How accurate were torpedoes in ww2?

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.

What was wrong with torpedoes in ww2?

But they also had a secret weakness: Many of their torpedoes would explode too early, would swim under their targets without exploding, or might even circle back around to hit them.

Were torpedoes used in ww2?

The Mark 14 torpedo was the United States Navy’s standard submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo of World War II. By the end of World War II, the Mark 14 torpedo was a reliable weapon ultimately remaining in service for almost 40 years in the U.S. Navy, and even longer with other navies.

Are torpedoes still effective?

Thus submarines (which could attack with surprise) and aircraft or fast motorboats (which were too fast to avoid) proved the most effective torpedo-delivery platforms. Submarines and torpedoes have only become considerably stealthier, faster and deadlier since World War II—but have been rarely used in combat.

Why are torpedoes effective?

Because the torpedoes explode in surrounding water and water as a medium transfers the resulting shock wave much better than air. The torpedo does not even contact the ship it is aimed at – it explodes underneath, breaking the ships keel or submarines pressure hull.

How were ww2 torpedoes powered?

In the “steam” torpedo, air, fuel, and water are simultaneously fed into the combustion pot. The fuel burns and the water reduces the temperature of the gases produced by combustion. The water turns into steam, thus increasing the mass of the gas.

Can a ship survive a torpedo hit?

It depends on the type of torpedo (contact or proximity), and where the torpedo hits. If it detonates under the ship’s keel, the icebreaker probably stands very little chance of survival. These kinds of torpedoes are, after all, designed to take out even the most heavily armed, and armored, of modern warships.

How do ships defend against torpedoes?

The effective anti-torpedo defense depends on early detection of the torpedo. Once the torpedo is launched, sonar tracking from ships and helicopters may manage to spot it in time to destroy it with anti-torpedo torpedoes or by maneuvering the ship away from any visible torpedo track.

How do torpedoes damage a ship?

1 – The initial explosion of the torpedo’s warhead causes a large gas bubble to form. Because this bubble expands so quickly, it forms a shockwave. Once this bubble/shock wave strikes the ship’s hull, it punches the hull plates in, rupturing the hull. This forms a large hole in the ship’s hull.

How much explosive was in ww2 torpedo?

18″ (45 cm) Mark XVII

Ship Class Used On	Aircraft Launched
Overall Length	17 ft 3.4 in (5.268 m)
Negative Buoyancy	447 lbs. (203 kg)
Explosive Charge	600 lbs. (272 kg) Torpex
Range / Speed	2,500 yards (2,300 m) / 39-40 knots