Best Torpedoes

[delcyros]

The Long Lance - in my view was the best torpedo developed in ww2. While not to be used in subs it was succesfully operated by surface ships.
The LUT is my second favourite, probably the best submarine torpedo.
Strange that the axis hadn´t benefitted that much from each other:
Japanese subs with german training would be bad for the US and german subs with japanese Long Lance would be interesting, too...

[Glider]

I think it was a matter of culture. Some German subs did go to Japan as did some of the subs. The German Captains were going desperate to get the Japs to attack the supply ships and supply lines. The opportunities were huge with the distances involved and the American defences would have been stretched considerably but the Japs insisted on concentrating on attacks on the warships.
Some U Boats were passed on to the Japs after Germany surrendered but they achieved little if anything.

[Vassili Zaitzev]

What about the American Fidos? Weren't they torpedoes which could home in on a enemy sub

[delcyros]

The Fido is an interesting solution for a limited purpose.
However, the Fido (19" MK 24) isn´t a torpedo in our comparison by itself. It is a passive homing aircraft dropped ASW mine rather than a torpedo:
explosive charge: 92 lbs Torpex
range: 4000 yrds
speed: 12 kts.
Fido is credited with sinking some 62 submarines during ww2. It wasn´t used on surface ships nor on submarines and wouldn´t perform in this role due to it´s limited range, tiny warhead and very slow speed.
As ASW it was a fine weapon especially because it could be dropped by aircrafts.
Her acoustic homing was very simple and not that enhenced compared with the T5 (which differed between submarine noises and destroyer noises, altough it succesfully was jammed), it couldn´t dive deep enough to reach subs in under 80 ft and it lacked speed to be useful against type XXI and XXIII submarines late in the war.

[elmilitaro]

Neat info.

[Vassili Zaitzev]

oh, I didn't know that. Thanks for the correction Delcyros.