I too saw the U534 T5 which is one reason I am asking for opinions. It looks light blue or light grey nose, not sure of body. HAve posted an email to the site owner.

All torpedoes on display at U-505 have been painted an olive green or green gray body with red warhead. There appears to be a zinc chromate type primer underneath. I dont know why this is so but they have been that way since the 1950s. They are G7e's, one of which is a red/white stripe head on a practice torpedo.

Interstingly we just got a G7a from the US Navy that came from a Seehund. Its body is a dark green, Very dark green, with a red warhead. Again, dont know why. But interesting that they are consistent and obtained by us years apart. It is possible those were all painted by bored US Navy ratings before we got them.

I have a manual for a FAT torpedo that indicates painting of identification stripes or other marks for quick ID of type etc. So far I have not found anything similar for T5.

Our T5 was stored under the floors of the Fwd Torp room with only the forward body visible and the detached tail inserted into another tube to appear loaded. I suspect that the body may have been painted yellow on the top simply so it would stand out in the bilges of U-505 for tours to see the torpedo. Unfortunately nobody knew it was a T5 until I identified it.

So I guess this answers some of your questions, I appreciate your responses so far.

Is the owner of that U534 site showing the removal of torpedoes and ammo returning emails?

Regards,

Keith Gill
Curator U-505