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Old January 6th, 2008, 02:58 PM
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Default Re: Torpedo Bombers and Dive Bombers - Which Worked Better?

Agreed fsbof

The Devastator could do 130, but had to fly at 100 to drop the torpedo?, not to mention how most of the weapon stuck out at an odd angle to slow air speed, and the demand that it be dropped no higher than 50 feet or it would break. Lets not even talk about how deep the torpedo went after impact with the water and how long it took to come back up (if ever). As well the crummy exploders on the Mark 13.
I've read the story about the broken torpedo, and have heard claims it was from the Nautilus, who some "cough-cough" eyewitnesses, said hit, but porpoised out of the water, broke in half, and was used for a flotation device.
All this at a time when Soryu was in its death throws, and a great explosion occurred, which then became a claim for the Nautilus as giving the "Coup de Grace" to Soryu.
A 1943 torpedo test of 105 resulted in these percentages...
36% didn't start
20% sank
20% had "poor" deflection
18% ran at wrong depth
2% ran on the surface
31% were satisfactory

Out of 1,287 launched in WW 2, 514 (40%) hit.

http://www,navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_WWII.htm
link is again screwy, just punch in torpedoes in WW 2
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Last edited by skunk works; January 7th, 2008 at 01:23 AM. Reason: comma missing
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