Dange r From Th e De e p Torpe do Re f e re nce

I nt roduct ion

Th e t orpe do w as one of t h e m os t e xpe ns iv e , and m os t t e ch nol ogicalde l icat e , and adv ance d, w e apons ofw orl d w ar 2. As s uch , its uf f e re d f rom s e v e ral probl ems. At orpe do is m ade up ofs ix e l e m e nt s: t he t orpe do it sel f , t h e sh el l , t h e propul s ion s ys t e m , a guidance s ys t em, t h e e xpl os iv e ch arge / w arh e ad, t h e de t onat or/ pis t ol , and t h e de pt h cont rol s ys t em,t h at k e pt a cons t ant de pt h al ong t he t orpe do runs . O ne of t h e m ain l e s s ons t h at w as l e arnt during w orl d w ar 1, w as t h e ne e d t o cre at e a t orpe do t h at l ef t no bubbl e t rail (t he t orpe dos w e re prope l l edv ia com pre s s e d air, and t h is l ef ta v is ibl e bubbl e t rail ,t h at s h ow n cl e arl y t h e pos it ion of t h e at t ack e r, as w e l las t he t orpe do h e ading), and t he f irs te l e ct rical pow e re d t orpe do w as re ady in 19 18. Al t ough f orbidde n by t he V e rs ail l e s Tre at y, t h e de v el opm e nt of t h is t orpe do cont inue d s e cre t l y, unde r a ge rm an com pany, ope rat ing in Sw e de n, in 19 23, and f irs t t est s w e re m ade in K arl s k rona, in 19 29 .

Fig.1: TI G7a " At o" t orpe do

I n s e cond w orl d w ar, t h e K rie gs m arine us e d 21 inch diam e t e rt orpe dos (553m ), t h at h ad al e ngt h of 7,16 m e t e r. Th is s t andard m e as ure w as n't us e d in s om e v e ry s pe cif ic cas e s , l ik e f or ins t ance , t he t orpe dos de s igne d by prof e s s or W al t e r, t h ath ad a l e ngh tof5 m e t e rs . Th e t orpe dos h ad as de s ignat ion, t he l et t e r T, f ol l ow e d by a num be r in rom an num e ric f orm at (f or ins t ance , TI I I ), and s om e t im e s , an s uf f ix l et t e r as w e l l , t o de s ignat e a s ubv ariant(f or ins t ance , TI I I a). Al l t orpe dos h ad as init ial de s ignat ion, t he l et t e r G, f ol l ow e d by a num be r w h ich indicat ed h is l e ngh t (5 or 7), and a f inall et t er t h at indicat ed t h e propul s ion s ys t e m (a f or air propul s ion, e f or e l e ct ric, w f or w al t er Fig.2: St e am propul s ion t urbine ). Bas ical l y, in w orl d w ar t w o, t w o m ain t ype s of t orpe dos w e re us e d, t h e G7a, and t he G7e , bot h 21 inch in diam e t e r, and 7.16 met e rs in l e ngh t . Bot h t ook t h e s am e e xpl os iv e ch arge , w e re cont rol l e d by a conv e nt ionals ys t e m of de pt h cont rol , and t h e dire ct ion s ys t e m w as gyros copical l y cont rol l e d, in f act , t h e onl y dif f e re nce be t ween t h os e t orpe dos , w as t he propul s ion s ys t em.

Th e G7a t orpe do, w as prope l l e d by an com pre s s e d air e ngine , w h ich , in t h e be ginning of t h e w ar, al l ow e d t h re e pos s ibl e s pe e d adj us t e m e nt s , 44 k not s w it h a t ot alrun of 5000 m e t e rs , 40 k not s w it h at ot al run of 7500 m e t rs , and 30 k not s , w it h at ot al run of 12500 m e t e rs . Expe rie nce h as s h ow n t h at t h e 44 k not s set t ings , dam age d t h e e ngine d, and t h is s e t t ing w as ne v e r us e d unt il m id of w orl d w ar t w o, wh ent h e propul s ion s ys t e m w as ch ange d. Fig.3: Pi2 cont actpis t ol As t h e G7a w as air prope l l e d, it l ef ta v is ibl e bubbl e t rail , and t h ank s t o t h is , it w as m os t l y us e d in nigh t at t ack s . Ot h e r of t h e probl e m s of t h e G7a w as t h at it w as a v e ry s of is t icat e d and e xpe ns iv e w e apon t o m anuf act ure , and gre at q uant it ie s of s t rat e gic m at e rial s w e re e m pl oye d in it s f abricat ion, as , f or ins t ance , 370K g of coppe r, and s om e 3730 h ours of w ork , w it h at ot al cos tofaround 24000 Re ich s m ark s . At t h e be gginning of t h e w ar, t he t orpe do w as t ot al l y re de s igne d, and w h it h out h av ing it s pe rf orm ance af f e ct e d, it s us e of coppe r w as re duce d t o 169 K g, h ours of w ork re duce d t o 1707 h ours , and t ot alcos t w as re duce d t ow ards 13500 Re ich s m ark s . Th e G7a w as de s igne d t o im pact t h e s ide of t h e h ul l , and f or t h at m ot iv e , w as e q uippe d w it h a cont actpis t ol (Auf s ch l agz ndung).
Fig.4: As f or t h e G7e , it h as an e l e ct ric propul s ion Pi4 cont actpis t ol s ys t e m , w h ich w as pow e re d by m e ans of an el e ct ric bat t e ry (13T210, but num be r and t ype s dif f e r on m ode l s , as l at e r m e nt ione d), 2,44m l ong, and t h at w e igh t e d 711K g. Th e bat t e ry h ad 52 ce l l s, t h at w e re capabl e of producing 9 2A/ h our. Th e s e ce l l s w e re as s e m bl e d in an cont aine r t h atcoul d be e xt ract edf rom t he t orpe do, v ia rail s. An im port ant as pe ct , w as t h at t h e bat t e ry w as e q uippe d w it h an h e at ing s ys t em, t h at coul d be act iv at ed v ia e xt e rnale ne rgy, t o incre as e t he t e m pe rat ure up t o 30C. Th is pre h e at ing incre as e d t h e range oft he t orpe do be t w e e n 40-60% .

Fig.5: TI I I G7e " Et o" t orpe do

Th e bat t e ry pow e re d an e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at gav e an pow e r of 9 4cv at 1755rpm , f or around 5,6m inut e s . Th e G7e h ad a m axim um range of 5000 m e t e rs , at 30 k not s, t h at w e re re duce d t o 1700 m e t e rs , ift h e bat t e ry w as n'tpre h e at e d be f ore l aunch . Al t ough it s h are d m any e l e m e nt s w it h t h e G7a (e xpl os iv e ch arge , gyros cope , pis t ol , and de pt h cont rol de v ice ), itw as m uch ch e ape r t o m ak e . Surpris ingl y, t h e al l ie s h ad no k now l e dge of t h e e xis t e nce of t he el e ct ric pow e re d t orpe dos , unt il s om e w e re re cov e re d f rom t h e bot t om of Scapa Fl ow , af t e r U47 s unk t he bat t l e s h ip Royal O ak .

Torpe do Guidance

FaT A ne w dire ct ion cont rols ys t e m w as re ady at t h e e nd of 19 42, t h e FaT (Fe de rapparat Torpe do, buts om e s ource s al s o re f e rt ot h is as t h e Fl ch e nabs uch e nde r Torpe do). Th is s ys t e m al l ow e d t he t orpe do runs t o be s e t be f ore t he t orpe do l aunch , in f act , program m ing a pat t e rn ofdire ct ion. For ins t ance , you coul d s e ta t orpe do, s o t h ataf t e r an prim ary run of 1200 m e t e rs , it ch ange d dire ct ion f or 400 m e t e rs , and t h e n re t urne d back t o it s original cours e , cre at ing in t h is m anne r, a s e arch pat t e rn. I f no im pact occurre d af t e rt h e prim ary run, t he t orpe do t urne d back , and t h e n again, unt il any v essel w as h it , or unt il t h e m axim um run l e ngh t w as ach ie v e d. Th e ide al w as f or t h is t orpe do t o be l aunch e d be h ind a conv oy. Th e FAT de v ice w as ins t al l ed f irs t in t h e G7a t orpe dos , and s ince t hey l ef t a v is ibl e bubbl e t rail , it s us e w as l im it edt o nigh tat t ack s . A sl igh t m odif icat ion of t h e FAT de v ice , t h e FATI I , w as ins t al l ed f irs t in t h e G7e t orpe dos , t h at w e re t hen re nam e d, TI I I G7e FaTI I , f rom M arch 19 43. Th e s e s h oul d be l aunch e d f rom t h e st e rn, t o at t ack an e s cort ch as ing an uboat . Af t er t he f irs t run, t he t orpe do w oul d run circl e s , al w ays t urne d t ot he l ef t . Th e FaTI I e nt e re d s e rv ice in M ay 19 43, but it didn't h ad good re s ul t s, t h ank s t o it s s h ort aut onom y (5000m ), and t h ank s t o t h is , a ne w v e rs ion w as buil t ,t h e TI I I a FaTI I (G7e ), t h at , w it h a l arge r bat t e ry capacit y, al l ow e d a range of7315 m e t e rs .
Fig.6: FaT guidance s ys t em

L uT I n M arch 19 44, a ne w t orpe do guidance de v ice appe ar, t he L uT (L age nunabh ngige r Torpe do), w h ich w as de v el ope d f rom t h e FaT de s ign, but t h at incorporat e d s om e im prov e m e nt s in t h e s e arch pat t e rn. Now itw as pos s ibl e t o s e ta ne w cours e , af t e r a prim ary run, t h is ne w cours e , al l ow e d t he t orpe do t o f ol l ow t h e cours e of t h e conv oy, t o t h en st art a z igz ag s e arch pat t e rn. Th is z igz ag dis t ance , w oul d be s e t t o be anyt h ing f rom 0 t o 1600 m e t e rs , w h il e on t h e original FaT, onl y 2 opt ions w e re av ail abl e. Th e v el ocit y of t he t orpe do w as al so im prov e d, and it s s pe e d coul d be s e t be t ween 5 t o 21 k not s . Th e L uT w as ins t al l e d in t h e G7a (TI L uTI G7a), and in t he el e ct ric v e rs ion of t h e s am e (TI L uTI G7e ), w it h incre as e d aut onom y. A ne w v e rs ion, t he L uTI I , al l ow e d ch ange s of cours e , of 180. Th e L uT w as n't us e d in com bat unt il19 44, and onl y s om e 70 of t h e m w e re us e d ope rat ional l y.
Fig.7: L uT guidance s ys t em

De t onat ors

Pi.1 pis t ol I n s e pt e m be r 19 39 , t h e st andard de t onat or f or t h e G7A and G7E t orpe doe s , w as t h e Pi.1, t h at coul d e it h e r be of im pact t ype (Auf s ch l agz ndung), or m agne t ic t ype (M agne t z ndung-pis t ol ). Th e m agne t ic de t onat or cons is t e d in a l ongit udinals t ruct ure , t h at h ad as s e m bl e d an prope l l erl ik e s h ape in t he f ront alare a of t h e h e ad. W h e n in concact w it h an m agne t ic f ie l d, an e l e ct ric circuit w as conne ct ed v ia a re l ay, and de t onat edt h e ch arge . I t h ad a s af et y de v ice t h at arm e d t h e w arh e ad af t e rt he f irs t 250m oft h e run. Th e im pact de t onat or w as v e ry s im pl e , and it w as us e d al re ady in W W 1. I t w as m ade of a s ingl e t rigge ring f us e , and 4 m e ch anical s e ns ors , conne ct e d in t he f ront al s e ct ion of t he t orpe do. By de t e ct ing cont act w it h an obj e ct , any of t he 4 m e ch anical s e ns ors , t rigge re d t he f us e , and de t onat ed t h e w arh e ad. Af t e r h os t il it ie s st art e d, m any capt ains inf orm e d of m ul t ipl ,e f ail l ure s in t he t orpe dos , am ongs t t h e m , de t onat ing be f ore t h e y w e re s uppos e d t o.

Fig.8: Pi.4 cont actpis t ol

Th e de s igne rs of t h e cont act pis t ol k ne w t h at you coul d h av e dud t orpe doe s , t h e m aj orit y caus e d by t h e incorre ct us e of t h e de t onat ors , but ot herf aul t s coul d be caus e d by t he f ol l ow ing: 1) t h e m agne t ic f ie l d of t h e e art h v arie s according t ol at it ude and t h is coul d caus e s om e probl e m s in t h e m agne t ic dif e re nt ialm e as ure m e nt s t h at t rigge re d t h e de t onat or and w arh e ad de t onat ion (t h is m os t l y occure d in pas s iv e m agne t ic de t onat ors ). 2) v ibrat ions (f rom t orpe do run, e t c...) coul d caus e a v ariat ion of t h e m agne t ic f ie l d of t he t orpe do it sel f , or it s int e rnalm e ch anis m s , again, caus ing a ch ange in t h e m agne t ic dif e re nt ialt h at t rigge re d t h e de t onat or t o e xpl ode t h e w arh e ad (t h is probl e m af f e ct ed m os t l y act iv e m agne t ic de t onat ors ).

