Motobomba circular torpedo LT350 in Luftwaffe

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Dili
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Joined: 24 Jun 2007, 23:54
Location: Lusitania

Motobomba circular torpedo LT350 in Luftwaffe

#1

Post by Dili » 16 Aug 2009, 21:04

Motobomba FFF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motobomba was a circular torpedo launched from aircraft at medium altitude. It started to be employed against Gibraltar and Malta convoys in Jul42.

It is reported that Germany ordered 2000 from Italy. But unknown how many they really got.

German manual(unfortunately think it is only about the fuze, can't read German) http://www.lexpev.nl/downloads/dluft4306heft3f1942.pdf
The Luftwaffe made their first mass attack using the weapon on March 19 1943 when Junkers Ju 88s launched 72 of them against shipping at Tripoli, sinking two supply ships and damaging the destroyer HMS Derwent. Derwent was subsequently beached with her engine room flooded and although salvaged and returned to England, was never repaired.
The FFF was subsequently used in attacks against invasion shipping at Bône in Algeria on April 16 1943 and at Syracuse during the Allied invasion of Sicily later that year
In Bari attack http://www.ww2f.com/north-africa-medite ... aster.html apparently nine(wonder the odd number since typically a bomber could carry 2 or 4.) were employed

Already in 1944 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfgeschwader_54
The Gruppe lost 30 machines before its withdrawal. II./KG 54 then continued operating throughout the Italian Campaign, making all out efforts against Allied shipping, with LT 350 torpedoes in the Gulf of Naples.
So my questions are what units employed this weapon besides KG-54 and what success it had in atacks against Bone. I remember reading accounts of German planes launching mines in Harbours in North Africa and then ships getting damaged just almost at same time that i wonder if those "mines" could not be LT350.

Larry D.
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Location: Winter Springs, FL (USA)

Re: Motobomba circular torpedo LT350 in Luftwaffe

#2

Post by Larry D. » 17 Aug 2009, 00:06

Here is a book that will answer your questions. It's softbound so it won't cost you a lot:

Thiele, Harold. Luftwaffe Aerial Torpedo Aircraft and Operations in World War Two. Crowborough (East Sussex): Hikoki Publications Ltd., 2004. ISBN: 1 902109 42 2. Laminated card cover. 96p. Numerous illustrations. Color profiles. Tables. Lists. Appendices.


Dili
Member
Posts: 2201
Joined: 24 Jun 2007, 23:54
Location: Lusitania

Re: Motobomba circular torpedo LT350 in Luftwaffe

#3

Post by Dili » 17 Aug 2009, 01:54

Thanks Larry.

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