Goat Island is a small island in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1869, an torpedo station was established in order to design and build ordnance for the Navy. The station lost several personnel over the years as a result of accidental explosions. One of worst accidents occured during January of 1918. In the Number 2 Workroom, fulminate of mercury (used in detonators) exploded killing thirteen and injurying another twelve. From World War One to World War Two, the station produced a large percentage of the torpedos used by the United States (some sources say as high as eighty percent, others are as low as one-third during World War Two.) During World War Two, 62,000 torpedos were manufactured. At its height employed 13,000 people. Production ended December of 1951.

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