Dirk:

I would appreciate any info you have with regards to the T5
torpedoes. I had a good close look at the T5 at the new U-505
exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on
6/44/05 and I could not find any evidence of the wire-guidance feature.

The U.S. used a hard copper wire coated with an insulation that would make the wire float and when it touched seawater it became
slippery as an eel. It also carried three signals (24VDC, 120 VAC at 60 Hz and 120 VAC at 400 Hz). A wire reel (drum) mounted within the torpedo carried part of the wire and the remainder was carried on a reel that was mounted on the breech door. The first wire-guided torpedoes were 19" diameter "swimouts" and used no compressed air for launching.

How did the torpedo lauching system of the Type XXIs handle the impulse air bubble at torpedo launch or did they use a "slide-valve" arrangement?

What I'm looking for is proof that German wire-guided torpedoes were successfully used in WWII combat.

And have a fine day,

ROBERT M.