Th e de s igne rs at t h e Torpe dov e rs uch ans t al t (TV A, de part m e nt of t orpe do t est s ) k ne w about t h e s e probl e m s , and m ade t h e e rror of re l ying t h e ir w ork in t h e ore t ical cal cul at ions , not in pract icalt est s of t h e dif f e re nt s it uat ions t h at a capt ain coul d f ace in t h e m ids t of h os t il e e ngage m e nt ,t h is l e ad t oaf ail ure of s t andardiz at ion of t orpe do param e t e rs , w it h t h e cons e q ue nce incre as e in f ail ure s . Th e f irs t m e as ure t h at De nit z t ook wh en f acing t h e s e probl e m s w it h m agne t ic pis t ol s , w as in t h e 2nd of O ct obe r of 19 39 , by orde ring t he Unt e rs e e boot w af f e t o us e onl y t he cont actpis t ol s unt il ne w orde rs . Th e n, it w as f ound t h at t h e cont act pis t ol s didn't w ork e d corre ct l y e it h e r, and t h e caus e of t h is w as f ound t o be a poor de s ign of t h e 4 m e ch anical s e ns ors in t h e cont act pis t ol , w h ich f ail ed t o t rigge r t h e de t onat ion w h e n t h e im pact angl e w as h igh e r t h an 20 de gre e s . An e xam pl e of t h is t ook Fig.8: pl ace in t h e 30t h of O ct obe r 19 39 , De t ail ofPi.4 cont actpis t ol w h e n U-56, com m ande d by W il hel m Z ah n, f ire d a s pre ad of TI G7a t orpe dos , agains t t h e brit is h cruis e r H M S Ne l s on. W il hel m Z ah n s aw 3 im pact s , but no de t onat ion. Pe rm is s ion t o us e m agne t ic pis t ol s again, w as giv e n in t h e 10t h ofNov e m be r of19 39 , but ne w probl ems f orce d m ore t est s , and f inal l y, t h e de s igne rs w e re f orce d t o adm it t h at t he s ys t e m w as f aul t y. Th e s e probl e m s w e re acce nt uat e d in t h e Norw e gian cam paign, due t o t h e al re ady m e nt ione d v ariat ions in m agne t ic f ie l d dif e re nt ial(it w as al so f ound t h at t he norw e gian f j ords ge ol ogy, h ad an adde d im pact in aggrav at ing t h e probl em t h at t he l at it ude pre s e nt e d, and al lt h is com bine d w it h t h e poor de s ign of t h e m agne t ic pis t ol s, m ade t h e uboatcre w s v e ry unh appy w it h cons e cut iv e t orpe do f ail ure s ). Al l t orpe do at t ack s w e re anal yz e d, and Grand Adm iral Rae de r, acus e d s e v e ral m e m be rs oft h e TV A, oft he f ail ure s ofpis t ol de s igns , f or w h ich t h e y w e re j udge d. Th e re w e re cas e s of t orpe do de s igns be ing s e nt t ot he f ront , w it h out h av ing h ad pas s e d t h e ne ce s s ary t rial t est s . Th e TV A, w h ich w as f orm e d unt il t h e n, by civ il ian pe rs onne l , w as t ot al l y re m ode l l e d, and nav al of f ice rs w e re pl ace d in ch arge ofe ach de part m e nt . Unt il a s ol ut ion w as f ound t ot h e s e probl e m s , De nit z orde re d t h atal l t orpe dos w e re t o be e q uippe d w it h t h e cont actpis t ol , and t h att h e y w e re t o be l aunch e d ats h al l ow de pt h . W it h t h is ne w orde r, s uce s s e s w e re ris ing again.

Pi.2 Th e Pi.2 com bine d in a s ingl e pis t ol ,t w o de t onat ion s ys t e m s , an im pact and a m agne t ic de t onat or. Th is pis t olw as onl y us e d in t h e G7e t orpe dos . Th e im pact de t onat or w as s im il ar t ot h e Pi.1 pis t ol (w h ich w as a s im pl e cont act pis t ol onl y). O n t h e ot h e r s ide , t he m agne t ic pis t olw as of a t ot al l y ne w de s ign. Th is ne w de s ign act iv at ed t h e de t onat or wh en t h e m agne t ic f ie l d w e nt ov e r a pre de t e rm ine d t re s h ol d. Anot h e r nov el t y, w as t he pos s ibil it y of , by m e ans of a s w it ch , t o sel e ct t h e us e of t h e cont act de t onat or onl y (and not cont act + m agne t ic). Th e e ne rgy f or t h e m agne t ic de t onat or w as s uppl ie d by t he t orpe do's bat t e rie s . (Re ad appe ndix A f or s om e e xt ra inf orm at ion aboutt h is s ubj e ct .) Pi.3/ MZ 3 Th ank s t o t h e num e rous probl e m s w it h it s pis t ol s, Ge rm any as k e d f or h e l p t o it s al l ie s , and I t al y s e nt Ge rm any, in Augus t of 19 43, a s e rie s of S.I .C m agne t ic pis t ol s , w h ich t he K rie gs m arine cal l e d M Z 3. Th e cont act de t onat or s ys t e m w as s im il ar t o t he Pi3, but on t h e ot h e r s ide , t he m agne t ic de t onat or w as of a t ot al l y dif f e re nt de s ign, w h ich w as l at er m anuf act ure d in Ge rm any unde r t he de s ignat ion M Z 3a.
Fig.9 : De t ail s ofPi.2 and Pi3 pis t ol s

TZ 5/ Pi4c I t w as v e ry cl e ar w h e n de s igning t h e TV t orpe do, t h at t h e acous t ic s e ns ors s h oul d be pl ace d in t he f ront of t he t orpe do, w h ich f orce d a com pl et e re de s ign of t h e w arh e ad and de t onat ion s ys t e m . Th is m e ant t h at t h e cont act de t onat ion s ys t e m coul nd't be bas e d in t e h act uals ys t e m of m e canicals e ns ors w h ich w e re t rigge d w h e n t h e y im pact ed t he obj e ct iv e , and t h at t h e m agne t ic de t onat ion s ys t e m coul d not be bas e d in v ariat ions of m agne t ic f ie l d. Al s o, t h e guiding s ys t e m s h oul d be capabl e of pe rf orm ing s udde n ch ange s of dire ct ion, and t h atde t onat ion s ys t e m s s h oul d be abl e t o de al w it h t h is s udde n ch ange s ofdire ct ion. Th e s e pre m is e s l e ad t o t w o ne w t ype s of de t onat ors . Th e TZ 5 w as an act iv e m agne t ic pis t ol , w h ich m e ant it ge ne rat e d it s ow n m agne t ic f ie l d, t h at w h e n ch ange d by anot her m agne t ic f ie l d (l ik e t h e m agne t ic f ie l d of a s h ip's h ul l ), act iv at ed t h e e xpl os iv e ch arge (w h il e pas s iv e m agne t ic pis t ol s re l ie d on t he v ariat ion of t h e e nv ironm e nt al m agne t ic f ie l d t o pas s a pre s e t t re s h ol d t o t rigge r t h e de t onat ion). Th e Pi4c cont act pis t ol , w as an ine rt ial cont act pis t ol , pl ace d in t h e back of t h e w arh e ad, w h ich w ork e d w it h t wo pe ndul uns . According t o al l dat a, t h is w as t h e be s tge rm an pis t ol (s ) us e d in w w 2.

De pt h cont rol de v ice s

Tie f e n ApparatI (TA I ) Bot h t h e G7a and t h e G7e w e re e q uippe d at t h e be ginning, w it h t h e TA1, a conv e nt ional de pt h m aint aining e q uipm e nt , bas e d on a pe ndul um s ys t e m and an h ydros t at ic v al v e. Unf ort unat el y, t h is s ys t e m w as n't t est e d e nough be f ore t h e w ar, s ince t h e re w as t he as s um pt ion t h at t h e re w oul d be an w ide s pre ad us e of m agne t ic pis t ol s , not cont act pis t ol s , w h ich m e ant t h at it w as n't at al lcryt icalt o m aint ain cons t ant ,t h e de pt h of t he t orpe do. Th ank s t o al lt h e probl e m s w it h bot h t he cont act and m agne t ic pis t ol s, t h e BdU is s e d orde rs f or al l t orpe dos (w it h cont act pis t ol s , w h il e probl ems in m agne t ic pis t ol s w e re be ing s ort e d out ) t o be f ire d at a m inim um de pt h . Re port s f rom Brit is h int el l ige nce , m ainl y gat h e re d af t e rt h e U-570 capt ure , h av e s h ow n t h at in t h e Spring of 19 41, t h e s e probl ems w e re s t il l a m aj or h e adach e t o t he Unt e rs e e boot w af f e.
Fig.10: Torpe do De pt h Cont rol de v ice , TA1

Tie f e n ApparatI I (TA I I ) 4 probl ems f orce d t h e de v el opm e nt and de pl oym e nt , in 19 43, of a ne w s ys t em t o cont rol t h e de pt h oft orpe do runs , t h e TA I I . Firs t , t h e probl e m s w it h t h e TAI , and s e cond, t orpe dos e q uippe d w it h FaT and L uT guidance s ys t e m s , w e re de s e s t abil iz e d by s h ip's h ul l dis pl ace m e nt + prope l l e r cav it at ion, and t e nde d t oj um p of ft h e s urf ace . Th ird, t h e TI I I a and FaTI It orpe dos , w e re e q uippe d w it h h e av ie r and h e av ie r bat t e rie s (17T210) t o incre as e t h e ir range . Th is e xt ra w e igh t incre as e d t h e ne gat iv e boyancy of t he t orpe do, w h ich w as n'tt h e n capabl e ofre t aine d cons t antrun de pt h. And f ourt h , uboat s w e re be ing f orce d t o l aunch t h e ir t orpe dos f rom e v e r incre as ing de pt h s , and t h e TA1 s ys t em t ook t oo m uch t im e in s t abil iz ing t he t orpe do.

Th e TAI I w as m e ant t o s ol v e al lt h ese probl e m s , and h ad a f e w im prov e m e nt s. Th e m axim um run de pt h of t he t orpe do w e nt f rom 12 m e t e rs , t o 15 m e t e rs and t h e cont rol s ys t e m w as re de s igne d, s o t h at t orpe dos coul d be l aunch e d f rom a de pt h ofup t o 40 m e t e rs . Th e TAI I al s o s ol v e d in part , t he st abil iz at ion probl e m s of FaT and L uT t orpe dos , s ince t h ese t orpe dos w e re e q uippe d w it h e xt e ns ions in t h e h oriz ont al st abil iz e rs t h at w e re act iv at e d by com pre s s e d air. Th is m ade t h e m m ore st abl e , but incre as e d aut orot at ion rat io, s o a s im il ar s ys t e m w as ins t al l e d in t he v e rt ical st abil iz e rs as w e l l .

Fig.11: Torpe do De pt h Cont rol de v ice , TA2

Endde t onie re rs ich e rung Al l t orpe dos w e re de s igne d s ink aut om at ical l y, if t h e y h ad re ach e d t h e ir m axim um range , w it h out any im pact , but s om e t im e s , t orpe dos de t onat ed wh en t h e y im pact e d m arine ground, or by pre s s ure col l aps e oft h e de t onat or. To av oid t h is , it w as de s igne d t h e Endde t onie re rs ich e rung (pre v e nt ion of de t onat ion at e nd of run). I t cons is t e d of an h ydros t at ic v al v e, t h at f l oode d t h e de t onat or w h e n t he t orpe do re ach e d a de pt h of150 m e t e rs .

Fig.12: TI G7a diagram

Propul s ion: Att h e be ginning ofw w 2, t h e re w e re 2 propul s ion s ys t e m s in t he t orpe dos . Th e f irs t one , w as t h e int e rnal com bus t ion e ngine ins t al l e d in t h e G7a (At o) t orpe dos , t h at us e d De k al in (de cah ydronaph t al e ne ) as f ue l , and com pre s s e d air as oxidiz e r. I t re nde re d a pow e r of 350cv at 1470rpm , w h ich pe rm it t e d 3 pos s ibl e set t ings of s pe e d/ range , 44 k not s at 5000m , 40 k not s at 7500m , and 30 k not s at 12500m . H ow e v e r it w as not ice d t h at t h e 44k not s set t ings brok e t h e e ngine , and t h us , t h is s e t t ing w as n't us e d unt ilt he propul s ion s ys t e m w as m odif ie d.

Th e s e cond s ys t e m , w as t he el e ct rical e ngine of t h e G7e (Et o) t orpe dos . H is prim ary adv ant age w as t h at it didn't l ef ta t railof bubbl es l ik e t h e G7a. Th e bat t e rie s t h at f e e de d t h e e ngine w e re DC curre nt , m e as ure d 2.8m and w e igh t e d 711K g. Th e bat t e rie s h ad 52 ce l l s t h at w e re capabl e of producing 9 2A/ h our. Th e ce l l s w e re as s e m bl e d in boxe s t h at coul d be e xt ract ed f rom t he t orpe do by m e ans of s pe cialrail s. An im port ant as pe ct w as t h at t h e bat t e ry w as e q uippe d w it h an h e at ing s ys t em, t h at s h oul d be act iv at ed v ia e xt e rnal pow e r, t o incre as e t he t e m pe rat ure t o 30'C. Th is pre h e at ing incre as e d t he t ot alrun l e ngh t of t he t orpe do, by up t o 60% . I n bot h s ys t ems, t h e e ngine s cont rol l edt w o cont rarot at ing prope l l e rs (t oel im inat e aut orot at ion)

Fig.12: Bat t e ry de t ail

Typical l oads up t o 19 43, t h e re w as n't m uch ch oice , G7a and G7e , butin M ay of19 43 t he t ypical l oad aboard a Type V I I w as in t h e bow , 4 TI FaTI G7a and 6 TI I I G7e . in t h e st e rn, t w o TI I I FaT I I G7e I n April19 44, t he v arie t y incre as e d, and t ypicall oad w as in t h e bow , 3 T5 G7e s Z auk onig, and 5 L uT or 2 FaTI + 3 FaTI I in t h e st e rn, t w o TVG7e s Z auk onig Th e e nt rance of s e rv e r of t h e Type V I I and I X in 19 38, h appe ne d at t he t im e w h e n gyros cope s w e re be ing int roduce d, w h ich al l ow e d t orpe dos t ot ak e a h e ading of + / -9 0' in 1' s t e ps , and of a ne w t orpe do com put e rt o cal cul at e t he f iring angl e s (T.V h .Re .SI ) Th e dat at of eedt ot h e TDC w as : - est im at e d dis t ance t ot arge t - s pe e d and angl e re l at iv e t o uboat - s pe e d oft orpe do - corre ct ion f act or f or uboatbal ancing + paral l ax

Fig.13: L oading oft orpe dos on a t ype V I I uboat

Fig.14: Gyros cope in de t ail

f rom t h is , t h e TDC com put ed t he f iring angl e , dire ct ion angl e, conv e rge nce , and m axim um dis t ance , and t rans m it t ed t h is v ia dial s t ot he t orpe do room . Th e t orpe do of f ice r t ook t h is inf orm at ion and s e t t h e gyro angl e s on t he t orpe dos accordingl y.

