Ginocchio towed torpedo

The Ginocchio towed torpedo was based on an Italian concept of World War I and consisted of a towed torpedo that was streamed over the stern near a submarine contact in the hope that it would strike the submarine, triggering its warhead. Depth-keeping proved to be a problem during sea trials and it does not appear to have ever been operationally used.

Ginocchio towed torpedo
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used byFrance
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass
  • 62 kg (137 lb) or
  • 75.5 kg (166 lb)
Length
  • 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) or
  • 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
WarheadTrinitrotolulene (TNT)
Warhead weight30 kg (66 lb)
Detonation
mechanism
inertial fuze
Maximum depth53 m (174 ft)
Steering
system
towed
Launch
platform
Ship

Development and description

The French began development on the Ginocchio, based on a wartime Italian concept, during the 1920s, but depth-keeping was erratic and the project was formally suspended in 1933 after trials in the Chacal and Bourrasque-class destroyers. The project was revived in late 1938 for the ships of the latter class, but was cancelled in October 1939.[1]

The Ginocchio came in two models, both of which had a 30-kilogram (66 lb) warhead of Trinitrotolulene.

  • The "medium" had a depth capability of 15 to 37 meters (49 to 121 ft); it weighed 62 kilograms (137 lb) and was 1.62 meters (5 ft 4 in) long.
  • The "depth" model had a maximum depth of 53 meters (174 ft), weighed 75.5 kilograms (166 lb) and was 1.72 meters (5 ft 8 in) long.[2]

Citations
  1. Jordan & Moulin, pp. 32, 48–49, 55
  2. Jordan & Moulin, pp. 48–49

References
  • Jordan, John & Moulin, Jean (2015). French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs 1922–1956. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-198-4.
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