Italian
Torpedoes of World War II
Updated 05 February 2011
53.3 cm (21") W 270/533.4 x 7.2 Veloce
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design 1935?
Date In Service 1939?
Weight 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Explosive Charge 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 - 4,400 yards (3,000 - 4,000 m) / 50 knots
13,100 yards (12,000 m) / 30 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  High speed Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo which had a slimmer head than usual which was apparently good for an extra 2 knots of speed.  The Japanese were so impressed with the design that they copied it for several of their own torpedoes.
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53.3 cm (21") W 270/533.4 x 7.2 "F"
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design 1935?
Date In Service 1939?
Weight 3,417 lbs. (1,550 kg)
Overall Length 21 ft. 4 in. (6.500 m)
Explosive Charge 551 lbs. (250 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 yards (3,000 m) / 43 knots
10,900 yards (10,000 m) / 28 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo.
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53.3 cm (21") W 250/533.4 x 6.5
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design 1935?
Date In Service 1939?
Weight 3,417 lbs. (1,550 kg)
Overall Length 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Explosive Charge 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range / Speed 4,400 yards (4,000 m) / 48 knots
13,100 yards (12,000 m) / 30 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo.
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53.3 cm (21") W 250/533.4 x 6.72
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design 1935?
Date In Service 1939?
Weight 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Explosive Charge 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 yards (3,000 m) / 42 knots
7,650 yards (7,000 m) / 32 knots
10,060 yards (9,200 m) / 30 knots
13,100 yards (12,000 m) / 26 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo.  A very similar torpedo of slightly shorter length [22 ft. 6 in. (6.860 m)] was also in service.
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53.3 cm (21") Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 "I"
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight N/A
Overall Length 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Explosive Charge 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range / Speed 4,400 yards (4,000 m) / 49 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 38 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Naples (Silurificio Italiano) Torpedo.
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53.3 cm (21") Si 270/533.4 x 7.2 "M"
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Ship Class Used On Cruisers and Destroyers
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length 23 ft. 7 in. (7.200 m)
Explosive Charge 595 lbs. (270 kg)
Range / Speed 4,400 yards (4,000 m) / 46 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 35 knots
13,100 yards (12,000 m) / 29 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Naples (Silurificio Italiano) Torpedo.  Later versions were 48 knots, 38 knots and 30 knots for the same ranges as above.
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45 cm (17.7")  W 200/450 x 5.75
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Ship Class Used On Cagni Class Submarines
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight N/A
Overall Length 18 ft. 10.5 in. (5.750 m)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 yards (3,000 m) / 44 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 30 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo.  Also used with sub-caliber fittings to enable it to be fired from 21" (533 mm) tubes.
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45 cm (17.7")  Si 200/450 x 5.36
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Ship Class Used On MAS Boats
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 2,050 lbs. (930 kg)
Overall Length 17 ft. 7 in. (5.750 m)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed about 2,200 yards (2,000 m) / 44 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Naples (Silurificio Italiano) Torpedo.
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45 cm (17.7")  W 200/450 x 5.25
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Ship Class Used On MAS Boats
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 1,896 lbs. (860 kg)
Overall Length 17 ft. 2.5 in. (5.250 m)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 4,400 yards (4,000 m) / 46 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Naples (Silurificio Italiano) Torpedo.
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45 cm (17.7")  F200/450 x 5.46
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 1,995 lbs. (905 kg)
Overall Length 17 ft. 11 in. (5.460 m)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 yards (3,000 m) / 40 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) torpedo.  Early versions had a 375 lbs. (175 kg) warhead.  This torpedo was also used by the Germans and designated "F5W" type.
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45 cm (17.7") Si 200/450 x 5.36
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 2,145 lbs. (973 kg)
Overall Length 17 ft. 7 in. (5.360 m)
Explosive Charge 441 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 3,300 yards (3,000 m) / 40 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Naples (Silurificio Italiano) Torpedo.  This torpedo was also considered for use by the Germans and designated "F5I" type, however, none are known to have been used by them.
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50 cm (19.7") W 120/500 x 2.6
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WTIT_WWII_LT350_pic.jpg

Torpedo on display at Museo Storico dell’Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force Museum) at Vigna di Valle
Photograph copyrighted by Geoff Chennells
WTIT_WWII_LT350_tag_pic.jpg

ID tag on above torpedo
Photograph copyrighted by Geoff Chennells
Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 772 lbs. (350 kg)
Overall Length 8 ft. 6.5 in (2.600 m)
Explosive Charge 265 lbs. (120 kg)
Range / Speed 16,400 yards (15,000 m) / 13.5 knots (initial) down to 3.9 knots (end)
Power Battery
Notes:  Fiume (Whitehead) Torpedo.  This was a short parachute-dropped torpedo that ran in circles, spirals and curves.  Dropping conditions were about 150 knots from 200 to 600 feet (60 to 180 m).  Lacked depth control and lateral control was said to be "primative" resulting in runs that varied considerably in depth and were irregular spirals and curves.  This torpedo was also used by the Germans and designated "LT350" type.
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45 cm (17.7") Designation Not Known
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service N/A
Weight 617 lbs. (280 kg)
Overall Length N/A
Explosive Charge 198 lbs. (90 kg)
Range / Speed 13,100 yards (12,000 m) / 13.5 knots (initial) down to 3.9 knots (end)
Power Battery
Notes:  Aircraft launched circling torpedo, details not available at this time.  Designated by the Germans as the "LT280" type, but not believed to have been used by them.
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccarolli
Page History

15 May 2006 - Benchmark
05 February 2011 - Added photographs of 50 cm W 120/500 x 2.6