At t h e be ginning, t h e conv e rge nce com put at ion and dire ct ion angl e , w e re com put ed s e parat l y, but f rom 19 39 , t h e s e cal cul at ions w e re m ade dire ct l y in a ne w TDC cal l ed T.V h .Re .S2 Com bat e xpe rie nce s s h ow n num e rous e rrors and dif f icul t ie s in us ing t h e ne w s ys t e m s . Th e re w as a ne e d t o aut om at e t he f e e ding of dat a dire ct l y in t he t orpe dos . Al s o, t h e ne w FaT and L uT t orpe dos w e re about t o be us e d, and t h is f orce d a re de s ign of al l s ys t e m s . Th e ne w TDC, cal l e d T.V h .Re .S3 (Sie m e ns S3), w as v e ry s e ns it iv e t o h um idit y, and coul dn't be ins t al l ed Fig.15: in t h e conning t ow e r, Sie m e ns S3 t orpe do com put er w e re t he at t ack pe ris cope w as ins t al l e d, s o itw as ins t al l e d in t h e cont rol room (z e nt ral ). Th e ne w TDC h ad a ne w cont rol pane l w h e re t h e w e apon of f ice r coul df e e d and v is ual iz e al l t h e dat a dire ct l y, f rom t h e conning t ow e r. Torpe do l aunch ing w as al s o m ade f rom t he conning t ow e r, and incl ude d a 2,5s e conds re t arde r, f or t orpe do s pre ads . A s im pl e angl e com put e r w as de s igne d f or us e in t h e XV I I uboat (W al t e r), but it ne v e r got int o s e rv e r, h ow e v e r, an e v ol ut ion of t h is TDC w as ins t al l e d in t h e Type XXI I I uboat s,t he T.V h .RGM .3d.

Surf ace At t ack s

Surf ace at t ack s w e re carrie d out by norm al l y 1 w e apons of f ice r and in t h e Type I A and Type I I , it w as us e d a Torpe do U-Boot Z ie l Apparat N1 (TUZ A1), w h ich w as t oo s l ow and com pl icat e d, and h ad t o be dis as s e m bl e d and re as s e m bl ed f or e ach at t ack . A ne w v e rs ion w as buil tby K arl Z e is s in 19 36. Th e f irs tv e rs ion, TUZ A2, w as n'ts ubm e rs ibl e , and t h e re f ore , it al s o ne e de d t o be dis as s e m bl e d and re as s e m bl ed f or e ach at t ack . Th e ne w v e rs ion h ow e v e r, t h e TUZ A3 w as s ubm e rs ibl e , up t o a de pt h of9 0 m e t e rs . I n 19 39 , a ne w s ys t e m e nt e re d s e rv ice , al s o m anuf act ure d by K arl Z e is s , t h e Uboot Z ie l O pt ik (UZ O ). Th e re w e re 2 v e rs ions , t h e UZ O 1 f or t h e Type V I I uboat , and t h e UZ O 2 f or t h e Type I X. Th e 2 v e rs ions w e re ide nt ical , e xce pt f or t h e m ount ing s upport of UZ O 2 w h ich w as h igh e r t h an t h e one in UZ O 1, t o com pe ns at e f or t h e gre at e r h e igh t of t h e Type I X bridge . H ow e v e r, uboat s k e pt on carrying aboard, a TUZ A3, t h at coul d be ins t al l e d in t h e UZ O s upport , in cas e t h e UZ O w as dam age d. Th e UZ O h ad l ot s of dis adv ant age s , it w as com pl icat ed t o us e , and re q uire d a s pe cial l e arning cours e , and t h e bridge l im it e d it s f ie l d of v ie w t o +/ -110', and t h e UZ O s h ad w at e rt igh tprobl ems f rom 9 0m upw ards . De s pit e al lt h is , a ne w v e rs ion w as m ade , and 4 dif f e re nt com panie s pre s e nt ed t h e ir prot ot ype s . Th e Sie m e ns UZ S4 w as t h e ch os e n one . I t w as e q uippe d w it h Z e is s 10x80 binocul ars .

Fig.16: Torpe do at t ack on a f re igh t er

Torpe do t ype re f e re nce

TI G7a " At o" Ge rt e -Nr.: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: 12 533,4m m 1538K g 7163m m K a, or K c280 w arh e ads , 280K g (H e xanit e ). Pi1 or TZ 3 w it h Pi3 (cont actor cont actcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic). 250m (pre 19 43) 150m (pos t19 43) 21 6000m / 44K n (notus e d in e arl y w ar) 7500m / 40K n (e arl y w ar) 12500m / 30K n (e arl y w ar) 6000m / 44K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 8000m / 40K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 14000m / 30K n (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Pow e r:

De cah ydronaph t h al e ne (De cal in) W e t -H e at e r, 4 cyl inde rs 108h p at9 40U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 241h p at1270U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 300h p at1500U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 255h p at1280U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar) 350h p at1470U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Not es: 44k not s set t ings w e re f ound t o ov e rl oad t h e e ngine and w e re n'tus e d during t h e e arl y ye ars oft h e w ar. Th e e arl y m ode l s us e d in 19 39 h ad range s about20% l ess t h an t he st andard s pe cif ie d of6000m / 44K n, 8000m / 40K n, 14000m / 30K n, be ing in f actof 7500m / 40K n and 12500/ 30K n. Pow e r al s o ch ange d, f rom 108h p/ 9 40U/ m in, 241h p/ 1270U/ m in, 300h p/ 1500U/ m in, t o 255h p/ 1280U/ m in, and 350h p/ 1470U/ m in. Th e w arh e ad w as a K a280 or K c280, w it h 280K g ofH e xanit e . Expl os iv e ch arge w as us ual l y 60% TNT and 40% h e xanit rodiph e l yl am ine , in v arious m ixe s : SW 18: 50% TNT, 24% H ND, 15% al um inium . SW 36: 67% TNT, 8% H ND, 25% al um inium . SW 39 : 45% TNT, 5% H ND, 30% am onium nit rat e , 20% al um inium . SW 39 a: 50% TNT, 10% H ND, 5% am onium nit rat e , 35% al um inium . Not e , w ak e w as m uch m ore v is ibl e at40K n, s ince air cons upt ion ch ange d f rom 13.6 at at30K n, t o 24.3 at at40K n.

TI G7a " At o" FaT I Ge rt e -Nr.: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: 12 533,4m m 1538K g 7163m m K a, or K c280 w arh e ads , 280K g (H e xanit e ). Pi1 or TZ 3 w it h Pi3 (cont actor cont actcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic). 250m (pre 19 43) 150m (pos t19 43) 21 6000m / 44K n (notus e d in e arl y w ar) 7500m / 40K n (e arl y w ar) 12500m / 30K n (e arl y w ar) 6000m / 44K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 8000m / 40K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 14000m / 30K n (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Pow e r:

De cah ydronaph t h al e ne (De cal in) W e t -H e at e r, 4 cyl inde rs 108h p at9 40U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 241h p at1270U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 300h p at1500U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 255h p at1280U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar) 350h p at1470U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Not es: 44k not s set t ings w e re f ound t o ov e rl oad t h e e ngine and w e re n'tus e d during t h e e arl y ye ars oft h e w ar. Th e e arl y m ode l s us e d in 19 39 h ad range s about20% l ess t h an t he st andard s pe cif ie d of6000m / 44K n, 8000m / 40K n, 14000m / 30K n, be ing in f actof 7500m / 40K n and 12500/ 30K n. Pow e r al s o ch ange d, f rom 108h p/ 9 40U/ m in, 241h p/ 1270U/ m in, 300h p/ 1500U/ m in, t o 255h p/ 1280U/ m in, and 350h p/ 1470U/ m in. Th e w arh e ad w as a K a280 or K c280, w it h 280K g ofH e xanit e . Expl os iv e ch arge w as us ual l y 60% TNT and 40% h e xanit rodiph e l yl am ine , in v arious m ixe s : SW 18: 50% TNT, 24% H ND, 15% al um inium . SW 36: 67% TNT, 8% H ND, 25% al um inium . SW 39 : 45% TNT, 5% H ND, 30% am onium nit rat e , 20% al um inium . SW 39 a: 50% TNT, 10% H ND, 5% am onium nit rat e , 35% al um inium . Not e , w ak e w as m uch m ore v is ibl e at40K n, s ince air cons upt ion ch ange d f rom 13.6 at at30K n, t o 24.3 at at40K n.

FaT s t ands f or " Fl ch e nabs uch e nde n Torpe do" or f or " Fe de rapparat t orpe do" . Af t er a prim ary run of be t w e e n 1600m t o 3200m , if not h ing w as h it , it w oul d t urn 9 0 or 180 de gre e s t o t he l ef t or t o t h e righ t , and m ak e s e condary runs of e it h e r 800m or 1600m , unt il e it h e ra t arge tw as h it , or bat t e rie s w e re e xaus t e d. On t he f iring of a FaT t orpe do, ot h e r uboat s h ad t o be w arne d, ot h e rw is e t h e y w oul d ris k be ing h itby f rie ndl y FaT t orpe dos . St andard proce dure w as t o div e t o 50m e t e rs de pt h. Not e t h at t h e FaTI guidance s ys t e m w as onl y coupl ed t o t h e TI G7a t orpe do, w h il e t he FaTI I guidance s ys t e m , w as onl y coupl edt ot h e TI I I G7e t orpe do.

TI G7a " At o" L uT I Ge rt e -Nr.: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: 12 533,4m m 1538K g 7163m m K a, or K c280 w arh e ads , 280K g (H e xanit e ). Pi1 or TZ 3 w it h Pi3 (cont actor cont actcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic). 250m (pre 19 43) 150m (pos t19 43) 21 6000m / 44K n (notus e d in e arl y w ar) 7500m / 40K n (e arl y w ar) 12500m / 30K n (e arl y w ar) 6000m / 44K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 8000m / 40K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 14000m / 30K n (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Pow e r:

De cah ydronaph t h al e ne (De cal in) W e t -H e at e r, 4 cyl inde rs 108h p at9 40U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 241h p at1270U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 300h p at1500U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 255h p at1280U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar) 350h p at1470U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Not es: 44k not s set t ings w e re f ound t o ov e rl oad t h e e ngine and w e re n'tus e d during t h e e arl y ye ars oft h e w ar. Th e e arl y m ode l s us e d in 19 39 h ad range s about20% l ess t h an t he st andard s pe cif ie d of6000m / 44K n, 8000m / 40K n, 14000m / 30K n, be ing in f actof 7500m / 40K n and 12500/ 30K n. Pow e r al s o ch ange d, f rom 108h p/ 9 40U/ m in, 241h p/ 1270U/ m in, 300h p/ 1500U/ m in, t o 255h p/ 1280U/ m in, and 350h p/ 1470U/ m in. Th e w arh e ad w as a K a280 or K c280, w it h 280K g ofH e xanit e . Expl os iv e ch arge w as us ual l y 60% TNT and 40% h e xanit rodiph e l yl am ine , in v arious m ixe s : SW 18: 50% TNT, 24% H ND, 15% al um inium . SW 36: 67% TNT, 8% H ND, 25% al um inium . SW 39 : 45% TNT, 5% H ND, 30% am onium nit rat e , 20% al um inium . SW 39 a: 50% TNT, 10% H ND, 5% am onium nit rat e , 35% al um inium . L uT I (" L age nunabh ngige r Torpe do" )v e rs ion ofTI G7a t orpe do.

TI L uTI I G7a Ge rt e -Nr.: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: 29 533,4m m 1538K g 7163m m K a, or K c280 w arh e ads , 280K g (H e xanit e ). Pi1 or TZ 3 w it h Pi3 (cont actor cont actcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic). 250m (pre 19 43) 150m (pos t19 43) 21 6000m / 44K n (notus e d in e arl y w ar) 7500m / 40K n (e arl y w ar) 12500m / 30K n (e arl y w ar) 6000m / 44K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 8000m / 40K n (l at e r in t h e w ar) 14000m / 30K n (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Pow e r:

De cah ydronaph t h al e ne (De cal in) W e t -H e at e r, 4 cyl inde rs 108h p at9 40U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 241h p at1270U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 300h p at1500U/ m in (e arl y w ar) 255h p at1280U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar) 350h p at1470U/ m in (l at e r in t h e w ar)

Not es: 44k not s set t ings w e re f ound t o ov e rl oad t h e e ngine and w e re n'tus e d during t h e e arl y ye ars oft h e w ar. Th e e arl y m ode l s us e d in 19 39 h ad range s about20% l ess t h an t he st andard s pe cif ie d of6000m / 44K n, 8000m / 40K n, 14000m / 30K n, be ing in f actof 7500m / 40K n and 12500/ 30K n. Pow e r al s o ch ange d, f rom 108h p/ 9 40U/ m in, 241h p/ 1270U/ m in, 300h p/ 1500U/ m in, t o 255h p/ 1280U/ m in, and 350h p/ 1470U/ m in. Th e w arh e ad w as a K a280 or K c280, w it h 280K g ofH e xanit e . Expl os iv e ch arge w as us ual l y 60% TNT and 40% h e xanit rodiph e l yl am ine , in v arious m ixe s : SW 18: 50% TNT, 24% H ND, 15% al um inium . SW 36: 67% TNT, 8% H ND, 25% al um inium . SW 39 : 45% TNT, 5% H ND, 30% am onium nit rat e , 20% al um inium . SW 39 a: 50% TNT, 10% H ND, 5% am onium nit rat e , 35% al um inium . L uT I I (" L age nunabh ngige r Torpe do" )v e rs ion ofTI G7a t orpe do.

TI I G7e " Et o" Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngh t : Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1608K g 7163m m K a280, 280K g Pi1 (Pi G7a AZ cont actpis t ol ) 250m 21 5000m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 3000m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 13T210 bat t e rie s 9 1V / 9 50A 72K W at1755U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 83V / 885A 60K W at159 0U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 5000m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Notpre -h e at e d range s are 3000m / 28K n. Som e s ource s m e nt ion a 300K g ch arge .

