Did this torpedo help sink the Royal Oak?

Did this torpedo help sink the Royal Oak?



German Electric Torpedoes


The parts of two electric torpedoes were recovered near the wreck of the " Royal Oak " in Scapa Flow.

The Torpedo Factory, after examination, stated that they were driven by electric motors, weighing 250 lb., which derived their power from a secondary battery. High pressure air was used for depth and direction control.
The following information, which is graded according to its reliability, was obtained from prisoners of war. It is difficult to get intelligence as only three people on board, the First Lieutenant, the Torpedo. Gunner's Mate (Torpedo Maat), and one A.S.T. (Torpedo Gast) have any direct duties with the torpedoes. It is impressed upon these men -that the German torpedoes are extremely secret and they are therefore very reluctant to make any statement about them.

1. Certain. —The German electric torpedo can be fitted: With a magnetic pistol and this pistol must be set according to the latitude.

2. Very probable. —The speed of the German electric torpedo is just over 30 knots (15 metres a second).
The range under normal conditions is 3,000 metres (3,250 yards).
To drive the torpedo, ten batteries are connected in parallel, each consisting of 50 cells.
It is impossible to alter the pistol settings of an electric torpedo while the torpedo is in the tube.
The torpedo has to be withdrawn about two-thirds of its length from the tube every two days for re-charging. For this reason the torpedo is not popular with torpedo ratings, as it entails a great deal of extra work. The pistol is supplied in a sealed wooden box.
The torpedo pistol is probably actuated by the vertical component of the ship's magnetic field.

3. Probable. —The settings in the pistol vary from 0-60 units. There is also a plate on the pistol marked 4, 6 and 8. It is not known what this marking means. It may have something to do with the depth settings.

4. Unconfirmed. —The battery used for driving the torpedo is tapped, in order to supply the current required for the pistol mechanism.
The pistol itself is about 39" (1 metre) long and 8" in diameter. It is cylindrical in form and protrudes 6" (15 centimetres) from the head, apparently laying axially along the torpedo. The casing is made of some non-ferrous metal, probably brass. There is apparently a small fan mounted on the front of the pistol to run off the safety range.


Source - The Anti-submarine Warfare Division of the Naval Staff. January/February 1940

Attachments - parts of a torpedo recovered near the Royal Oak

 

Peter,

I could have been the G7e T2 Electric 5000m/30kts.

It was the standard torpedo of the war but suffered from early problems with its internal depth-keeping equipment, and its firing pistol, but these were solved after the Norwegian Campaign.

From http://uboat.net/technical/torpedoes.htm

Regards
Tom

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-35707243

Torpedo discovered at Scapa Flow on Saturday, probably linked to attack on the Royal Oak. Ships advised not to anchor in the area.

 

Torpedo blown up today

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-35981770