468192

THIS PAGE DECLASSIFIED IAW EQ 129 8
-
69 -
Aerial terpedoes have proved particularly effective in
c ombi na t i c n wi t h bombi no a t t a c ks o n ma j or wa r s :zi ps Y E3
since th ey
were capable of producin ; quick sink in s .
For attacks
on
smaller warsh ips and comm ercia l vessels it proved su fficient
to commit either torpedo or boabin aircraft .
Th e e x pl o s i v e c ha r e o f t he LT 5 : e i f , he d +4 0 l bs an d c ons i s t e d
o f ni t r oc e l l ul o s e 3 b ; a t f i r s t i ni t i on o c c ur r e d u p on i !np a c t on
• the side of the vessel . emo e-control fuses of the the ma netic
type -- di stance pistol s -- were bein ;
devPloped .
The LT 350 rras an Italian cyclic torpedo ( "Motoboniba") w hich
wa s dr o pr e d by pa r a chut e uFon _ a s s e mbl i e s o f c o::uae r c i a l v e s s e l s
l o ca t ed a t doc lcs i de s or a nch or i n; i n a b a y .
Upon h i t t i n t he ua t e r
the parachute tvould separate from the torpedo and the l a tter would
start its course ,
describin -; ever lar e circles or
followin a
pr e v i ous ?y s e t c ur v e pa t t er n di r e c t l y be l o• R t Y:e vla t er s ur f a c e un t i l
i t e x pl o de d e i t l°:e r uFon i mpa c t o r a f t e r c o ve r i n ; a l uo s t 10 mi l e s .
10 .
Aerial Uelivery Containers .
ih ese served to dron small - ca lib er
a mmuni t i on ,
i n c l udi n , f r a ;cne n t 3 t i on an d i n c e ndi a r y bo mb s Re i gll i ng
2 .
2 to 22 lbs ( also SD 15 's ) , b ecause such siall bom bs could not
b e i n ui v i dua l l y s us pe nde d i :: : -i r cr ': .
' '; ; . _3• be i ng i ;ni t e d s i mul t a n eo us l y ,
th ese bombs could be distributed over a certain taroet area .
Th e filled aerial delivery containers were issued to the
field
forces read ,
y for use and could thus be suspended on loops on drop
THIS PAGE DECLASSIFIED IAW EQ 129 8