TI I I G7e " Et o" Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1608K g 7163m m K a280, 280K g Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z (cont act pis t olcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic pis t ol ) 150m 21 5000m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 3000m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 13T210 bat t e rie s 9 1V / 9 50A 72K W at1755U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 83V / 885A 60K W at159 0U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 5000m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Not pre -h e at e d range s are 3000m / 28K n. Th is v e rs ion us e d an inf l ue nce pis t ol ,t h e Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z ), w h ich h ad an im pact pis t ol , s im il ar t ot h e Pi1 im pact pis t ol , coupl e d w it h an pas s iv e m agne t ic TZ 3 pis t ol . Th e t orpe do coul d be s e t v ia a s w it ch , t o e it h e r us e onl y t h e im pact pis t ol(AZ ), or t he im pact + m agne t ic (M Z ). Th e w arh e ad us e d TNT+ H ND (Trinit rot ol ue ne + H e xanit roph e nyl am ine )

TI I I FaTI I G7e Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1620K g 7163m m K a280, 280K g Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z (cont actpis t ol coupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic) 150m 21 5000m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 3000m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 13T210 bat t e rie s 9 1V / 9 50A 72K W at1755U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 83V / 885A 60K W at159 0U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 5000m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Notpre -h e at e d range s are 3000m / 28K n. Th is v e rs ion us e d a inf l ue nce pis t ol ,t h e Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z ). Th e w arh e ad us e d TNT+ H ND (Trinit rot ol ue ne + H e xanit roph e nyl am ine ). Th is w as t h e FaT v e rs ion oft h e TI I I G7e .

TI I I a FaTI I G7e Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1760K g 7163m m K a280, 280K g Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z (cont act pis t olcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic pis t ol ) 150m 32 7500m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 4500m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 17T210 bat t e rie s , 125A/ h our

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 7500m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Not pre -h e at e d range s are 4500m / 28K n. Th is v e rs ion us e d an inf l ue nce pis t ol ,t h e Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z ), w h ich h ad an im pact pis t ol , s im il ar t ot h e Pi1 im pact pis t ol , coupl e d w it h an pas s iv e m agne t ic TZ 3 pis t ol . Th e t orpe do coul d be s e t v ia a s w it ch , t o e it h e r us e onl y t h e im pact pis t ol(AZ ), or t he im pact + m agne t ic (M Z ). Th e w arh e ad us e d TNT+ H ND (Trinit rot ol ue ne + H e xanit roph e nyl am ine ) Th is w as t h e FaTI Iv e rs ion of t h e TI I I G7e (not e t h at TI I I G7e 's onl y h ad FaTI I guidance de v ice s , FaTI w e re onl y us e d on TI G7a t orpe dos ). Th is t orpe do us e d t w o 17T210 bat t e rie s , w it h a l arge r capacit y of 125 Am pe re s / h our, com pare d t ot h e 13T210 bat t e rie s , w h ich h ad a capacit y of9 3 Am pe re s / h our.

TI I I aL uTI G7e Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1760K g 7163m m K b280, 280K g Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z (cont act pis t olcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic pis t ol ) 150m 32 7500m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 4500m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 17T210 bat t e rie s , 125A/ h our

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 7500m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Not pre -h e at e d range s are 4500m / 28K n. Th is v e rs ion us e d an inf l ue nce pis t ol ,t h e Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z ), w h ich h ad an im pact pis t ol , s im il ar t ot h e Pi1 im pact pis t ol , coupl e d w it h an pas s iv e m agne t ic TZ 3 pis t ol . Th e t orpe do coul d be s e t v ia a s w it ch , t o e it h e r us e onl y t h e im pact pis t ol(AZ ), or t he im pact + m agne t ic (M Z ). Th e w arh e ad us e d TNT+ H ND (Trinit rot ol ue ne + H e xanit roph e nyl am ine ) Th is w as t he L uTI v e rs ion oft h e TI I I G7e t orpe do. Th is t orpe do us e d t w o 17T210 bat t e rie s , w it h a l arge r capacit y of 125 Am pe re s / h our, com pare d t ot h e 13T210 bat t e rie s , w h ich h ad a capacit y of9 3 Am pe re s / h our.

TI I I aL uTI I G7e Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 1760K g 7163m m K b280, 280K g Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z (cont act pis t olcoupl e d w it h pas s iv e m agne t ic pis t ol ) 150m 32 7500m / 30k n at1700U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 4500m / 28K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 2x 17T210 bat t e rie s , 125A/ h our

Not es: Th is unit us e d a 100h p Sie m e ngs GL 231/ 75 e l e ct ric m ot or, t h at drov e t w o cont ra-rot at ing prope l l e rs . Th e abov e range and s pe e d of 7500m / 30K n coul d be re ach e d onl y if t he bat t e rie s w e re pre h e at edt o 30'C. Th e s e t orpe doe s h ad t o be s e rv ice d e v e ry 3 t o 5 days in orde r t o m aint ain t h e ir re l iabil it y. Not pre -h e at e d range s are 4500m / 28K n. Th is v e rs ion us e d an inf l ue nce pis t ol ,t h e Pi2 (Pi G7H AZ / M Z ), w h ich h ad an im pact pis t ol , s im il ar t ot h e Pi1 im pact pis t ol , coupl e d w it h an pas s iv e m agne t ic TZ 3 pis t ol . Th e t orpe do coul d be s e t v ia a s w it ch , t o e it h e r us e onl y t h e im pact pis t ol(AZ ), or t he im pact + m agne t ic (M Z ). Th e w arh e ad us e d TNT+ H ND (Trinit rot ol ue ne + H e xanit roph e nyl am ine ) Th is w as t he L uTI Iv e rs ion oft h e TI I I G7e t orpe do. Th is t orpe do us e d t w o 17T210 bat t e rie s , w it h a l arge r capacit y of 125 Am pe re s / h our, com pare d t ot h e 13T210 bat t e rie s , w h ich h ad a capacit y of9 3 Am pe re s / h our.

TI I I d G7e " Dack e l " Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngt h: Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 20 534,6m m 2220K g 11000m m K b280, 280K g PiZ 150m 1,5 57000m / 9 K n at505U/ m in

Sie m e ns GL 231/ 75 E-M ot or, 100h p, 4x 17T210 bat t e rie s 5K W at505U/ m in

Not es: Th is w as a v e ry l ong range , s l ow s pe e d, v e rs ion of t h e TI I I G7e t orpe do, int e nde d f or us e in h arbours , or re s t rict e d bays . I t coul d be program m e d w it h a s pe cif ic circl ing, or l e gs , at t h e e nd ofa s t raigh trun. I t h ad f our 17T210 bat e rie s . Due t o t h e e xt re m e l y l ong runs , t orpe do pre h e at ing didn't m ade m uch ofa dif f e re nce .

TI VG7e s " Fal ke" Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngh t : Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Boyancy(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 37 534,6m m 19 37K g 7163m m K d280, 274K g Pi4a 150m ? 7500m / 20k n at1125U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 4500m / 16K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL ? / ?E-M ot or, 32h p, 1x 13T210 bat t e rie s 24K W at1125U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 20K W at9 85U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th e f irs t pas s iv e h om ing t orpe do. H om ing w as m ade by a s im pl e nois e m e as ure m e nt . I nt e nde d t o us e agains tm e rch ants h ips , s o t he l ow s pe e d w as acce pt abl e. Th e T4 M ode l w as t h e adj unct of t h e e arl ie r T3 m ode l in ne arl yev e ry w ay. H ow e v e r, t h is w as no ordinary s t raigh trunning t orpe do, butt h e w orl d's f irs tacous t ic h om ing t orpe do. I n e arl y 19 33, Ge rm any s t art e d de v el opm e nt and t est ing of acous t ic h om ing m e ch anis m s f or t orpe doe s . From t h e out s e t of s ubm arine w arf are , it h ad be e n a dre am t o be abl e t o aim and f ire t orpe doe s w it h out t h e aid of a pe ris cope . be caus e t h e pe ris cope giv e s aw ay t he l ocat ion of a s ubm arine , and be caus e a h ul l -pe ne t rat ing pe ris cope gre at l y w e ak e ns a s ubm arine 's pre s s ure h ul l and l im it s t h e de pt hs t o w h ich it can div e . U-boat s al s o h ad t o com e t ov e ry s h al l ow de pt hs t o us e t h e ir pe ris cope s , ge ne ral l y about 15 m , l e av ing t hem gre at l y e xpos e d t o bom bing, de pt h ch arging, and e v e n gunf ire . W it h t h e int roduct ion of Fal k e , U-boat s coul d re m ain m ore de e pl y s ubm e rge d and f ire at conv oys w it h not h ing t o giv e aw ay t h e ir pos it ion butt h e nois e oft h e ir s cre w s . Rat h e rt h an aim ing w it h a pe ris cope , t he t orpe do coul d be rough l y aim e d at a s ound cont act as de t e ct e d by a U-boat 's h ydroph one s , and t h e h om ing m e ch anis m coul d be t rus t edt of ind t he t arge tw it h outt h e ne e d f or pre cis e aim ing. Fal k e w ork e d m uch l ik e a norm al st raigh t running t orpe do f or t he f irs t 400 m of it s run, w h e nce it s acous t ic s e ns ors be cam e act iv e and s e arch e d f or a t arge t . Th e s e ns it iv e s ound s e ns ing e q uipm e nt in Fal k e re q uire d t he t orpe do be as q uie t as pos s ibl e , h e nce it ran at onl y 20K n; in addit ion, t he f iring U-boat w as f orce d t o st op it s m ot ors . Fal k e w as int e nde d t o h om e on m e rch ant t arge t s , h ow e v e r, s o Fal k e 's s l ow s pe e d w as not a gre at h indrance .

TVG7e s " Z auk nig I " Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngh t : Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Unt e rt rie b(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 45 534,6m m 149 5K g 7163m m K e 1, 274K g TZ 5, Pi4b, Pi4c 150m w it h Pi4c and TZ 5, 400m w it h Pi4b. 11 5750m / 24.5k n at1125U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 3750m / 20K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL ? / ?E-M ot or, 55h p, 1x 13T210 bat t e rie s 40K W at1350U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 32K W at1175U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th is t orpe do w as m e ant t o be us e d agains t conv oy e s cort s . De s igne d t o h om e in on t he cav iat ion nois e of around 24.5K H z w h ich w as e q uiv al e nt t o prope l l e rs on an e s cort t rav el l ing at10 t o 18K n. Firs ts uce s s f ul com batus e w as m ade in Se pt e m be r 19 43. Th e re w e re t w o m ain v ariant s: Fl at -nos e d v e rs ion w h ich cont aine d t woset s ofm agne t os t rict ion h ydroph one s . Round-nos e d v e rs ion w h ich cont aine d t w o m agne t os t rict ion h ydroph one s ins ide a f unne l s h ape d baf f l e. Th e TV al s o int roduce d t h e TZ 5 (act iv e ) m agne t ic pis t ol , w h ich w as bas ical l y a met al de t e ct or w it h t w o coil s , and s ol v e d m uch of t h e probl e m s of e arl y m agne t ic pis t ol s . An im prov e d TZ 6 pis t ol coul d be f it t ed t o any G s e rie s t orpe do (53.3cm diam e t e r), but w as onl y approv edf or us e as t h e w ar e nde d. M os t t orpe dos us e d w h is k e r-t ype im pact pis t ol s , but t h e s e coul d not be us e d on h om ing t orpe dos . Th e re f ore t h ese t ype s of t orpe dos us e d an ine rt ialpis t olin t h e re ar of t he w arh e ad, and t h e TVcoul d us e a coupl e d m agne t ic and ine rt ial im pactpis t ol . Th e acous t ic h om ing de v ice w oul d onl yl ock t ot he l oude s t nois e af t e r a run of 400m f rom it s l aunch , w it h a Pi4b pis t ol , and 150m f rom it s l aunch , w it h a Pi4c pis t ol ,t o av oid l ock ing on t he l aunch ing uboat .I n s uch cas e s , s t andard orde rs w e re t o div e im e diat l yt o a de pt h of 60 m e t e rs , af t erl aunch , if t he l aunch w as m ade f rom a bow t ube . I ft he l aunch w as m ade f rom a s t e rn t ube , com pl et e uboats il e nce w as re q uire d.

TV b G7e s " Z auk nig I " Ge rt e -Nr: Diam e t e r: W e igh t : L e ngh t : Ch arge : Pis t ol : Arm ing: Unt e rt rie b(% ): Range / Spe e d: Pow e r: 45 534,6m m 149 5K g 7163m m K e 1, 274K g TZ 5, Pi4b, Pi4c 150m w it h Pi4c and TZ 5, 400m w it h Pi4b. 11 8000m / 21.5k n at1210U/ m in, pre h e at e d at30'C 5750m / 20K n notpre h e at e d.

Sie m e ns GL ? / ?E-M ot or, 40h p, 1x 17T210 bat t e rie s 30K W at1210U/ m in (pre h e at e d at30'C) 26K W at1050U/ m in (notpre h e at e d at30'C)

Not es: Th is t orpe do w as m e ant t o be us e d agains t conv oy e s cort s . De s igne d t o h om e in on t he cav iat ion nois e of around 24.5K H z w h ich w as e q uiv al e nt t o prope l l e rs on an e s cort t rav el l ing at10 t o 18K n. Firs ts uce s s f ul com batus e w as m ade in Se pt e m be r 19 43. Th e TV al s o int roduce d t h e TZ 5 (act iv e ) m agne t ic pis t ol , w h ich w as bas ical l y a met al de t e ct or w it h t w o coil s , and s ol v e d m uch of t h e probl e m s of e arl y m agne t ic pis t ol s . An im prov e d TZ 6 pis t ol coul d be f it t ed t o any G s e rie s t orpe do (53.3cm diam e t e r), but w as onl y approv edf or us e as t h e w ar e nde d. M os t t orpe dos us e d w h is k e r-t ype im pact pis t ol s , but t h e s e coul d not be us e d on h om ing t orpe dos . Th e re f ore t h ese t ype s of t orpe dos us e d an ine rt ialpis t olin t h e re ar of t he w arh e ad, and t h e TVcoul d us e a coupl e d m agne t ic and ine rt ial im pactpis t ol . Th e acous t ic h om ing de v ice w oul d onl yl ock t ot he l oude s t nois e af t e r a run of 400m f rom it s l aunch , w it h a Pi4b pis t ol , and 150m f rom it s l aunch , w it h a Pi4c pis t ol ,t o av oid l ock ing on t he l aunch ing uboat .I n s uch cas e s , s t andard orde rs w e re t o div e im e diat l yt o a de pt h of 60 m e t e rs , af t erl aunch , if t he l aunch w as m ade f rom a bow t ube . I ft he l aunch w as m ade f rom a s t e rn t ube , com pl et e uboats il e nce w as re q uire d. Th is v ariant h ad an incre as e d range , t h ank s t o an l arge r capacit y bat t e ry, t h e 17T210, and 2 auxil l iary boos t e rs (" Z us at zt rge " ). Th e TV a w as t h e S-bootv e rs ion oft h is t orpe do.

