How did WWII torpedoes work?
Skippers firing the torpedo for a contact exploder hit on the side of the target would see an explosion and believe the contact exploder worked, but the explosions were triggered not by the contact feature, but rather by the magnetic influence feature at a distance far enough from the hull to cause little or no damage.
How did torpedoes work?
Thermal torpedoes use a fuel, such as OTTO Fuel II, which can be burned without an external oxygen source. A gas turbine or axial piston engine converts this fuel into torque that spins counter-rotating propellers, propelling the torpedo up to speeds in excess of 60 knots.
Why were torpedoes so bad in ww2?
“The Mark 14 torpedo had four major flaws. It tended to run about 10 feet (3.0 m) deeper than set. The magnetic exploder often caused premature firing. The contact exploder often failed to fire the warhead.
How does a torpedo bomber work?
An aerial torpedo (also known as an airborne torpedo or air-dropped torpedo) is a torpedo launched from a fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter from the air which subsequently drops into the water, after which the weapon propels itself to the target.
How are torpedoes guided?
The torpedo operates at depths of 500m and is guided by active/passive homing system. The torpedo is propelled by an advanced pump jet engine and can engage targets within the range of over 40km, at a maximum speed of 40kt.
How accurate were torpedoes in ww2?
merchant ships sunk by British submarines during WWII. Also, photos of British targeting computer, torpedo cost data and statement that British torpedos were accurate to about 1 degree of their assigned firing angle.
Do torpedo bombers still exist?
The last known torpedo bomber attack was made by US Navy Skyraiders against the Hwacheon Dam during the Korean War. The North Korean Air Force finally retired the world’s last operational torpedo bombers in the 1980s.
Can fighter jets drop torpedoes?
The only jet aircraft deploying torpedoes would be turbine powered helicopters. Fighter aircraft have never carried torpedoes. They are designed primarily to combat other aircraft.
How do torpedoes track targets?
Acoustic homing torpedoes are equipped with a pattern of acoustic transducers on the nose of the weapon. The torpedo will start with passive sonar, simply trying to detect the submarine. Once the torpedo’s passive sonar has detected something, it will switch over to an active sonar and will begin to track the target.
How far do torpedoes travel?
It could travel about 180 metres (200 yd) at an average speed of 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h). The speed and range of later models was improved by increasing the pressure of the stored air.
Who had the best torpedoes in World War II?
Japanese
Nicknamed the “Long Lance” by naval historian Samuel Eliot Morrison, the Japanese Type 93 was the best torpedo of World War II.