在洋務(wù)運動中，水雷學(xué)堂是天津創(chuàng)立最早的洋務(wù)學(xué)堂。
李鴻章創(chuàng)建北洋水師，需要水雷這種武器，李鴻章創(chuàng)辦北洋機器局，其中一大任務(wù)就是制造水雷。這個時候，機器局已經(jīng)能夠生產(chǎn)各式水雷。例如500磅藥碰雷，1000磅藥沉雷、電雷，150～700磅藥撞雷等等。而生產(chǎn)、管理和使用水雷，就需要這方面的技術(shù)人才，水雷學(xué)堂便應(yīng)運而生。
清光緒二年 (1876)四月，李鴻章向朝廷奏稱： “水雷為海防需要，已延請西士，選募生童，就局內(nèi) (即北洋機器局東局)添設(shè)電氣水雷局，教練一切。”這個 “電氣水雷局” 中的水雷局，即為天津機器總局附設(shè)的水雷學(xué)堂。
水雷是布設(shè)在水中的一種爆炸武器，一般由艦艇、飛機布設(shè)，用來炸毀敵人艦船或者限制敵人艦船的活動，是海軍必備的武器。
天津水雷學(xué)堂培養(yǎng)出大批電器水雷的技術(shù)人才，并在清光緒二十年 (1894)中日甲午戰(zhàn)爭中，發(fā)揮了很好的作用。如蔡連干，曾赴美國留學(xué)，回國后在天津水雷學(xué)堂繼續(xù)學(xué)習(xí)，畢業(yè)后在大沽炮臺魚雷艇隊任職，甲午海戰(zhàn)時，他指揮魚雷參戰(zhàn)，毀傷敵艦多艘。宣統(tǒng)三年(1911),升任海軍部軍制司長，翌年授海軍中將銜，任總統(tǒng)府高等軍事顧問。
天津水雷學(xué)堂開辦以后，大沽、大連、威海等地，才相繼辦起了水雷學(xué)堂。所以天津水雷學(xué)堂是中國第一所水雷學(xué)堂，也系洋務(wù)派在北方創(chuàng)辦技工專門學(xué)校之始。以后又陸續(xù)創(chuàng)辦了電報學(xué)堂(1880年10月) 、北洋水師學(xué)堂(1881年8月)、北洋武備學(xué)堂(1885年初)、北洋海軍醫(yī)學(xué)堂(1881年)等新式學(xué)堂。

·1885年天津機器局
《魚雷圖解秘本》刻本

·1890年天津機器局
《魚雷圖說》刻本

Torpedo School was the first technical school establishedduring the Westernization Movement in Tianjin.
As the founder of Beiyang Fleet,Li Hongzhangwas in need of torpedoes. He set up Tianjin Arsenalwhich was specialized in torpedo production. By thenthe Arsenal was able to yield various torpedoes such ascontact torpedo of 500-pound powder,sunk torpedo,electric torpedo of 1000-pound powder,and bombof 150 to 700-pound powder. Consequently,TorpedoSchool emerged for training technical personnel toproduce,manage and use these torpedoes.
In April,1876 (Guangxu AD 1876),Li reportedto the emperor,saying,"Torpedo is indispensable incoastal defense. We have set up electric torpedo bureauin Tianjin Arsenal. We have also employed foreignersto teach and recruit teenagers to study." This electrictorpedo bureau mentioned was in fact the torpedo school.
Torpedo,an exploder laid by naval vessels andplanes,could be applied to bomb out or block the enemyvessels,which is indispensable to navy just like mines toland battle.
Tianjin Torpedo School had trained manypreeminent technicians,who played important roles inthe Sino-Japanese War in 1894,such as Cai Liangan,who once studied in America and took a further study inTorpedo School. After graduation,he served at Da Gutorpedo team. In Sino-Japanese war,he commanded hisfleet and destroyed several vessels. In 1911 (XuantongAD 1911),Cai was promoted to naval commander,lieutenant general in 1912,and senior military consultantfor the president.
After the establishment of Tianjin Torpedo School,such schools were established in places like Da Gu,Da Lian and Wei Hai. It was the first torpedo schoolin China,and the pioneer of professional schools thatset up in the north as the result of the westernizationmovement. After that,there emerged Telegraph School(in October,1880),Beiyang Fleet School (in August,1881),Beiyang Defense School (early in 1885),andBeiyang Fleet Medical School (in 1881).

·水雷學(xué)堂