Fig.17: TVG7e s " Z auk nig I "t orpe do

Appe ndix A

Appe ndix t o B.d.U.'s W ar L og of1.7.19 44. Sum m ary oft h e de v el opm e ntoft he t orpe do arm in ope rat ional U-boat s. Sit uat ion as of1.7.19 44. A. Fol l ow ing on t h e s um m ary giv e n in t h e W ar L og of10.5.43 and t h e m e m oranda on T Vin W ar L ogs of24.9 .43, 1.12.43 and 1.5.44, h e re w it h af urt h e r re v ie w oft he de v el opm e ntoft he t orpe do arm on ope rat ions , unde r t he f ol l ow ing h e adings : 1) Pis t ol s : Pi 2 and TZ 3 (Pi 3)) 2) FAT I and I I 3) L .U.T. 4) TI I Ia 5) T Vw it h TZ 5 and Pi 4 6) Ne t -pas s ing pis t ol s and t orpe doe s 7) Eq uipm e ntofboat s w it h t orpe doe s . B. Pis t ol s Pi 2 and TZ 3 )Pi 3): Pi 2 h as now be e n us e d f or 18 m ont h s as non-cont actpis t ol f or t h e G 7E. Al t h ough re l at iv el yf e w Pi 2 h av e be e n f ire d as condit ions ofU-boatw arf are h av e ch ange d, itcan ne v e rt hel e s s be s aid t h att h is pis t ol h as cont inue d t o prov e s at is f act ory ev e n w it h t h e ne w de pt h set t ings in f orce s ince M arch 19 43. O pe rat ional e xpe rie nce s pe rm it t edt he f ol l ow ing re l axat ions ofpre v ious ope rat ional re s t rict ions : a) Augus t19 43: " M Z in" pe rm it t e d in al l w e at h e rs and atde pt h set t ings of7 m e t e rs and be l ow . b) M arch 19 44: " M Z in" pe rm it t edev e n ift h e re h ad be e n s e v e re e xpl os ions cl os e t ot h e boat , prov ide d t he t est ing oft h e gyros cope s h ow e d no de f e ct s ;t he gyros cope w as s h ow n t o be m ore l iabl e t o dam age t h an t h e M Z -unitoft h e pis t ol . De v el opm e ntofa non-cont actpis t ol f or t h e G7A f rom t he I t al ian " Pi S1C" w as be gun in January 19 43. I tbe cam e re ady f or ope rat ional us e in Augus t19 43 unde r t h e de s ignat ion " t orpe do f iring unit3" (TZ 3) and " Pi 3" . Th e t e rm " t orpe do f iring unit " , us e d h e re f or t he f irs tt im e , is us e d t o indicat e t h e M Z -unitw h ich is f ixe d in t h e h e ad. Now onl yt h e im pactpis t ol - Pi 3 - h as t o be f it t e d int ot h e h e ad on board, as h it h e rt o, be f ore l oading int ot he t ube .
Fig.18: Pi4 de t onat or de t ail s

1)

Th e s am e ope rat ional re s t rict ions and de pt h set t ings appl yt o TZ 3 as t o Pi 2. O pe rat ional e xpe rie nce s are s im il ar t ot h os e w it h Pi 2. Th e y are notunf av orabl e , butt he num be r ofope rat ional s h ot s f ire d is note nough t o giv e af inal opinion. St at e ofe q uipm e nt : w it h Pi 2 al l ope rat ional boat s. w it h Pi 3 about50% ofope rat ional boat s. Th e re as on f or t he l ack ofTZ 3 (Pi 3) l ie s in dif f icul t ie s ofproduct ion m ainl y due t o t h e col l aps e ofI t al y. I n s pit e ofcons ide rabl e ef f ort s on t h e partoft orpe do e xpe rim e nt al st at ions , ith as nots o f ar be e n f ound pos s ibl e t oel im inat e e nd-of -run de t onat ors , as s o f irm l y de m ande d by B.d.U. I th as note v e n be e n pos s ibl e t o dis cov e rf ul l yt h e re as ons f or t h e m , as at t e m pt s t o caus e art if icial e nd-of -run de t onat ions by s ink ing t orpe doe s in de e p w at e r h av e not be e n s ucce s s f ul . I nt h e ory t h e re as ons are be l ie v edt o be : a) b) Firing oft h e im pactunitw h e n h it t ing t h e bot t om ; V ibrat ion oft h e M Z unitw h e n t he t orpe do s ink s t o s om e de pt h and t he curre ntf ail s t o be s w it ch e d of f .

Ef f ort s are be ing m ade in t he f irs tins t ance t o de v el op a curre ntcut -of ff or al l M Z pis t ol s. Unt il t h is is re ady t he t act ical dis adv ant age and t h e unce rt aint y as t owh et h e r or nota h it h as be e n m ade att h e e nd oft h e run s h ow n in t he f iring t abl e s w il l cont inue , e s pe cial l y w it h el e ct ric t orpe doe s . Th is is part icul arl yt h e cas e w it h t he el e ct ric t orpe do, be caus e t h e e nd ofit s run cannotbe f ixe d e xact l y and one h as t o re ck on w it h a ce rt ain addit ional run ata de cre as ing t orpe do s pe e d, w h ich in FAT s h ot s , h as s om e im port ance . As condit ions ofat t ack h av e be com e m ore dif f icul tf or t h e boat s and f iring range s h av e t h e re f ore incre as e d, boat s cons t ant l y h av e dif f icul t y in de ciding w h e t h e r or nott he de t onat ion oft he t orpe do m e ans a h it ,wh ent h e e xpl os ion is onl y h e ard. App. 1. (Se e Se rial O rde r No. 45, at t ach e d). Not h ing is k now n ofany e ne m y count e rm e as ure t o our non-cont actpis t ol , e xce pta s us picion on t h e partofU 532 (Junk e r) t h atm agne t ic ge ar w as be ing us e d, w h ich h as nots o f ar be e n conf irm e d. 2) FAT I and I I : G 7A FAT I cont inue s t o prov e s at is f act ory. G 7E FAT I I h as al s o brough tgood re s ul t s w it h in t he l im it s ofit s s h ortrun, w h ich is notv e ry s uit abl e f or FAT. I n no cas e h ow e v e r h as any s ucce s s be e n ach ie v e d w it h t h e circl ing s h oti nt e nde d f or us e agains tde s t roye rs . O ne oft h e m ain re as ons f or t h is is t he f actFAT I I h as h ardl y be e n us e d s ince T Vh as be com e ope rat ional .

3)

L UT (t orpe do w h ich can be f ire d inde pe nde ntofangl e on t h e bow ). L UT is a de v el opm e ntofFAT I and I I . By ins e rt ing a ne w l ink in t he l oop m e ch anis m t he " L UT" cours e can be s e tparal l el t ot h e e ne m y's cours e in e ach ins t ance , s o t h att he t orpe do can be f ire d f rom any angl e on t h e bow . Th e l oop pat t e rn is in t he f orm ofa s aw , t h e s pe e d ofadv ance ofw h ich can be s e tatbe t w e e n 5 and 21 k not s . Cons e q ue nt l y h it t ing pros pe ct s agains t conv oys are incre as e d. Furt h e r pos s ibil it y ofe m pl oym e ntas ant i-de s t roye r t orpe do. I m m e diat e us e is onl y in G 7E (T I I I a, s e e paragraph 4)). Th is t orpe do rais e s f ire cont rol dif f icul t ie s . I n addit ion t ot he f iring angl e, s pe e d ofL UT, pre l im inary run and s uppl e m e ntoft he t rack angl e m us tbe pas s e d t ot he t ube s . L UT w as f irs tus e d ope rat ional l y in Fe bruary 19 44. O n 1.7.44 about50 ope rat ional boat s h ad be e n e q uippe d. Ne w L UT s e t t ing ge ar h as t o be f it t e d. As ye tt h e re are no ope rat ional e xpe rie nce s or s ucce s s e s . TI I I a: Th is t orpe do is a T I I I w it h h igh pow e re d bat t e ry. I t s run is 7,500 m e t e rs , w it h FAT and L UT itis e f f e ct iv e up t o 9 ,000 m e t e rs . I tbe cam e ope rat ional in Fe bruary 19 44. By 1.7.44. ne arl y al l At l ant ic and M e dit e rrane an boat s h ad be e n e q uippe d w it h it . T V(Z aunk nig) w it h T Z and Pi 4: a) TVw as us e d: in t h e At l ant ic f rom Se pt e m be r 19 43 in t h e M e dit e rrane an f rom O ct obe r 19 43 in Nort h e rn W at e rs f rom January 19 44 in t h e Bl ack Se a f rom April 19 44, f rom t he f ol l ow ing bas e s , e q uippe d w it h t est ing ge ar: Bre s t ,L orie nt , St . NAz aire , L a Pal l ice , K ie l , Toul on, Pol a, Narv ik , Trondh e im , Cons t anz a. Al t h ough de s irabl e , itw il l notbe pos s ibl e t o s e tup f urt h e rf it t ing-out st at ions be f ore t h e e nd of19 44, ow ing t ot h e dif f icul t y in obt aining t h e com pl icat edt est ing ge ar. De l iv e rie s ofTVf or ope rat ions h av e nots o f ar re ach e d t h e re q uire d num be rs . Th e re as on is dif f icul t ie s in de l iv e ry due t o e ne m y act ion. Th e e q uipm e ntofindiv idual boat s h ad t h e re f ore t o be t e m poraril y re duce d during Fe bruary and M arch f rom 4 t o 2 Z aunk nig. At pre s e ntboat s are be ing e q uippe d on an av e rage w it h 4 Z aunk nig, and in a f e w bas e s w it h 5.

4)

5)

b)

TVs ucce s s e s h av e re m aine d att he l ev el of60% h it s . Th e t orpe do h as cont inue d t of il l t h e prom is e its h ow e d af t e r it s f irs tus e in Se pt e m be r. De t ail s ofre s ul t s are : By t h e e nd ofJune 19 44 341 ope rat ional s h ot s h ad be e n re port edt o B.d.U. oft h ese:

175 h it s and 20 probabl e h it s = 58% 67 44 4 2 33 e xpl aine d m is s e s une xpl aine d m is s e s e m e rge ncy s h ot s une xpl aine d s h ot s f ail ure s .

Th e f ail ure s re s ol v edt h em sel v e s int o: 17 t ube runne rs 7 pre m at ure s 3 duds 1 t ube -s t ick e r 1 s urf ace bre ak e r 1 t orpe do f ail ure 3 une xpl aine d f ail ure s . Sunk w it h TV : 1 128 3 18 2 cruis e r de s t roye rs and e s cortv essel s and 23 probabl es s ubm arine s f re igh t e rs t ank e rs . c) Al arge num be r ofre port s re ce iv e d s ince aboutM arch / April s h ow t h att h e e ne m y is m ak ing gre ate f f ort s t o produce count e rm e as ure s t o TV . Th e re port s s pe ak ofw ide l y-v arying t ype s ofnois e s obs e rv ed in e ne m y de s t roye rs , e s cortv essel s , and ant i-s ubm arine v essel s. Th e nois e s w e re de s cribe d as be ing l ik e a circul ar s aw , a cont inuous gnaw ing, t h e rat t l e ofa DK W e ngine . Th e s e are probabl y cas e s of t h e ant i-TVt ow e d nois e -box. I nt h e cas e ofot h e r nois e s , s uch as a s inging-s aw and h um m ing, itis notk now n w h e t h e rt h e y de riv e f rom a ne w l ocat ion ge ar or f rom a TVcount e rm e as ure . I n 4 cas e s t he TVh it ,ev e n w h e n nois e s h ad be e n h e ard, in 3 cas e s itis s us pe ct ed t h att he t orpe do w as div e rt e d by a nois e -box, in one f urt h e r cas e t he t orpe do is be l ie v edt o h av e be e n de s t roye d by de pt h -ch arge s w it h s h al l ow s e t t ing droppe d int ot h e w ak e . Furt h e r de v el opm e ntis t h e re f ore conce nt rat ing on f it t ing w h ich w il l

av oid s im il ar e ne m y count e rm e as ure s , as w e l l as on t he re q uire m e nt s f or t h e ne w t ype s ofU-boat(1700 angl e d s h ot , de e p s h ot , adj us t abl e s af et y dis t ance ). 6) Ne t -pas s ing pis t ol s and t orpe doe s : Th e de v el opm e ntoft orpe doe s and pis t ol s s uit abl e f or pe ne t rat ing ne t s (pis t ol s w it h outl ev e r, ne tcut t e rs in t h e h e ad and t ail oft he t orpe do, s l ant ed s us pe ns ion l ug) h as be e n proce e ding s ince t h e s um m e r of19 43. By April 19 44 t h e re w as a s uf f icie ntq uant it y ofs uch ge ar av ail abl e . Th e re is no i im m e diat e ne e d t o e q uip al l boat s. I nf orm at ion re ce iv e d s h ow s t h att he e ne m y is abandoning t h e us e ofant i-t orpe do ne t s , m ainl yf or re as ons of s e am ans h ip. Atpre s e ntonl y boat s proce e ding t ot he I ndian O ce an are be ing e q uippe d w it h t h is ge ar, and Bl ack Se a boat s f or t h e purpos e of pe ne t rat ing h arbor barrage s ifne ce s s ary. Eq uipm e ntofboat s w it h t orpe doe s : Th e l arge num be r oft ype s oft orpe do av ail abl e w it h dif f e re ntch aract e ris t ics h as m ade itne ce s s ary t of itboat s outw it h sev e ral t ype s in orde r f or t hem t o be e q uippe d f or m any e v e nt ual it ie s . Th e cons e q ue ntdif f icul t ie s ofl oading t he t ube s f or day and nigh tand t he f re s h de cis ions t o be m ade by t he Com m anding O f f ice r in e ach cas e h av e h ad t o be acce pt e d. I tis aim e d gradual l yt o e q uip t h e boat s w it h TVand L UT onl y, w h ich m e ans t h att he G 7A w il l be com e re dundant . Type V I I are now onl y carrying 10 t orpe doe s , f or re as ons ofw e igh tand s t abil it y, and Type I X onl y 2 uppe r de ck cont aine rs f or re as ons ofs af et y.

