this refers to the earlier bridge size debate
its more likely than not that the bridge does not include living quarters, instead maybe the bridge target is so big that either:
A) you can see it
or B) the torp is powerful enough to damage it from anywhere in that radius
but the torp always hits the centre of the target anyway, so its probably so people can see the bridge!, if u want it smaller, fly away from the capship, it reduces the flak and then when uve got the lock, take a diving run!
finally, the torps lock (as i understand it) by alligning the frequency of its shields with the capship shields (at inverse polarised amplitudes of course) so that when they collide the shields are neutralised, for that instant, at the point of contact, neither capship or torpedo are protected with the torp shields, protecting the torps front and the capships shields protecting its rear, but the sides being unprotected, at that point the torp is inside the shields.
However this does not explain maniacs suggestion in the wc3 manual of "dumb-firing" the torpedoes however perhaps the torpedoes could explode with enough power to damage the ship through the shields, a possible killer blow with a weak and small capship