TV (G7es) Acoustic Homing Torpedo

G7es torpedo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
German U-Boat Torpedo T V (G7es) Acoustic Homing - Specification

Excerpt:
The 400 meter limit was employed for safety reasons, even though there were at least two instances of U-boats (U-972 in December 1943 and U-377 in January 1944) sinking after being hit by their own torpedo. This risk was later mitigated by requiring submarines to dive to 60 meters and go completely silent after launching acoustic torpedoes.
The first 80 T-5s were delivered on 1 August 1943, and the weapon was first used in September. A total of 640 were fired in combat, sinking 45 ships. The T-5 was countered by the introduction by the Allies of the Foxer noise maker.
The T-5 was nicknamed Zerstörerknacker (destroyer cracker) by the German submariners, as it was especially used against convoy escorts.





HMCS Stettler

The frigates of w-13 had meanwhile undertaken a routine patrol of the Gaspe passage on 14 September/44 when they inadvertently fell into the
torpedo range of U-802.Assuming a convoy following astern of the sweep,
U-802 tried to slip through the screen.Asdic sounds surrounded it as the
formation zigzagged around its base course in full view of Schmoeckel's
periscope."Suddenly a destroyer turns bow on at full speed making black smoke"(KTB).Incorrect though his assumption was,Schmoeckel could only
conclude in that split second that HMCS Stettler had gained asdic contact
and was commencing her attack.
Schmoeckel hastily fired a T-5 acoustic Gnat at a range of 500m.
40 yards astern of HMCS Stettler....in her wake.....the torpedo exploded.
[page 232 U Boats against Canada]

a few weeks later ....

The five month old HMCS Magog had departed her base in Sydney NS on
October 13 in company with frigate HMCS Stettler in order to rendenzvous
with convoy GONS-33.
Kneip in U-1223 watched as HMCS Magog drew within his sights.
At 1325 GMT,as Magog was zigzagging,
one of Kneip's double-spread acoustic Gnats ripped into her stern
after a run of 2 minutes 5 seconds.....sheering off 60 ft of her aft section.
[page 238 U Boats against Canada]

Well....there's alot more ...depth charge attacks,....acoustic Gnats going off in other HMCS combatant wakes.

My Dads older brother [Freddy]........was aboard HMCS Stettler during these events.

 

I just finished reading 50 North by Alan Easton in which he spoke of being attacked by two acoustic torpedos. They failed to damage his ship because they hit the "anti-acoustic torpedo device" which he calls the "CAT" - same thing as the Foxer I think.

 

Does anybody know how the allies found out the Germans were using acoustic-homing torpedoes? It seems unlikely that the allies would have ever even recovered a dud from the vastness of the Atlantic - so how did they find out? Spy? Commando raid? Captured German sailor?

 

Possibly as results of interrogation at captured officer: U-boat Archive - U-761 - CO Interrogation and more....






Jan.

 

U-862 fired a T-5 at a tanker in the south Atlantic mid 1944 and nearly fell victim when it came full circle. the sound man realised what was happening and Timm dived the boat. His report to BdU helped identify the danger.

 

this variant along with an upper variant were to be used in the higher variants of KM Schenllbooten with rearward firing tubes not just U-Boots