7)

Appe ndix I Se rial O rde r No. 45. W it h im m e diat e ef f e ctt he f ol l ow ing are t o be t ak e n as guiding principl es f or t he as s e s s m e ntofh it s and t orpe do de t onat ions att h e e nd ofrun oft h e G 7E cal cul at edf rom f iring t abl es: 1. Be h av ior oft he t orpe do: Unde r t h e m os tf av orabl e w ork ing condit ions (t orpe do adapt edt o oil -f il l edt ail pie ce , h e at e d, bat t e ry f ul l y ch arge d, a f ul l ch arge ofair) t he el e ct ric t orpe do w il l m ak e a run of5,000 m e t e rs ata cons t antt orpe do s pe e d. Th is corre s ponds t oa running t im e of5 m inut e s 30 s e conds . I n addit ion a f urt h e r run of2,000 m e t e rs m ay be e xpe ct e d ata de cre as ing t orpe do s pe e d, during w h ich t he t orpe do w il l cont inue t ost e e r approxim at el yt h e de pt h and cours e s e t . Af t e r about8 m inut e s it w il l h av e m ade a run of7,000 m e t e rs . Th e s pe e d oft he t orpe do t h e n drops q uick l y as t h e dis t ance incre as e s . Af t e r about12 m inut e s (9 ,000 m e t e rs run) t he cont rol unit s m ain s w it ch us ual l y ce as e t of unct ion. I n one e xce pt ional cas e t he t orpe do w as obs e rv edt o run up t o 17 m inut e s , w it h outcont rol , and t h e curre nt f ail edt o s w it ch of f . I nt h e cas e oft orpe doe s in w h ich t h e abov e condit ions are notf ul f il l e d, t h atis t o s ay in m os tcas e s , t h e running t im e s and dis t ance s cit e d are l ess.

2.

Be h av ior oft h e pis t ol : During t he t orpe do's run according t ot he f iring t abl es,t h e Pi 2 (w it h " M Z -in" ) is f ul l yef f e ct iv e . Ov e r and abov e t h is non-cont actf iring can be e xpe ct edt ot ak e pl ace up t o a running t im e of7 m inut e s . Th e e f f e ct iv e f iring de pt h de cre as e s h ow e v e r as t he t orpe do s pe e d de cre as e s . End-of -run de t onat ors : I n is ol at e d cas e s , de pe nde nton t h e condit ion oft he t orpe do, e nd-of -run de t onat ions occur s oone r or l at e r and m ay ov e rl ap in t im e w it h pos s ibl e h it s . Th e re as ons f or t h e m are notye tf ul l y unde rs t ood. Th e y can be caus e d by: a) b) I m pactf iring h it t ing t h e bot t om ; V ibrat ion oft h e M Z unitw h e n t he t orpe do s ink s t o s om e de pt h ifatt he s am e t im e t h e curre ntf ail s t o s w it ch of f .

3.

4.

Concl us ions f or t h e as s e s s m e ntofh it s: From a t e ch nical pointofv ie w , unde r t h e be s tcondit ions , t he el e ct ric t orpe do is onl yf ul l y re l iabl e up t ot h e e nd oft h e run s h ow n in t he f iring t abl e s (5,000 m e t e rs ). I th as a l im it e d us e ov e r and abov e t h is up t o 7,000 m e t e rs . Abov e 7,000 m e t e rs (= 8 m inut e s running t im e ) t he t orpe do h as no f urt h e r pract ical v al ue . Unde r f av orabl e condit ions , t h e re f ore , t h e re is s om e l ik e l yh ood t h atde t onat ions w h ich are onl y h e ard, and w h ich occur w it h in 7 m inut e s , can be re garde d as h it s , prov ide d t h att h e re s t rict ions appl icabl e w it h " M Z -in" h av e be e n obs e rv e d. Th e re is f urt h e ra v e ry s l igh tpos s ibil it y ofh it t ing by im pactf iring be t w e e n 7 and 8 m inut e s running t im e . Whenf ol l ow ing doubt f ul e xpl os ions in f ut ure t he f ol l ow ing are t o be giv e n: s iz e of t arge t ,wh et h e rl oade d, de pt h set t ing, M Z -in or out ,t e m pe rat ure ofacid on f iring, t im e ofl as tt opping-up ofbat t e ry, running t im e , de pt h ofw at e r.

5.

Appe ndix 2 Se rial O rde r No. 40. April 19 44 is s ue . Eq uipm e ntw it h t orpe doe s .

1)

Each t ype ofboatis in f ut ure t o be e q uippe d w it h t orpe doe s as f ol l ow s . Al l pre v ious orde rs are cance l l e d: a) At l ant ic: f orw ard 3 TV , 2 FAT I , 3 TI I I FAT I I (or 5 T I I I a FAT I I ) af t 2 TV

Type V I I C

Type V I I C f orw ard 3 TV , 5 TI I I aL UT (L UT boat s ) af t 2 TV Type V I I D f orw ard 2 TV , 2 FAT I , 4 TI I I FAT I I af t 2 TV

Type I X B and C Nort h At l ant ic f orw ard 3 TV , 3 FAT I , 4 TI I I a FAT I I (or 7 T I I I a FAT I I ) af t 2 TV , 2 TI I I FAT I I Type I XD f orw ard 2 TV , 8 TI I I FAT I I (or T I I I a FAT I I ) af t 2 TV , 2 TI I I FAT I I uppe r de ck 9 FAT I (or T I ) af t 2 TV , 5 TI I I (or FAT I I )

Type XB b)

Nort h e rn W at e rs : f orw ard 3 TV , 5 TI I I FAT I I af t 2 TV

Type V I I C c)

M e dit e rrane an: f orw ard 3 TV , 5 TI I I a FAT I I af t 2 TV

Type V I I C d)

Bl ack Se a: f orw ard 1 TV , 4 TI I I

Type I I

2)

Boat s are t o be e q uippe d in accordance w it h paragraph 1) as f ar as t he t orpe do st ock s att h e bas e pe rm it . Th e y are t o be giv e n TI I I in l ie u oft ype s oft orpe do not av ail abl e. Exce pt ions : a) TVe q uipm e ntf or Nort h e rn W at e rs , M e dit e rrane an and Bl ack Se a is t o be al t e re d ifne ce s s ary by t h e re s pons ibl e Fl ag O f f ice r U-boat s according t o t h e ope rat ional s it uat ion and t orpe doe s av ail abl e. Nort h e rn W at e rs boat s are t o be e q uippe d w it h 3 FAT I f orw ard ins t e ad ofT I I I as s oon as G 7A can be us e d in t h is are a. Uppe r de ck e q uipm e ntf or Type XB w il l be de cide d s e parat el y in e ach cas e . Th e e q uipm e ntofAt l ant ic boat s w it h 5 TVw il l be t h e s ubj e ctofa Spe cial O rde r.

3)

b) c) d)

4) Ol d" Se rial O rde r No. 40" , (is s ue ofSe pt e m be r 1 19 43) is t o be re m ov e d and de s t roye d. Nav al W ar St af f(2nd Div is ion)/ B.d.U. O p. 00816W .

Appe ndix B

Group H e adq uart e rs W e s t A conf e re nce w as h e l d in W il hel m s h av e n w it h re pre s e nt at iv e s oft h e Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Com m and be caus e ofre ne w e d une xpl aine d t orpe do f ail ure s . Th e m ain m at t e r unde r dis cus s ion w as t h e s us picion h e l d by B.d.U. f or s om e t im e now t h atM Z coul df ail t of ire , e v e n ifs h otunde r. Th e re h av e be e n re pe at e d cas e s ofs h ot s f ire d at cl os e range w it h good f iring dat a w h ich h av e notbrough tre s ul t s and t h e re as ons h av e be e n obs cure e v ent ot h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e (U 470). Th e s e cas e s h av e incre as e d part icul arl y re ce nt l y (U 24, U 15, U 20, U 59 , U 60). Th e Dire ct or oft h e Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Com m and re port s t h atU 20's s h ot s cannotbe e xpl aine d. Ev e n ift h e s pe e d h ad be e n w rongl yest im at e d, atl e as tone s h ots h oul d h av e h it . Th e onl y pos s ibl e e xpl anat ion f or t he f ail ure oft he 3t orpe doe s t of ire w oul d be t he f actt h att h e s iz e oft he s h ip h ad be e n v e ry m uch ov e re s t im at e d. Th e Com m anding O f f ice r oft h e boatde nie s t h is pos s ibil it y. I h av e re ach e d t he f ol l ow ing concl us ions w it h re gard t ot h e s e and s im il ar f ail ure s ! Al l t h e Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Com m and's anal ys e s ofs h ot s are pos s ibl e f or t he part icul ar cas e unde r cons ide rat ion and pos s ibl y corre ctin s om e cas e s . ButI cannot be l ie v e t h at , w it h a w h ol e s e rie s off ail ure s oft h is k ind, t h e re are ot h e r re as ons in e v e ry cas e . I am conv ince d t h att h e re is a conne ct ion be t w e e n al l t h e s e s o-cal l e d une xpl aine d s h ot s and t h e re is a com m on caus e f or t h e ir f ail ure w h ich h as notye tbe e n dis cov e re d. Up t o now I h av e be l ie v edt h atin m any cas e s boat s h av e f ire d pas t , due t o m is int e rpre t at ion oft he f iring dat a or aim ing m is t ak e s . I n indiv idual cas e s I h av e s e ntt he boatf or f urt h e rt raining. Butnow , w it h t h ese f ail ure s ofs h ot s f ire d unde r t h e m os ts im pl e condit ions by a s e rie s oft h e be s t -t raine d Com m anding O f f ice rs and t orpe dom e n, I cannot acce ptt h is e xpl anat ion any l onge r. Som e oft h e s e C.O .'s h av e unde rgone 2 ye ars of t raining in pe ace t im e and al l oft h e m , w h e n re e xam ine d, w e re f ound t o h av e good or v e ry good s k il l in f iring. From now on, I s h al l re gard al l s uch s h ot s atcl os e s trange , w h e re a de t ail ed e xam inat ion oft h e circum s t ance s and t he f iring dat a e xcl ude t h e pos s ibil it y ofa m is s , and w h ich s o f ar h av e be e n re garde d as une xpl aine d, as f ail ure s oft he f iring unit . I th as h appe ne d again and again in t h e s e cas e s t h att h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e h as h e l dt he v ie w t h att h e boat s h av e m is s e d or m ade incorre ctobs e rv at ions , onl y be caus e t h e re as on f or t h e pos s ibl e f ail ure w as notk now n and coul d nott h e re f ore be m ade t o appl y and t h at af t e rw ards t h e ir v ie w w as t urne d outt o be incorre ct . Se e , f or ins t ance , pre m at ure de t onat ions , de t onat ions h al f -w ay t h rough t h e run, f iring unde r w it h im pactf iring. Th e at t it ude t o be adopt edt ot h is probl e m is t h e re f ore , ot h e r unk now n caus e s off ail ure s are pos s ibl e . Ot h e rw is e w e s h al l ne v e r ge tanyw h e re .

18.1 Th e re is s t il l unce rt aint y aboutt h e act ual pos s ibil it ie s ofs uppl ying in Spain and a pract ical e xpe rim e ntis t h e re f ore ne ce s s ary. U 44, atpre s e ntof ft h e west coas tofSpain, can be us e d f or t h is ;s h e can t h e n ope rat e t oge t h e r w it h boat s w h ich are s ail ing up t o 14 days af t e r h e r. Suppl y h as t h e re f ore be e n orde re d f or 25/ 26 in Cadiz .

19 .1

Not h ing t o re port .

20.1 I ce is be ginning t o h av e a dire cte f f e cton pl ans f or ope rat ions . Firing and div ing t raining in t h e Bal t ic w il l h av e t o be s us pe nde d f or t h e pre s e nt . Th e re is a ch oice be t w e e n de l aying t h e ope rat ion ofs e v e ral boat s w it h ne w C.O .'s unt il t h e col d s pe l l is ov e r or s e nding t h e m on t o ope rat ions be f ore t h e y h av e com pl et edt h e s ch e dul ed w ork ing up and f iring pract ice pe riods . As t h e y are al l of f ice rs w h om I be l ie v e al re ady capabl e ofh andl ing dif f icul ts it uat ions , I h av e de cide d t o s e nd t h e m on t o ope rat ions im m e diat el y. Th e y w il l f irs tofal l go t o ope rat ions are as w h e re com parat iv el yl it t l e pat rol is t o be e xpe ct e d. As s oon as pos s ibl e al l boat s w il l be t rans f e rre d f rom t h e Bal t ic t ot he Nort h Se a.

