1. List of World War II Kriegsmarine torpedoes
    Kriegsmarine torpedo designation system  Warheads and pistols  Code names  Program steering 

2. List of World War II Luftwaffe torpedoes
    Luftwaffe torpedo designation system  Bombentorpedoes 

3. German torpedo platforms (torpedoträger)
    Kriegsmarine  Luftwaffe 

4. References

List of World War II Kriegsmarine torpedoes

Kriegsmarine torpedo designation system

The first letter indicates the diameter:

• G = 53 cm (21")
• F = 45 cm (17.7")
• H = 60 cm (23.7")
• M = 75 cm (30")

The number indicates the approximate length (for example, the length of a G7a is 7163 mm):

• 7 = 7 m
• 6 = 6 m
• 5 = 5 m

Next letter(s) indicates specific features regarding propulsion and control:

• a = Atem, i.e. Pressluft/Dampfgemisch-Antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
• e = elektrischer Antrieb (electric engine)
• f = Fernlenkung (remote control by radio or cable)
• d = Sauerstoff/Dampfgemisch-Antrieb (oxygen/steam engine)
• p = Primärbatterie-Antrieb (primary battery propulsion)
• m = Verbrennungsmaschine mit Kreislaufverfahren (combustion engine recirculating air)
• u = Sauerstoffträger Ingolin spurenfreier Antrieb (oxygen/steam engine with hydrogen peroxide as source for air, and no exposing "bubbletrack")
• x = Torpedo mit 3-Achsen Steuerung (3-axes control)
• r = Raketen- oder Düsenantrieb (rocket- or jet propulsion)
• s = Schall, Torpedo mit akustischen Suchkopf (acoustic seeker)
• t = Turbinenantrieb (turbine-engine)

"r" and "t" were only used with "u" to further denote the features of the ingolin-torpedoes.

Some sources claim that "s" only was used with "a" to denote the development of G7a with acoustic seeker-capability; however, it was no doubt used for the electric torpedoes with acoustic seekers (as "es" or just "s").

When the torpedo reached production status and was fielded (i.e. for operational use), Kriegsmarine gave it a short designation "T", or "Torpedonummer", with the number given in Roman lettering (TI, TII, TIII, TIV etc.).

For different versions of the main torpedo, a small Arabic letter was added (for example TIIId, TVa etc.) denoting specific/minor changes within the main design.

Warheads and pistols

Warheads were designated with the letter "K" (K = short for Kopf, meaning "head") and a small Arabic letter, with an additional number denoting variants of the head (for instance changing the material composition from bronze to steel, adding/removing spants during the course of the war or the method of installing the explosives). Examples: Ka, Ka1, Kb, Kb1 etc.

Pistols used the "Pi" designations to begin with (Pi = short for pistole). The early models were named according to function and/or torpedo type like "PiG7H" or "PiG7a-MZ", but this was later replaced with a simple system of numbers, like "Pi1", "Pi2" etc.

To indicate variants within the main design, a small Latin letter was added after the number, like "Pi1a", "Pi1b" etc.

At some point, "Pi" was dropped for pistols with combination of mechanical (direct hit) and magnetic (distance-sensor) mechanisms, to the "TZ" designation (TZ = Torpedo-Zündeinrichtung). For example, the mechanical mechanism from the "Pi1" pistol combined with the magnetic mechanism from "Pi2" became the "TZ2".

Code names

Code names were intended to be used only through the development period for security measures. However, in some cases they remained after the torpedo was fielded and had been designated with a "T"-number.

Torpedo pistols, program seeker-systems and other special arrangements also had their own "system" of code names, using the names of birds, fish or animals (for example Pi "Leuchtfisch", GA "Specht", seeker "Storch", control "Viper", target detector "Salamander" etc.). During development, the pistols were often given code names designated by the industrial developer or manufacturer. Generally these consisted of simple words, syllables, or names associated with the firm or the engineers in charge of the pistols development (for example Pi "Otto", Pi "Atlas", Pi "Berlin" etc.).

Program steering

Fat

Federapparat or Flächenabsuchender Torpedo (spring device or area searching torpedo), a mechanical device changed the torpedo's course over time so that it ran up- and down on parallel lines of 800 or 1600 m length. Three versions: Fat I, II and III (Fat III was later redesignated Lut I).

Lut

Lageunabhängiger Torpedo (bearing independent torpedo), changed the torpedo's course to a preset heading directly after launch, so the launching platform could fire torpedoes at targets without changing its own course. Two versions: Lut I and Lut II (+ a special Lut I variant for the TIIId torpedo with a very long initial straight run of 36000 m).

The program steering consisted of a mechanical construction coupled to the gyroscope, which changed the torpedo's course over time in different patterns, after an initial straight running distance.

Fat I ("S-shaped" loop-patterns):

The initial straight distance could be set from a minimum of 500 m to a maximum of 1500 m.

Two loop-patterns were available: "short" and "long", and in addition there was a choice of right or left turns (i.e. a total of 5 settings on the Fat-mechanism).

For "short" loops, the straight distance between turns was 800 m, with a total width of the pattern-search of 1140 m

For "long" loops, the straight distance between turns was 1500 m, and a total width of the pattern-search of 1840 m.

The turning radius for both patterns were 170 m.

Fat II ("S-shaped loops or circular patterns):

The same data as for Fat Il, but an additional choice for "circular" pattern, where the torpedo would run in a circle after the initial straight-run. This was an option primary used by U-boats against attacking surface-ships that ran a zig-zag pattern hunting the U-boat (the goal was to locate the torpedo's circle-run just ahead of the attacking ship, hoping for a "lucky" hit).

