a common memory and experience of submariners, strengthening their team spirit and mutual dependence. In the confined space underwater, this self-created drink becomes a special source of comfort and pleasure. During missions that lasted weeks or even months, torpedo juice was not only a material pleasure, but also a symbol of the submariners' love for life and courage in the face of challenges.
3. Responses and countermeasures of the Navy's top brass
When the top brass of the US Navy learned of the submariners' drinking alcohol through torpedoes, they immediately took measures to deal with the situation. In order to prevent submariners from continuing to extract ethanol from torpedoes for drinking, the Navy decided to add dyes and other additives to ethanol. These additives are designed to cause physical discomfort, such as vomiting and diarrhea, and even poisoning when officers and soldiers drink ethanol adulterated with these chemicals, thus acting as a deterrent to prevent officers and soldiers from continuing this practice of stealing alcohol.
This measure once seemed effective, and the Navy's top brass hoped that it would quickly end the phenomenon of alcohol theft by submariners and maintain the seriousness of military discipline. However, they underestimated the adaptability and problem-solving creativity of submariners. Faced with the addition of chemical ethanol, the submariners did not give up their torpedo juice, but showed a higher level of innovation and intelligence.
Using the knowledge of mathematical chemistry accumulated over the long service of the submarine, the submariners set out to solve the problem of how to extract pure alcohol from ethanol doped with dyes and other harmful chemicals. They designed and built a simple filtration device that uses the basic principles of chemical separation to remove harmful substances from ethanol through a multi-layer filtration system.
The construction of the filter unit is relatively simple, but the effect is remarkable. The submariners collected materials available on board, such as cotton, sand and activated carbon, which were cleverly combined to form a multi-stage filtration system. As the ethanol and juice mixture passes through this filtration system, the stains and other additives are effectively removed, while the pure alcohol is retained. In this way, the submariners managed to overcome the increased obstacles in the upper echelons of the Navy, once again obtaining the alcohol they needed to make their beloved torpedo juice.
This process was not only a technical victory, but also a manifestation of the intelligence and teamwork of the submariners. In the process of solving this problem, the submariners conducted several experiments to optimize the design of the filtration device to ensure that the final ethanol was safe and suitable for drinking. Their efforts were ultimately successful, not only bypassing the obstacles set up by the Navy's upper echelons, but also preserving the culture and traditions peculiar to submariners.
Fourth, the legend of torpedo juice
Over time, the attitude of the US Navy top brass towards the stealing of alcohol by submariners gradually changed. At first, they tried to strictly stop this by adding dyes and other additives to ethanol, but in the face of the intelligence and creativity shown by the submariners, they eventually had to acquiesce to the existence of this phenomenon. The submariners succeeded in removing the harmful substances from the ethanol through a homemade filtration device and continued to make and enjoy their special drink, torpedo juice. The drink became popular not only within the submarine forces, but its fame gradually spread to other branches of the Navy.
As the submariners returned to port, the stories of the torpedo juice they brought with them and how to make them began to spread among the navy. This unique drink was originally created in response to Prohibition in the midst of harsh wartime circumstances, but it has since become a cultural symbol beyond its original purpose. At various official and unofficial gatherings, torpedo juice became a special drink, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of the submariners in difficult conditions and the importance they attached to team cohesion.
The teamwork and innovation of the submariners in the process of making torpedo juice have won widespread respect and appreciation. Their story became a great story in the navy, and torpedo juice was gradually seen as a symbol of honor. The popularity of this drink reflects how people have adapted and improved the harsh living conditions through innovation in a particular historical period.
V. Post-war torpedo juice and naval culture
With the end of World War II, the United States and its Navy ushered in a period of peace and reconstruction. In the process, the U.S. Navy gradually restored the supply of alcohol to officers and soldiers, ending the strict wartime prohibition of alcohol. Once again, officers and soldiers were able to enjoy alcohol in a legal and controlled environment to relax and enhance communication between teams. However, despite the fact that alcohol has become available again, the preference of the submariners who have experienced the arduous sea missions for the torpedo juice they created in the war has not diminished in the slightest.
This unique drink, originally born as a wartime contingency plan in response to Prohibition, has formed a deep emotional bond among submariners because of its unique taste and the story behind it. For them, torpedo juice is not just a drink, but also a memory of a shared experience, a symbol of survival and fun in the face of adversity. It became a source of pride for them, a special way for them to maintain team morale and cohesion during long and lonely missions at sea.
After the war, with the spread of the torpedo juice story, the drink gradually moved out of the inner circle of the submarine forces and attracted wider social attention. Its unique provenance, how it was made, and the historical story behind it sparked the public's curiosity. People are fascinated by this drink born in the midst of war, and they appreciate and respect the intelligence, creativity and perseverance of the submariners behind it.
Seeing the popularity of torpedo juice among the public and the potential market demand, some commercial companies began to commercialize it. They combined the Torpedo Juice brand with its unique backstory to create a range of cocktail offerings. These products faithfully replicate the original recipe and method used by submariners to make torpedo juice, while also adding some elements of modern cocktails to make them more suitable for modern tastes.
Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(Philosophy and Social Science),2020,28(2):62-70.)