21.1 U 34 re port edt h ats h e h ad carrie d outh e r m ine l aying ope rat ion of f Fal m out h . Sh e h as m anage d itv e ry q uick l y. Furt h e r s ink ings indicat e t h e pre s e nce ofU 44 of ft h e nort h w e s tcoas tofSpain. Se v e ral U-boatw arnings s h ow t h att h e e ne m y is t ak ing act ion. Th e Dire ct or oft h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e t el e ph one d m e t oday. Trial s h ot s h av e be e n m ade agains tT 123, w h ich did notf ire , and m agne t ic m e as ure m e nt s h av e be e n m ade on t orpe doe s in s t ore , w it h t h e re s ul tt h att h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e cons ide rs t h e pos s ibil it y oft orpe doe s notf iring is prov e n. Th e f actt h atit s m ain w e apon, t he t orpe do, h as t oal arge e xt e ntprov e d us e l e s s in ope rat ion h as be e n t h e gre at e s tdif f icul t y w it h w h ich t h e U-boatArm h as h ad t o cont e nd w it h s ince t h e be ginning oft h e w ar and ith as h ad a m os ts e rious e f f e cton re s ul t s . At l e as t25% ofal l s h ot s f ire d h av e be e n t orpe do f ail ure s . According t ost at is t ics cov e ring al l s h ot s up t o 6.1., 40.9 % ofuns ucce s s f ul s h ot s w e re t orpe do f ail ure s . 1) I n Augus t19 39 , be f ore t h e boat s l ef tportduring t h e e m e rge ncy pe riod, a conf e re nce h e l d in t h e Torpe do Trial s De part m e ntduring w h ich t h e doubt s e xpre s s e d by B.d.U. w it h re gard t ot h e prope r f unct ioning oft h e pis t ol w e re dis m is s e d as unf ounde d by Re ar Adm iral W e h r, Dire ct or ofTorpe do Trial s De part m e nt . 2) O n 14.9 U 29 re port e d by radio t h at2 t orpe doe s h ad f ire d pre m at ure l y af t er cov e ring t h e s af et y dis t ance . Th e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e f irs tw is h e d t o m ak e outt h att he U-boat s h ad m ade an e rror in pos it ion of30-60 m il e s . I w oul d notacce ptt h is e xpl anat ion. Th e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e t h e n re com m e nde d s e t t ing t h e pis t ol 2 z one s l ow e r, in orde r t ol e s s e n it s s e ns it iv it y. Th is m e antt h att h e y w oul d notbe ce rt ain t of ire agains tm e rch ants h ips unde r 3,000 BRT ifs h otunde r and s uch s h ips w oul dt h e re f ore h av e t o be at t ack e d w it h im pactf iring. An orde r w as accordingl y giv ent ot h e U-boat s by B.d.U. on 14.9 .

3) Fail ure s w e re note l im inat e d h ow e v e r. Furt h e r pre m at ure de t onat ions w e re re port e d.(U 27 re port edt h att h e e xpl os ion caus e d s l igh tdam age t ot h e boat ). Unt il t he caus e w as dis cov e re d, t h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e arrange d f or t he t orpe doe s t o be f it t ed w it h an " A" s e t t ing oft h e s w it ch , w h ich m ade itpos s ibl e t o cutoute l e ct ric f iring. 4) Af t e rt he " A" s e t t ing oft h e s w it ch h ad be e n f it t e d, B.d.U. orde re d on 2.10 t h atonl y im pacts h ot s w e re t o be f ire d. Th is m e antt h atf or t h e pre s e ntt h e dange r ofpre m at ure de t onat ion w as e l im inat e d. Th e s t e p w as t ak e n f or t h e s ak e ofs af et y oft h e boat s , unt il s uch t im e as t h e caus e ofpre m at ure de t onat ion w as dis cov e re d. 5) Att h e be ginning ofO ct obe r t h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e st at edt h att h e caus e of pre m at ure de t onat ion in t h e G7e h ad be e n t race d t o a bad cabl e l ay-out . Th e cabl e s h ad now be e n l aid dif f e re nt l y and t h e G7e coul d once m ore be f ire d unde r. I nt h e cas e oft he G7a m e ch anical dis t urbance s w e re caus ing pre m at ure de t onat ion and t h e G7a coul d t h e re f ore s t il l notbe f ire d unde r unt il t h e q ue s t ion w as f inal l y cl e are d up. I e xpre s s e d doubt s on t h e s e dif f e re nte xpl anat ions f or pre m at ure de t onat ions , butas t he Dire ct or oft h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e as s ure d m e t h att h e G7e w as now s af e , I de cide d t o t ry and I re l e as e d t h e G7e f or f iring unde r w it h " MZ " . 6) O n 18.10 U 46 re port e d a pre m at ure de t onat ion ofa G7e in an at t ack on a conv oy. I tw as t h e re f ore e s t abl is h e d be yond q ue s t ion t h att h e pis t ol w as nots af e in t h e G7e de s pit e t h e adapt at ion m ade . I again orde re d im pactf iring onl y al sof or t h e G7e , w it h el e ct ric f iring cutout(s w it ch s e t t ing " A" ). W e w e re t h us back w h e re w e w e re in 19 14/ 18. ButI h ad t o m ak e t h is dif f icul tde cis ion t o abandon t h e m uch -v aunt e d, m uch -dis cus s e d m agne t ic f iring in orde r t o av oid l os ing boat s , dire ct l y or indire ct l y, t h rough our ow n w e apons and in t h e int e re s t s ofU-boat s ucce s s e s . 7) O n 20.10 t h e Dire ct or oft h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e inf orm e d m e by t el e ph one t h at h e h ad dis cov e re d t h atday t h att he t orpe do (G7a and G7e ) w as k e e ping a de pt h 2 met e rs be l ow t h atindicat e d. Num e rous re port s f rom boat s,st at ing t h att he t orpe doe s h ad f ail edt of ire w it h im pactf iring unit s de s pit e good f iring dat a, al s o indicat edt h att he t orpe doe s w e re running de e pe r t h an t h e ir s e t t ing and t h e re f ore pas s ing unde r t he t arge t . It h e re f ore orde re d on 20.10 t h att orpe doe s w it h im pactf iring w e re t o be s e tata m axim um de pt h of4 m e t e rs . Att h e s ugge s t ion oft h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e , I orde re d f urt h e rt h att orpe doe s w it h im pactf iring w e re t o be s e tat2 m e t e rs or l ess t h an t h e draf tof t he t arge t . Butin orde r t o av oid s urf ace bre ak ing and cons e q ue ntcol d running t he m inim um de pt h set t ing h ad t o be f ixe d at3 m e t e rs , and 4 m e t e rs in an At l ant ic s w e l l . Th is m e antt h att orpe doe s coul d notbe f ire s att arge t s w it h a draf tofl ess t h an 5 or 6 met e rs , e .g. de s t roye rs coul d notbe at t ack e d. 8) O n 23.10 a conf e re nce w as h e l d in W il hel m s h av e n be t w e e n B.d.U., Dire ct or of Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e and Dire ct or ofTorpe do Trial s De part m e ntand Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Com m and, in w h ich t he f ol l ow ing point s w e re conf irm e d: a) v ariat ions in de pt h cons ide rabl y gre at e rt h an h it h e rt o as s um e d w e re t o be e xpe ct e d. b) t h att h e caus e ofpre m at ure de t onat ion h ad notye tbe e n e s t abl is h e d. c) atB.d.U.'s re q ue s t , itw as agre e d t h atatl e as tt h e e xpl os ion att h e e nd oft h e run w h ich h ad al sof re q ue nt l y occurre d, s h oul d be e l im inat e d in t h e ne ar f ut ure .

I tw as t h us e s t abl is h e d t h att he ef f e ct iv e f unct ioning oft he t orpe do w as v e ry l im it ed inde e d: w it h im pactf iring, dange r ofpas s ing unde r w it h " M Z " s h ot , dange r ofpre m at ure de t onat ion. 9) O n 5.11 a ne w (adapt e d) pis t ol w as brough toutand itw as h ope d t h at , by st abil iz at ion oft h e ne e dl e , itw oul d be proofagains tpre m at ure de t onat ion. Th e pis t ol w as de s ignat e d Pi(A-B). W it h t h is pis t ol us e ofm agne t ic f iring w as again pe rm it t e d. De pt h w as t o be s e tatdraf toft arge tpl us 1 m e t e r. Al l our h ope s w e re now ce nt e re d on t h is pis t ol and f urt h e r re port s re ce iv e d off ail ure s oft h e pre s e ntpis t ol seemedl e s s im port ant . 10) U 28 and U 49 w e re t he f irs tboat s t o s ail w it h Pi(A-B), on 8.11 and 9 .11 re s pe ct iv el y. O n 19 .11 U 49 re port e d one G7a pre m at ure de t onat or af t e rt h e s af et y dis t ance h ad be e n cov e re d, one G7e probabl yf ail edt of ire , 2 G7a de t onat e d af t er cov e ring 2000 m e t e rs . Th is w as a bit t e r dis appoint m e ntand our be s th ope s w e re das h e d in one bl ow . Appare nt l yt h e re w as no im prov e m e nton pre v ious condit ions . Furt her re port s f ol l ow e d f rom ot h e r boat s ofpre m at ure de t onat ions and f ail ure s t of ire . 11) Som e oft h e s pe cial is t s in t h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e s ugge s t edt h att h e pis t ol s s h oul d be s e t2 z one s be l ow t h e set t ing s h ow n in t h e ch artin orde r t o re duce s e ns it iv it y and s o av oid pre m at ure de t onat ion. Th e de pt h set t ing s h oul d be t h e s am e as t h e draf tof t he t arge tand t he t orpe do t h us brough tcl os e r t ot h e s h ip s o t h att he f iring f ie l d w oul d be ef f e ct iv e ev e n att h e re duce d pis t ol s e ns it iv it y. I w as agains tt h is and t h e Dire ct or oft he Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e and t h e re m aining s pe cial is t s agre e d w it h me. 12) Sm al l al t e rat ions t ot h e pis t ol (ins ul at ion oft h e coppe r cap, s m oot h ing a t h rus t col l ar) did notbring any im prov e m e nt . Ev e ry now and t h e n pre m at ure de t onat ions seemedt o be com e f e w e rf or a t im e and f iring unde r w as adh e re d t o, be caus e f iring w it h im pactf iring unit s w oul d again h av e m e antm any f ail ure s due t o pas s ing unde r. 13) Re portofs h ot s , in w h ich t h e pis t ol f ail edt of ire , de s pit e ce rt ain f iring dat a, be cam e m ore and m ore num e rous . Th e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e be l ie v edt h att h e pis t ol coul d not f ail t of ire ifs h otunde r and re f us e d t o acce ptany ide a t h atf ail ure s coul d be caus e d by t h is s e ct ion oft h e pis t ol . I h ad al l s h ot s , w h ich t h e com m anding of f ice rs be l ie v edt o be f ail ure s t of ire e xam ine d by t h e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e . Th e y t h ough tt h att h e s e m us tbe due t o m is s e s or be re garde d as une xpl aine d. I can no l onge r acce ptt h is e xpl anat ion. in v ie w oft he l arge num be r ofre port s ofs h ot s f ail ing t of ire w it h ce rt ain f iring dat a. I cons ide r t h atin m any cas e s t he f ail ure oft h e pis t ol t of ire is prov e n and I m ade t h is q uit e cl e ar in a conf e re nce w it h Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Com m and on 19 .1 (s e e W ar L og of 17.1). 14) Expe rim e nt al f iring atT 123 af t e rw ards s h ow e d t h atin f acts e v e ral pis t ol s f ail edt o f ire w h e n s h otunde r. Th e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e now adm it s t h e pos s ibil it y off ail ure s t o f ire and is s ue d t he f ol l ow ing ins t ruct ions , t o be pas s e d on t ot h e boat s , on 21.1: 1. 2. 3. For t arge t s unde r 4,000 BRT, de s t roye rs and s urf ace d S/ M 's , de pt h set t ing 4 met e rs . Th e pis t ol m ay f ail t of ire agains tt arge t s unde r 1,000 BRT. For al l ot h e rt arge t s , de pt h set t ing draf tpl us 1 m e t e r, e v e n in bad w e at h e r. Th e re s ul t s re m ain t o be s e e n.

15) I n addit ion t ot h e ne gat iv e re s ul t s oft rial f iring atT 123, re ce ntm agne t ic m e as ure m e nt s oft h e body oft he t orpe do and t h e bat t e ry com part m e nth av e s h ow n t h at t h e s e e xe rcis e an irre gul ar, uns t abl e m agne t ic e f f e cton t h e pis t ol and m ay caus e a st re ngt h e ning (pre m at ure de t onat ors ) or a w e ak e ning (f iring f ail ure s ) oft h e m agne t ic unit . Th e t orpe doe s in s t ore are t o be de m agne t iz e d. Th e Torpe do I ns pe ct orat e doubt s ift h is w il l be s ucce s s f ul . Th e caus e s oft he f ail ure s h av e t h e re f ore by no m e ans be e n m as t e re d. 16) Th e Com m anding O f f ice rs ' and cre w s ' conf ide nce in t he t orpe do is v e ry m uch s h ak e n. Again and again t h e boat s h av e t rie d, in t he f ace ofs t rong e ne m y act iv it y, t of ire t h e ir t orpe doe s unde r t h e be s tpos s ibl e condit ions and of t enwh ent h e y h av e m ade a daring at t ack t h e y h av e be e n re w arde d w it h f ail ure s and e v e n dange r t ot h emsel v e s . At l e as t300,000 t ons , w h ich m igh th av e be e n s unk , can be re ck one d l os tt h rough t orpe do f ail ure s . I t h ink itis ce rt ain, f or ins t ance , t h atU 47 L ie ut .(s .g.) Pre in's s h otatt he L ondon cl as s cruis e r w as a pre m at ure de t onat or. I tis v e ry bit t e rf or Com m anding O f f ice rs and t h e e xe cut iv e cont rol t of ind t h att h e U-boatArm cannotach ie v e t h e s ucce s s e xpe ct e d of it , in s pit e ofa t h orough pe ace t im e t raining, be caus e oft orpe do f ail ure s . I w il l cont inue t o do al l I can t o k e e p up t he f igh t ing s pirit s oft h e U-boat s in t he f ace ofal l t h e set back s . W e m us tcont inue t of ire t orpe doe s in orde r t o dis cov e rt h e caus e s oft he de f e ct s and re m ov e t h e m . Butcom m anding of f ice rs and cre w s w il l onl y gradual l y re gain f ul l conf ide nce in t he t orpe do ifl as t ing t e ch nical im prov e m e nt s can be m ade .

