G7a torpedo


The G7a was the standard issue Kriegsmarine torpedo introduced to service in 1934. It was a steam-powered design, using a wet heater engine burning decaline, with a range of at speed. In 1936, the Kriegsmarine's first electrical powered torpedo was introduced with the G7e. It was replaced beginning in 1942 by the G7e(TIII). The G7a remained in service as the main torpedo of Kriegsmarine for the length of the war, being the only torpedo used from surface vessels, and alongside electric torpedoes on the uboats.

Design

The G7a torpedo was in diameter, in length, the warhead holding a charge of approximately of List of [World War II torpedoes of Germany#Warheads|Schießwolle 36]. It was Kriegsmarine's first operational torpedo, and the standard issue torpedo for all German U-boats and surface torpedo-bearing vessels from 1934 to the end of WW2.
The torpedo was a straight-running unguided design, controlled by a gyroscope. The TI had variable speed, running a distance of 5,000 m at 81 km/h, 7,500 m at 74 km/h, and 12,000 m at 55.6 km/h. The 44 kt setting was used only by torpedo boats like the Schnellboote on torpedoes with a reinforced engine.
The TI was the last naval torpedo of German design in operational use with the traditional standard wet heat method of propulsion. The torpedo was powered by an engine fed by a mixture of compressed air and steam. Decaline fuel was burning in a combustion chamber, creating steam from fresh water. The torpedo's speed was determined by the level of pressure from the low-pressure regulator feeding air to the bottom of the combustion chamber. The resulting superheated steam powered a four cylinder reciprocating engine, in turn powering a pair of contra-rotating propellers.
Though this system of propulsion gave the TI great speed and endurance it had the distinct disadvantage of being very noisy and leaving a long wake of bubbles, common to most non-electric torpedoes of the period, with the exception of the Japanese surface-launched Type 93 and submarine-launched Type 95, which were propelled by engines using pure oxygen as the oxidizer. For U-boats, this relegated the TI for use mainly at night, when its wake was least noticeable, so as to not give away the element of surprise and the location of the submarine that fired it. During daytime, the electrically-propelled G7e were favored.
For the period 1934-1940 the only available warhead for the TI and TII were of the Ka type, with two available pistols: The Pi G7A-AZ and the Pi G7a-MZ. The former was a direct-acting mechanical pistol, while the latter had an additional proximity mechanism. Both mechanisms were flawed and contributed to the German "Torpedokrise" which lasted from the start of the war and through 1942. The mechanical deflection arms was designed too short, and the magnetic igniting-mechanism couldn't be properly tuned for the natural magnetic fields in the northern hemisphere and narrow fjords. These issues led to premature or late detonations, as well as failing to detonate even when hitting the target, in numerous cases during this period until properly working pistols were introduced with first the mechanical Pi1, and later the combined mechanical/magnetic Pi2. Also, the depth mechanism had a design-issue leading to leakage of vacuum when stored on the U-boats, causing the torpedo to run deep. The problems were common for the TI and TII torpedoes, but the TI also had issues with weak engine blocks, and the TII had issues with poorly performing batteries.
The problems were so serious, Admiral Dönitz said, "...never before in military history has a force been sent into battle with such a useless weapon."
In general, all issues were resolved by 1942 when new depth mechanisms and new pistols had been developed and put into service. The TII was then also replaced by the TIII with improved batteries.

Use

There is at least one recorded case of a U-boat being bombed based upon her position being given away by a TI's wake. On 14 September 1939, U-30 was attacked by loitering United Kingdom Fairey Swordfish naval bombers when she fired a TI from her stern torpedo tube at the SS Fanad Head. U-30 was undamaged in the attack and served until she was scuttled at the end of the war.
The TI were also issued in versions with program-steering gyroscopes, using the Fat I and Lut I or Lut II pattern running mechanisms - primary for use in attacking convoys and as self-defence against allied escorts.

Technical data for G7a(TI) torpedo

  • Type: Standard, straightrunning torpedo with wet-heater propulsion and whitehead tail
  • Design and development: 1928-33
  • Operative service in Kriegsmarine: 1934–1945
  • Length, prepared for launch with Ka/Kb warhead and Pi1 pistol): 7163 mm
  • Diameter: 533.4 mm
  • Weight : 1538 kg
  • Warhead explosive charge: 250-300 kg of various explosives depending on type of head
  • Boostercharge : 300 g Pentrite
  • Minimum angle of impact to detonate : 16 degrees
  • Speed: 30 kn / 40 kn / 44 kn
  • Depthsetting: 1–12 m or 1–15 m
  • Arming distance : 100 m / 150 m / 300 m
  • Propulsion: 4-cylinder steam engine
  • Fuel: Decaline
  • Engine power output: 110 Hp / 255 Hp / 360 Hp
  • Engine RPM: 1170 / 1280 / 1470
  • Propeller: 2 × 6-blade
  • Max running distance: 12000 m / 7500 m / 5000 m
  • Air tank capacity: 676 L
  • Freshwater compartment: 57 L
  • Fueltank: 14.5 L
  • Oiltank : 6.5 L
  • Oiltank : 0.3 L
  • Steering: Mechanical gyroscope powered by pressurised air with anglesetting mechanism
  • Depthcontrol: Hydrostatic mechanism with pendulum
Note 1) 44kn was used only by S-Boote.
Note 2) Black used only from shore torpedo batteries, red from uboats and blue from surface vessels.
Note 3) Pre-war produced models had 4-blade propellers.
Post war use:
The TI were used post-war by several navies with different modifications and designations. Last known operator was RNoN with the T1 mod 1. In the RNoN, T1 mod 1 was used from FACs, submarines and Coastal artillery shore batteries.
Other versions:
  • G7a
  • G7a
  • G7a
  • G7a: TI dedicated for use with Schulboote at U-Flotillen. The torpedo was equipped with the older type depth-mechanism, the lead ballast was removed from the water chamber and a special "light" exercise head was fitted. This was done to ensure positive buoyancy at the end of the run. Minor adjustments were also done to the air regulators and combustion chamber to lower the temperature of the drive gas. These measures lead to a decrease in range, but achieved the overall goal of significantly fewer incidents of damaged or lost torpedoes, and a higher number of exercise-shots for the crews.
  • G7a
  • G7a: TI with changed buoyancy for the Seehund midget submarine, with sinker-mechanism.
  • G7as: TI with acoustic seeker
Note 1) For launch with program setting, speed could only be set to 30 kn.
Note 2) For launch with program setting, speed could be set to 30 or 40 kn.
Exercise- and Warheads/pistols used on the TI:
Exersiceheads:
  • Type 1210 or type 1215
Warhead/pistol statutory combinations according to Kriegsmarine regulations:
  • Ka, Ka1 or Ka2 with Pi1, Pi1a or Pi1c pistols
  • Kc with Pi3 or Pi3c pistols
  • Kc1 or Kc2 with Pi3, Pi3a or Pi3c pistols
Warhead/pistol possible combinations – only on special demand, approved by torpedo-arsenal and with special consideration to depth-settings in order to assure proper function of the pistol:
  • Kb or Kb1 with Pi1, Pi1a, Pi1c, Pi2*, Pi2c* or Pi2c* pistols