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Seehund Midget Submarine Armament |
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 German torpedo
nomenclature can be extremely confusing. There were, however, only two
principal types of torpedo used on U-boats, but with several variants in
detonating devices (the pistol) and in directional control. These two
principal types were in fact developments of torpedoes used in World War
I, the G7a and the G7e. By World War II, torpedo sizes had been
standardized at 54cm (21 in) so that all torpedoes, whether launched from
surface ships or U-boats, were of the same diameter. The standard length
was 7.16m and some 280 kg of explosive was contained in the warhead.U-Boat drew most of their destructive potential from torpedoes, self-propelled explosive devices which, because of their configuration, may be likened to reduced-size submarines. Initially, torpedoes were propelled by compressed air but, as these left a tell-tale wake, often warned the enemy who had time to take evasive action. Between the wars, research and development boosted the performance of torpedoes, although without always improving their reliability. This introduction of electric motors enhanced tactical versatility by almost eliminating the bubble track, but there were still numerous malfunctions, notably from the temperamental magnetic-effect exploders intended to replace contact pistols. Another was wrong depth keeping which caused the torpedo to run under its target and on until its power supply was exhausted. |
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The warhead of the torpedo was primed by a small device fitted with a propeller which, after launching and covering some of the run to its target, would complete enough rotations to release the bolt which kept the priming striker away from the exploder. At the beginning of 1942, a new, improved magnetic proximity fuse was ready for operational use with a specially developed electrically propelled torpedo which exploded as it entered a ship's magnetic field, blasting a huge gap under the keel . |
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The above photos was extracted from the U-BOOT by Jean-Philippe, Dallies-Labourdette |
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G7e Torpedo |
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G7a Torpedo |
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The various types of the
German torpedoes |
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T1 - (G7a) |
Diameter : | 53.34 cm |
| Length : | 7.163m | |
| Weight : | 1538 kg | |
| Propulsion : | Thermic energy | |
| Power : | 350 hp | |
| Range & Speed : | 44 knots to 5,000m / 40 knots to 7,500m / 30 knots to 12,500m | |
Warhead : |
280 kg | |
| Guidance system : | Direct firing Fat or LUT | |
| Description : | The prewar issue torpedo T I was propelled by a steam engine (Compressed air). It was quite reliable and could make up to 12.5 kilometers. Anyway this torpedo type left a stream of bubbles after it, because of its propulsion, giving the targeted ship a chance of seeing it coming. Therefore the T I was to be used at night. | |
T1 - (G7ut K. But Type) |
Diameter : | 53.34 cm |
| Length : | 7.163m | |
| Weight : | 1309 kg | |
| Propulsion : | Walteer Turbine | |
| Power : | 425 hp | |
| Range & Speed : | 45 knots to 2,800m | |
Warhead : |
280 kg | |
| Guidance system : | Direct firing | |
| Description : | ||
T1 - (G7a Type) |
Diameter : | 53.34 cm |
| Length : | 7.163m | |
| Weight : | 1352 kg | |
| Propulsion : | Thermic energy | |
| Power : | 280 hp | |
| Range & Speed : | 34 knots to 2,500m | |
Warhead : |
280 kg | |
| Guidance system : | Direct firing | |
| Description : | ||
T2
- (G7e) |
Diameter : |
53.34 cm |
| Length: | 7.163 m | |
| Weight: | 1608 kg | |
| Propulsion: | Electric motor | |
| Power : | 100 hp | |
| Range & Speed: | 30 knots at 5,000m | |
Warhead : |
280 kg | |
| Guidance system : | Direct firing | |
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Description : |
The standard issue German torpedo of W.W.II. This all battery powered torpedo type left no
trails on the surface and was suitable for attacks in daylight. A great improvement! However the electric torpedo could not make as good range as the steam powered ones and it had to be looked after, getting serviced, every three or four days. Before the Norwegian campaign the T II had problems with its depth keeping equipment as well as with its firing pistol. |
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T3 - (G7e) |
Diameter : | 53.34 cm |
Length : |
7.163 m | |
| Weight : | 1608 kg | |
| Propulsion : | All electric propulsion system | |
| Power : | 100 hp | |
| Range & Speed : | 30 knots at 5,000m | |
| Warhead : |
280 kg (TNT - Trinitrotoluene) (HND - hexanitrophenylamine) |
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| Guidance system : | Direct firing or Fat | |
