Russia / USSR Torpedoes
World War II
Updated 19 November 2008
533 mm (21") 53-27
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Ship Class Used On Large surface combatants, MTBs and submarines 
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1927
Weight 3,770 lbs. (1,710 kg)
Overall Length 22.97 feet (7.0 m)
Explosive Charge 584.2 lbs. (265 kg)
Range / Speed 3,700 m /45 knots
Power Wet-heater
Note:  First "Soviet" torpedo.  Broadly based on the Russian 456 mm Pattern 1912 and 533 mm Pattern 1917 torpedoes.  In production until 1935.
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450 mm (17.7") TAV-15
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1932
Weight N/A
Overall Length N/A
Explosive Charge N/A
Range / Speed N/A
Power Wet-heater
Note:  Aircraft torpedo based on the shortened Pattern 1910/15 torpedo.  Designed to be launched from 6,500-9,800 feet (2,000-3,000m) and used 3 drogue parachutes.
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450 mm (17.7") TAN-12
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1932
Weight N/A
Overall Length N/A
Explosive Charge N/A
Range / Speed N/A
Power Wet-heater
Note:  Low altitude aircraft torpedo based on the 45-12 (456 mm Pattern 1912) torpedo. 
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533 mm (21") 53-36
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Ship Class Used On Large surface combatants, MTBs and submarines
Date Of Design 1932
Date In Service 1936
Weight 3,748 lbs. (1,700 kg)
Overall Length 22.97 feet (7.0 m)
Explosive Charge 661.4 lbs. (300 kg)
Range / Speed 4,270 yards (4,000 m) / 43.5 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 33.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Modification of the original 53-27 torpedo.  It was unsuccessful and production was stopped in 1938 after about 100 were built.
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450 mm (17.7") 45-36N
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Ship Class Used On Novik class DDs
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1936
Weight 2,061 lbs. (935 kg)
Overall Length 18.7 feet (5.7 m)
Explosive Charge 440.9 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 3,280 yards (3,000 m) / 41.0 knots
6,560 yards (6,000 m) / 32.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Based on the Italian 450 mm torpedo which was purchased from Fiume in 1932.  Could also be used from submarine 533 mm tubes using a special adapter.
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533 mm (21") 53-38
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WTRussian_WWII_1942_pic.jpg

Loading a torpedo aboard an unidentified surface ship in 1942
Ship Class Used On Large surface combatants, MTBs and submarines
Date Of Design 1936
Date In Service 1938
Weight 3,560.5 lbs. (1,615 kg)
Overall Length 23.62 feet (7.2 m)
Explosive Charge 661.4 lbs. (300 kg)
Range / Speed 4,270 yards (4,000 m) / 44.5 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 34.5 knots
10,940 yards (10,000 m) / 30.5 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Design started in 1936 after the failure of the 53-36 torpedo.  Based on the Italian 533 mm torpedo bought from Fiume in 1932.  Main Russian torpedo of World War II.
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450 mm (17.7") 45-36NU
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Ship Class Used On Novik class DDs
Date Of Design 1939
Date In Service 1939
Weight 2,266 lbs. (1,028 kg)
Overall Length 19.69 feet (6.0 m)
Explosive Charge 626.1 lbs. (284 kg)
Range / Speed 3,280 yards (3,000 m) / 41.0 knots
6,560 yards (6,000 m) / 32.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Modernization of the 45-36N torpedo to increase the weight of the warhead.
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450 mm (17.7") 53-38U
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Ship Class Used On Large surface combatants, MTBs and submarines
Date Of Design 1939
Date In Service 1939
Weight 3,803 lbs. (1,725 kg)
Overall Length 24.28 feet (7.4 m)
Explosive Charge 881.8 lbs. (400 kg)
Range / Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m) / 44.5 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 34.5 knots
10,940 yards (10,000 m) / 30.5 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Modernization of the 53-38 torpedo to increase the weight of the warhead.   Some of these torpedoes had a magnetic fuze starting from 1942.  Main Russian torpedo of World War II.
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450 mm (17.7") 45-36AV-A
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1939
Weight 2,061 lbs. (935 kg)
Overall Length 18.7 feet (5.7 m)
Explosive Charge 440.9 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m) / 39.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  High altitude aircraft torpedo based on the 45-36N.  Differences consisted of single speed instead of selective one and modification of the torpedo to survive water entry.
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450 mm (17.7") 45-36AN
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Ship Class Used On Aircraft
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1939
Weight 2,061 lbs. (935 kg)
Overall Length 18.7 feet (5.7 m)
Explosive Charge 440.9 lbs. (200 kg)
Range / Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m) / 39.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Low altitude aircraft torpedo based on the 45-36N.  Differences consisted of single speed instead of selective one and modification of the torpedo to survive the water entry.  Main Russian aircraft torpedo of World War II.
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533 mm (21") 53-39
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WTRussian_WWII_53-39_pic.jpg

533mm "53-39" Pattern 1939 Torpedo
Now at the Great Patriotic War Museum, Minsk, Belarus
Photograph copyrighted by Vladimir Yakubov 
Ship Class Used On Large surface combatants, MTBs and submarines
Date Of Design 1939
Date In Service 1941
Weight 3,924 lbs. (1,780 kg)
Overall Length 24.61 feet (7.5 m)
Explosive Charge 698.9 lbs. (317 kg)
Range / Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m) / 51.0 knots
8,750 yards (8,000 m) / 39.0 knots
10,940 yards (10,000 m) / 34.0 knots
Power Wet-heater
Notes:  Modernization of the 53-38 torpedo with main goal to increase the speed without sacrificing the range. 
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533 mm (21") ET-80
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design 1939
Date In Service 1942-43
Weight 3,968.3 lbs. (1,800 kg)
Overall Length 24.61 feet (7.5 m)
Explosive Charge 881.8 lbs. (400 kg)
Range / Speed 4,370 yards (4,000 m) / 29 knots
Power Electrical
Notes:  First Soviet electrical torpedo.
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533 mm (21") ET-46
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Ship Class Used On Submarines
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1946
Weight N/A
Overall Length N/A
Explosive Charge 992.1 lbs. (450 kg)
Range / Speed 6,560 yards (6,000 m) / 31 knots
Power Electrical
Notes:  Post-war development of the ET-80, used parts of the German G7e torpedo.
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Data from
"Torpedoes of VMF SSSR" by Yu.L. Korshunov and A.A. Strokov
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"Flot vo Slavu Rossii" (Fleet in Honor of Russia) CD
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Special help from Vladimir Yakubov