Appe ndix C

V I .

Ge ne ral : O pe rat ional us e ofG7ES: A) Ge ne ral : Th e de v el opm e ntoft h e G7ES w as purs ue d w it h al l s pe e d in t h e s e cond h al fof19 42 w it h t h e purpos e ofint roducing f or ope rat ions t h e ant i-de s t roye r t orpe do re pe at e dl y re q ue s t e d by t h e Fl ag O f f ice r Com m anding UI -boat s. Th e f irs ts t ept ot h is w as t h e G7 ES - Fal k e , w h ich coul d onl y be us e d agains ts l ow , de e p draugh tt arge t s , ow ing t o it s l ow V t(s pe e d) and l ack of non-cont actpis t ol . G7ES (Fal k e ): 1) Torpe do ch aract e ris t ics : V t= 20 k not s , im pactpis t ol range according t o h e at ing 5,000 - 7,000 m , can be us e d agains tde e p draugh t v essel s w it h V g (s pe e d) 7 - 13 k not s f rom pos it ion 0 t o 180. L im it ed as re gards s e aw ay and de pt h (notm ore t h an s e aw ay 5, not s h al l ow e r t h an 3 m ). Nott o be us e d in t he t ropics . Th e f irs tope rat ional t rial w it h Fal k e w as m ade in Fe bruary/ M arch 19 43 on 6 boat s w it h 2t orpe doe s e ach in t h e Nort h At l ant ic. Th e t raining ofof f ice rs and gunne rs t ook pl ace in a t w o-day cours e att he Torpe do Expe rim e nt al Es t abl is h m e ntatGot h e nburg. Us e w as l im it edt ot h e st e rn t ube ow ing t ot he f actt h att h e pis t ol s w e re not s e cure agains ts t ick ing in t he t ube s . Th e s am e re as on l e d, in t he cours e ofope rat ional us e , pract ical l yt ot h e ce s s at ion oft h is . H ow e v e r, f rom t h e 12 t orpe doe s us e d 3 w e re f ire d, t h e s e be ing 2 f irings f rom U 221 (Troj e r), 1 f iring f rom U 382 (Jul i) w it h t he f ol l ow ing re s ul t : 1 h itw it h s e aw ay 6 - 7 on a 5,000 t on f re igh t e r s unk . 1 h iton f re igh t e r w it h outcl os e r obs e rv at ion 1 m is f ire ow ing t of aul t yset t ing. Th e ope rat ional pos s ibil it ie s w e re , t h e re f ore , f undam e nt al l y prov e d. Furt h e r, cons ide rabl e e xpe rie nce w as gaine d f or f urt her de v el opm e nt . Re q uire m e nt s f or f urt h e r us e ofFal k e w e re e xt e ns ion oft h e arm ing range (l ock ing oft h e S-apparat us ) f rom t h e pre s e nt 720 m . t o 1,000 m . as w e l l as abs ol ut e s e curit y oft h e pis t ol s in t he t ube .

B)

2)

3)

For ge ne ral ope rat ional us e t h e Fal k e be cam e av ail abl e w it h t he re q uire d im prov e m e nt s , as f rom 1.7.43, f rom t h e West e rn bas e s . Furt h e r us e w as int e nde d in t h e M e dit e rrane an (as f rom 1.9 .43). Th e ope rat ional us e oft h e im prov e d G7ES ant i-de s t roye r t orpe do, original l y int e nde d onl y ata l at e r dat e butacce l e rat e d cons ide rabl y unde r pre s s ure ofcondit ions and prov ing pre f e rabl e,l edt o onl y5 boat s be ing e q uippe d w it h t h e Fal k e . Re s ul t s f rom t h e s e are nott o h and. Furt h e r us e oft h e Fal k e h ad t o be giv e n up f or t h e re as ons m e nt ione d.

C.

G7ES - Z aunk nig: 1) Ge ne ral : O pe rat ional re adine s s oft h e G7ES Z aunk nig (ant ide s t roye r t orpe do) w as notant icipat e d, in t h e norm al cours e oft rial s, be f ore t h e be ginning of19 44. H ow e v e r, condit ions ne ce s s it at e d, al re ady in M ay 19 43, t h e boat s be ing giv e n as q uick l y as pos s ibl e a de f e ns iv e w e apon agains te ne m y e s cort s in t h e ir incre as ingl y dif f icul t cam paign agains tconv oys in t h e Nort h At l ant ic. Th e Com m ande r in Ch ie foft h e Nav yt h e re f ore orde re d ope rat ional re adine s s oft he Z aunk nig f or 1.10.43 and l at e r (on 13.7.) f or 1.8.43. Th is e nt ail e d, on t h e one h and, a gre atris k ow ing t ol ack oft h e norm al cours e of t est s , and , on t h e ot h e r h and, gre ats acrif ice s in ot h e r pre parat ions ofim port antw ar w e apons notonl y oft h e Nav y butal s o oft h e ot her branch e s oft h e s e rv ice . Th is w as onl y pos s ibl e ow ing t ot h e cl os e pe rs onal coope rat ion oft h e Com m ande r in Ch ie foft h e Nav y and t he M inis t e r ofArm am e nt s and Am m unit ion. Th e f actt h at80 t orpe doe s w e re act ual l y re ady on 1.8.43 in t h e West e rn bas e s f or e q uipping 20 boat s re pre s e nt e d a gre atach ie v e m e ntby al l de part m e nt s conce rne d. Torpe do Ch aract e ris t ics : V t= 24.5 k not s , non-cont actand im pact pis t ol , range h e at e d 3,700 m ., unh e at e d 5,000 m ., can be us e d agains tal l v essel s ofa s pe e d be t w e e n 10 and 18 k not s f rom al l pos it ions . Us e is l im it edt o a ce rt ain e xt e ntin s e aw ay ov e r 6. Th e s h ortarm ing range of400 m . w as ne ce s s ary in orde r t okeept h e m inim um f iring dis t ance as l ow as pos s ibl e , butt h is m ak e s itne ce s s ary f or t h e boat f iring t he t orpe do t o cras h div e af t e rf iring ow ing t ot h e dange r t o it sel f , or w h e n onl yf iring f rom t h e st e rn t o w it h draw ata ce rt ain s pe e d. I nt he f irs tus e oft he t orpe do as ce rt ain inappre ciabl e pe rce nt age ofs e l fde t onat ions w as t o be ant icipat edf rom t h e noncont actpis t ol s , and about10% ofde pt h -k e e ping f aul t s f rom t he apparat us .

2)

3)

Th e Z aunk nig w as m ade av ail abl e f or t he f irs tope rat ional us e in t he pe riod f rom 20 t o 24 Se pt e m be r 19 43. I n a conv oy e ngage m e ntin t h e Nort h At l ant ic t h e re w e re 17 boat s e q uippe d w it h t h e Z aunk nig Each boath ad 4 t orpe doe s (2 e ach in t h e bow and s t e rn). Us e w as e nt ire l y s ucce s s f ul . 13 h it s w e re m ade w it h ce rt aint y and 3 probabl y (54% ) w it h 24 f irings . O utof7 m is f ire s 4 w e re due t o ov e rrunning. I n addit ion one f ail e d in t he t ube (t ube -runne r). 12 de s t roye rs and 1 f re igh t e r w e re s unk by Z aunk nig, and 3 de s t roye rs probabl y s unk . Th e f irings w e re m ade f or t h e m os tpartf rom pos it ion 0 atdis t ance s around 30 h m . I tis a dis adv ant age f or t h e boat s t h att h e y are f orce d t o div e af t e rf iring. Th e s h ortarm ing range w oul d noth av e be e n ne ce s s ary in t he v as tm aj orit y off irings ow ing t ot he f actt h atf iring dis t ance w as l ong e nough . Th e ne ce s s it yf or an arm ing range w h ich can be adj us t e d as de s ire d m us t ,t h e re f ore , be m e tas s oon as pos s ibl e. Apartf rom t h e pre s e ntrange , t h e re m us tbe one w h ich e nabl es t he boat s t o re m ain s urf ace d in e v e ry cas e w it h outbe ing e ndange re d (about800 m .). Furt h e r us e oft h e Z aunk nig, is int e nde d by t h e cont inuous e q uipm e ntofal l boat s bas e d in t h e West , as f rom 21.9 .19 43 ofal l boat s in t h e M e dit e rrane an Se a as f rom 3.10.19 43 ofal l ope rat ional boat s proce e ding f rom h om e w at e rs .

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Appe ndix D

Curre ntO rde r No. 34 De ce m be r 19 43 Edit ion 1) I n re ce ntconv oy ope rat ions a s it uat ion h as occurre d again and again in w h ich t h e conv oy h as pas s e d ov e rt h e boatw it h outit s be ing abl e t o m ak e us e ofa s ingl e opport unit yt o at t ack , af t e rw ards be ing l ef tin a h ope l ess pos it ion as t e rn oft h e conv oy. Th e gre atnum be r ofre ce ntuns ucce s s f ul s ubm e rge d at t ack s al s o s h ow s t h atboat s w e re notabl e t o bre ak t h rough t h e s cre e n w it h outbe ing l ocat ed or pick e d up on t h e h ydroph one s . For t h is re as on in f ut ure at t ack ing atpe ris cope de pt h w il l h av e t o be giv en up and at t e m ptm ade t of ire bl ind f rom a gre atde pt h w it h t h e ne w , s pe cial l y de s igne d t orpe doe s . Ev e n ift h e av ail abl e h ydroph one and l ocat ion apparat us do notatpre s e nt giv e a de f init e est im at e ofe ne m y cours e , s pe e d and f orm at ion, ne v e rt hel e s s in t he ev e ntofapproach ing or be ing pas s e d ov e r by t he e ne m y, t h e be s tpos s ibl e us e m us tbe m ade ofe v e n de f e ct iv e dat af or a bl ind t orpe do at t ack . Th e f ol l ow ing proce dure is t o be aim e d atin f ut ure . a) As up t o now ith as onl y be e n pos s ibl e t of ire t orpe doe s atde pt h s of up t o 22 m e t e rs . Re m ain as f ar as pos s ibl e ata de pt h of20 m e t e rs in cas e t orpe do at t ack is pos s ibl e. Unde r norm al circum s t ance s t ube s are onl yt o be l oade d w it h " F.A.T." or " Z aunk nig" . Th e s e h av e t h e adv ant age in t h ate v en wh enf ire d according t o unce rt ain f iring dat a, t h e us ual l y h it s om e t h ing w h e n t h e re are a num be r ofs h ips t oge t h e r. I n cas e s ofbe ing pas s e d ov e r by conv oy t h e boatus ual l y h as a rough ide a oft h e e ne m y cours e , s o t h atitm us tt h e re f ore be pos s ibl e t of ire a f an ofF.A.T. t orpe doe s atrigh tangl es t o e ne m y cours e . As h ydroph one apparat us m ak e s itpos s ibl e t o dis t inguis h be t ween prope l l e rs ofs t e am e r and e s cortv essel ,t h e boatcan e s t im at e t oa ce rt ain e xt e ntit s re l at iv e pos it ion t ot h e m ain bunch oft he f orm at ion. Th is dat a m us ts uf f ice f or f iring ofF.A.T. t orpe doe s in accordance w it h pos it ion ofconv oy w it h f ol l ow ing s e t t ings . I n cas e ofconv oy pas s ing dire ct l y ov e rh e ad t h e s h ort e s tpre l im inary

2)

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5)

b)

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run and a l ong l oop. I fs ubm arine is t o portor s t arboard oft h e conv oy a m e dium t ol ong pre l im inary run according t o s ignal st re ngt h on h ydroph one s , and l ong l oop. e) I n orde r t o e ns ure gre at e s tpos s ibl e s ucce s s in t he ev e ntofa bl ind at t ack t orpe doe s in al l t ube s m us tbe f ire d. I tm us tbe re m e m be re d h ow e v e rt h atunl ess t h e Z aunk nig is f ire d in q uit e a dif f e re ntdire ct ion, an int e rv al ofatl e as t10 m inut e s m us t el aps e be t w e e n itand t he f iring ofF.A.T. t orpe doe s . I nf iring non-cont actpis t ol boatm us tdiv e t o 40 - 50 m e t e rs im m e diat el y af t e rf iring in orde r t o be s af e f rom e xpl os ion oft orpe do pas s ing ov e rh e ad. I tis t h e re f ore be s tt of ire in t h e s h ort e s tpos s ibl e t im e e it h e ra f an or q uick l y s ucce s s iv e s ingl e s h ot s.

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Appe ndix A, B, C, D , pos s ibl et h ank s t o w w w .uboat arch iv e .ne t Part icul arl y, K rie gs t age bch e r (K TB) D e s Fh re rs / Be fe h l s h abe r de r Unt e rs e e boot e (F.d.U./ B.d.U.) W ar D iary of Com m ande r in Ch ie f, Subm arine s Th e re cords in appe ndix A, B, C, are an O ffice of Nav al Int el l ige nce t rans l at ion of t h e Ge rm an original . Th e original t rans l at e d BdU K TBs are in t h e cus t ody of t h e O pe rat ional Arch iv e s Branch of t h e Nav al H is t orical Ce nt e r, l ocat e d att h e Nav y Y ard, in W as h ingt on, D .C. Furt h e r re fe re nce s : w w w .uboat .ne t ht t p:/ / w w w .nav w e aps .com / W e apons / W TGER _ Not e s .h t m ht t p:/ / w w w .u-boot -gre yw ol f.de / ut orpe do.h t m ht t p:/ / w w w .podw odna.t e rram ail .pl / ok re t y/ t orpe dy/ m e nu_ t orpe dy.h t m ht t p:/ / w w w .24fl ot il l a.com ht t p:/ / w w w .h is t oris ch e s -ce nt rum .de / inde x.ph p? id=410 ht t p:/ / w w w .pbibcal el l a.com / uboot s/ t e cnico/ arm am e nt o/ t orpe dos / t orpe dos .h t m