Fat III / Lut I ("zig-zag" pattern):

Initial torpedo course can be chosen, so the torpedo platform does not need to change its bearing to an optimal course for torpedo launch.

The "Lut-speed" (i.e. the resulting advance-speed of the torpedo, considering the zig-zag pattern) can be chosen, and subsequently the straight legs between turns will be adjusted accordingly.

Lut II:

Same as Lut I, but even slower Lut-speeds could be chosen.

List of World War II Luftwaffe torpedoes

Luftwaffe torpedo designation system

As a general rule, Luftwaffe followed the Kriegsmarine system of code names and designations, but with some differences.

Variations for the letter(s) indicating specific features regarding propulsion and control:

• b = Pressluft/Dampfgemisch-Antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
• i and w = indicated Italian-built torpedoes (w = whitehead)

Instead of letters and numbers denoting dimensions and features, a single 3 or 4 digit number was used for some torpedo designs.

Luftwaffe also used the "LT" designation (= Lufttorpedo), but not limited to operational torpedoes. It also combined further letters and numbers to indicate type and features of the torpedo:

• I = Pressluft/Dampfgemisch-Antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
• II = Ingolin-Antrieb (use of hydrogen-peroxide as oxygen carrier)
• A = Tiefen- und Winkeleinstellung von Hand (manual setting of depth and steering)
• B = Elektrische Tiefen- und Winkeleinstellung von Hand (electric setting of depth and steering, i.e. possible to change in flight)
• C = Programmsteuerung (program steering)
• 1 = Speed of 40kn
• 2 = Speed of 33kn
• 3 = Speed of 24kn

Designations for Luftwaffe pistols used the same system as Kriegsmarine, while the warheads used the designation GK (GK = short for Gefechtskopf) followed by a number and a small Arabic letter for variants.

Bombentorpedoes

Luftwaffe also developed a passive weapon called "Bombentorpedo" (BT), which was planned to replace the conventional torpedoes.

It was airdropped from a low height and relative short distance from the target, would enter the water and travel the short remaining distance through the water solely driven by its kinetic energy. No BT's were ever fielded operationally.

German torpedo platforms (torpedoträger)

Kriegsmarine

• Submarines (U-Boote)
• Motor torpedo boats (S-Boote - schnellboote or E-Boats as designated by the Royal Navy)
• Larger surface vessels like battleships (Schlachtschiffe), cruisers (Kreuzer / Panzerschiffe), destroyers (Zerstörer), escorts/ corvettes/ frigates (Torpedoboote)
• Various types of "unregular" surfacevessels, like auxiliary cruisers/raiders (Hilfskreuzer) and Q-ships.
• Fortified shore-based batteries (torpedosperrbatterie)
• Various temporary torpedo batteries were established at strategic locations for a period of time - (for instance as a substitute until a more permanent battery was established, or as a temporary defence for an improvised naval base etc.). These batteries varied from single to multiple tube launchers placed on quay/pier/suitable spot-on-the-ground or on small anchored boats/barges (schwimmende batterie). An S-Boote anchored in fixed locations with its bow (and thus its torpedo tubes) facing one direction could also serve in this role. Typical armament for shore-based and temporary batteries were tubes from dismantled surface vessels (533mm zwilling-, drilling- or vierling-rohrsätze), beutewaffe - i.e. tubes/torpedoes captured from the enemy, or older equipment from World War I.

Luftwaffe

• Aircraft

References

• Bundesmarine: Deutsche Unterwasserwaffen - Torpedos, 1967 (German translation of U.S. Navy Ordnance Pamphlet 1673B)
• Bundesmarine: Torpedo Zünder der Deutschen Marine von 1914 bis 1968 mit historischen Rückblick Band 1, ca 1975
• Torpedo Versuch Anstalt Eckernförde: Short survey of the course of Torpedo Development from T1 to the newest types, 1946 (post-war report for the Royal Navy)
• Royal Navy: B.R.1972 German torpedoes and development of German torpedo control, 1952
• Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee: Evaluation Report 167: Details of Contents of Microfilm on Captured Documents Pertaining to German Torpedo Developments, 1945
• Kriegsmarine (T.V.A.): Technische Dienstvorschrift Nr. 194 Torpedo-Kopf-Pistolen-Tabelle, 1944
• Kriegsmarine: Various handbooks and regulations (Marine-Dienstvorschriften)
• U.S. Navy Ordnance Pamphlet 1666 German Explosive Ordnance Volume 1, 1946
• Eberhard Rössler: Die Torpedos der deutschen U-Boote (2.ed), 2005 ({{ISBN|3-8132-0842-7}})
• Friedrich Lauck: Der Lufttorpedo - Entwicklung und Technik in Deutschland 1915-1945, 1981 ({{ISBN|3-7637-5230-7}})
• Harold Thiele: Luftwaffe Aerial Torpedo Aircraft and Operations in World War Two, 2004 ({{ISBN|1 902109 42 2}})
• Fritz Hahn: Deutsche Geheimwaffen 1939-1945 - Flugzeugbewaffnungen, 1963
• David H Wright: Thesis on German torpedo crisis in WW2, 2004
• Various allied reports and captured German documents from Kriegsmarine records kept at the US National Archives/NARA (mainly RG38 and RG242/T-1022) and the British National Archives/TNA (mainly ADM 213, ADM 290 and ADM 292)

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