The G7es or Zaunkönig T-5 was a torpedo employed by German U-boats during World War II. The torpedo was electric and had an effective range of 5700 meters at a speed of 24 knots (44 km/h). This torpedo employed acoustic, passive homing to find its target after a straight run of 400 meters. The 400 meter limit was employed for safety reasons, even though there were at least two instances of U-boats (U-972 in December1943 and U-377 in January1944) sinking after being hit by their own torpedo. The first 80 were delivered on 1 August1943 and it was first used in September. A total of 640 were fired in combat sinking 45 ships. It was countered by the introduction by the allies of the Foxer noise maker. A modern torpedo, historically called a self-propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ... December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ... January, from the Très riches heures du duc de Berry January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... Foxer, was the codename for a British built acoustic decoy, used to confuse German acoustic homing torpedoes like the G7es during the Second World War. ...
There were two main variants:
Flat-nosed version which contained two sets of Magnetostriction hydrophones.
Round-nosed version which contained two magnetostriction hydrophones inside a funnel shaped baffle.
Magnetostriction is a property of ferromagnetic materials to undergo a change of their physical dimensions when subjected to a magnetic field. ...
External links
A brief synopsis of German torpedo evolution during WWII at uboat.net
In a spread of 2 or 3 or 4, the interval between shots is said to be 2.3 seconds; timing is done automatically by means of a time switch.
Originally known as G7eS, “S” signifying “Sonderartsführung” (special manner of behavior).
Liquid charge; propellant of same composition as charge (highly sensitive); speed of 60 knots; torpedo tear-drop shape; larger diameter and shorter in length than usual 21-inch torpedo.
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