| Description : | T III was "the same" as the T II though it was fitted with an influence fuse! | |
T3a - FAT (G7e) |
Length: |
7.163
m ? Electric motor 7.5 km at 30 kts 274 kg (280 kg ?) The FAT (Flachenabsuchender torped = area searching torpedo) was a pattern running torpedo made especially for convoy attacks. The torpedo was pre set to run in a zig zag pattern! First it went straight, turned over to left or right and proceeded for 800 or 1600 meters making the next turn opposite. A lethal weapon getting inside a convoy. |
T3b - (G7a) |
Length: |
7.163
m 1352 kg Electric motor ? km at 18.5 kts 280 kg Made for the midget sub "Marder". |
T3c - (G7a) |
Length: |
7.163
m 1352 kg Electric motor ? km at 18.5 kts 280 kg Made for the midget sub "Seehund". |
T3d - (G7e) |
Length: |
11.0
m 2200 kg Electric motor ? km at 9 kts 280 kg This torpedo was also named "Dackel". Made for special operations. |
T4
- (G7es) |
Diameter : |
53.34 cm |
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Length: |
7.163 m | |
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Weight: |
1400 kg (approx.) | |
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Propulsion: |
Electric motor | |
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Power : |
32 hp | |
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Range & Speed: |
7.5 km at 20 kts | |
Warhead: |
274 kg (280 kg ?) | |
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Guidance system : |
Acoustical self-guidance | |
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Description :
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Also known as the "Falke" this type was the first homing torpedo as It was
fitted with a passive acoustic homing device and made to be launched against escort
vessels. Its slow speed and the fact that it had no magnetic detonator made it to be a
small help in the warfare.A very small number of the T IV were used, when the next generation of this type was at hand. |
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T5
- (G7es) |
Diameter : |
53.34 cm |
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Length: |
7.163 m | |
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Weight: |
1495 kg (approx.) | |
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Propulsion: |
Electric motor | |
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Power : |
55 hp | |
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Range & Speed: |
5.7 km at 24 kts | |
Warhead: |
274 kg | |
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Guidance system : |
Acoustical self-guidance | |
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Description : |
Also known as "Zaunkönig 1" This torpedo type was (as the "Falke") an
acoustic homing torpedo to be searching for the propeller noise of the target (actually
searching for the largest noise in the area). The development for creating accurate homing torpedoes had started as early as in the mid 30s but made slow progress. The T V was an improved version of the acoustic torpedo. It was faster and had both a magnetic and a contact detonator. The Zaunkonig had even better detection equipment with better sensitivity locating the propeller sounds. But this torpedo also had its weak points. In hard weather conditions it was detonating to early as well as it could detonate far behind or beyond a ship. The allied forces soon found out that the active range of its detection gear was only sensitive to ships sailing at about 15 knots! Skippers got to know that if they either lowered the speed or went faster than 14-16 knots the torpedo would get serious problems spotting them. They also developed anti "GNAT" (as the allies called the torpedo) devices dragged after an escort vessel making a loud noise to attract possible homing torpedoes in the area. |
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T8
- G7ut |
Diameter : |
53.34 cm |
| Length: | 7.163 m | |
| Weight: | 1730 kg | |
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Propulsion: |
Walteer turbine | |
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Power : |
430 hp | |
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Range & Speed: |
8 km at 45 kts | |
Warhead: |
280 kg | |
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Description : |
Improved version of the T V as an answer to the allied anti homing devices. Although never used in combat. | |
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Notes : |
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Organized by one35th - last update on Saturday April 04, 2009
On 1st
September 1939, Kriegsmarine submarines were issued with two types of torpedoes.
electrically powered, the first type had a top speed of 30 knots and left no wake. The
second type was faster and had a superior range but, as it was propelled by compressed
air, was often spotted and easily dodged by Allied ships because of its bubble trail.
Their effective range was 6,000m at 44 knots, 10,000m at 40 knots and 20,000m at 30 knots.
