These included Homing and Pattern torpedoes. Navy Bureau of Ordnance denied that the triggers were at fault, blaming the problems on "operator errors."ĭuring the war, all major combatants experimented with a variety of guided or "smart" torpedoes. Hitler banned their use after reports by several skippers of their failure. When they worked, the results were deadly but they seldom worked. All of these programs failed to consider all of the necessary factors and the end results is that all three nations developed Influence triggers that were unreliable. Germany, Great Britain, and the U.S all started TOP SECRET programs to develop Magnetic Influence triggers. Influence triggers ĭuring the inter-war years it was found that more damage could be done with the same amount of explosive force if the explosion occurred "just under" the keel of the target ship.īut how does one trigger a torpedo that hasn't impacted with anything?Įnter the "Magnetic Influence" trigger. Most also had smaller warheads requiring a larger proportion of the space for batteries. The Japanese used highly compressed Oxygen as an oxidizer in their "Long Lance Torpedo."Įlectric torpedoes were driven by an electric motor powered by batteries but generally had a lower speed and less range than a similarly sized steam torpedo.The Germans and America experimented with using Hydrogen Peroxide instead of compressed air as the oxidizer.Japan, Germany and the United States all experimented with improving the steam propulsion system as well as looking at alternatives. Just prior to World War II, torpedoes were almost exclusive "Steam Driven". This trail of bubbles could inconveniently lead destroyers right back to the attacking sub. Steam torpedoes had a weakness in that they could often be detected by surface ships from the trail of bubbles that they left in their wakes. Electric Steam Torpedoes Įarly torpedoes were powered with a motor driven by steam created when an alcohol fuel was burned using a supply of compressed air.
0 kommentar(er)
