thus, "picket boat no. 1" became "alpha". some sources indicate that "alpha" – which was also called "tug no. 1" – entered the norfolk navy yard for the installation of a spar torpedo; but, since "picket launch no. 1" did carry a spar torpedo which lt. william b. gushing used to destroy "albemarle", it is reasonable to assume that similarity of names caused the two vessels to be confused and "alpha" never received such a weapon.