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42-659: Human torpedoes or manned torpedoes are a type of diver propulsion vehicle on which the diver rides, generally in a seated position behind a fairing . They were used as secret naval weapons in World War ;II . The basic concept is still in use. The name was commonly used to refer to the weapons that Italy, and later (with a larger version) Britain, deployed in the Mediterranean and used to attack ships in enemy harbors. The human torpedo concept has occasionally been used by recreational divers , although this use

84-588: A limpet mine and then rode the torpedo away. The nose of the torpedo was filled with pounds of TNT and would be hung under a ship's keel. The idea was successfully applied by the Italian navy ( Regia Marina ) early in World War II and then copied by the British when they discovered how effective this weapon could be after three Italian units successfully penetrated the harbour of Alexandria and damaged

126-438: A DPV to make it more useful, such as lights, compasses, and video cameras. Use of a DPV on deep dives can reduce the risk of hypercapnia from overexertion and high breathing rate. DPV operation requires greater situational awareness than simply swimming, as some changes can happen much faster. Operating a DPV requires simultaneous depth control, buoyancy adjustment, monitoring of breathing gas, and navigation. Buoyancy control

168-695: A full-size 'mother' submarine. The German navy also developed a manned torpedo by 1943, the Neger , intended for one man, with a top speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h) and carrying one torpedo; the frequent technical problems often resulted in the deaths of operators. Roughly 200 of these were made and they did manage to sink a few ships. The later Marder ( pine marten in English) was about 27 feet (8.2 m) long and more sophisticated and could dive to depths of 27 metres (89 ft) but with very limited endurance. About 500 were built. A typical manned torpedo has

210-692: A genuine human torpedo carried a second torpedo underneath, which was launched at the target. It had a top speed of four knots (7.4 km/h) and a range of about ten hours at three knots. One seat. This manned torpedo was named after its inventor, Richard Mohr. These very small submarines carried two torpedoes and one or two men. There were other types that never ran into production. In July 1944 Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine introduced their human torpedoes to harass allied positions at Normandy anchorages. Although they could not submerge, they were difficult to observe at night and inflicted several losses on allied vessels. They were also used to harass allied vessels in

252-517: A harness that includes a crotch-strap with a D-ring on the front of the strap. The scooter is rigged with a tow leash that clips to the scooter with releasable metal snap. Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) are wet subs designed to transport frogmen from a combat swimmer unit or naval Special Forces underwater, over long distances. SDVs carry a pilot, co-pilot/navigator, and combat swimmer team and their equipment, to and from maritime mission objectives on land or at sea. The pilot and co-pilot are often

294-411: A later stage, they embark on torpedoes, which they direct towards their targets. The agents are instructed to utilize a favorable tide to depart for their target, attach a magnetic bomb to it, retreat with the ebb tide, detonate the explosives remotely, and return to base via a small submarine. Possibly, light torpedoes could be fired at close range instead of planting remotely detonated explosives. Despite

336-547: A part of the swimmer team. An example of a modern SDV in use today is the SEAL Delivery Vehicle used by the United States Navy SEALs and British Special Boat Service . For long-range missions, SDVs can carry their own onboard breathing gas supply to extend the range of the swimmer's scuba equipment. SDVs are typically used to land special operations forces or plant limpet mines on

378-459: A propeller, hydroplanes , a vertical rudder and a control panel with controls for its front rider. It usually allows for two riders who sit facing forwards. It has navigation aids such as a compass , and nowadays modern aids such as sonar and GPS positioning and modulated ultrasound communications gear. It may have an air (or other breathing gas ) supply so its riders do not have to drain their own apparatus while they are riding it. In some

420-505: A safe distance before detonating the explosives. In addition to destroying targets, the SDV can mislead enemies as to where they are being attacked from. One type of SDV—the Mark 9 SEAL Delivery Vehicle—was also capable of firing torpedoes, giving it the standoff ability to attack from up to 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) away. The origins of the SDV stems from the Italian human torpedoes and

462-433: A small range and low speed, to faired or enclosed units capable of carrying several divers longer distances at higher speeds. The earliest recorded DPVs were used for military purposes during World War II and were based on torpedo technology and components. A DPV usually consists of a pressure-resistant watertight casing containing a battery -powered electric motor , which drives a propeller . The design must ensure that

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504-414: A surface boat which function as diving planes . The diver holds onto the sled and may use a quick-release tether to reduce fatigue. Depth control while submerged is by adjusting the angle of attack. Sometimes known as manta-boards, after the manta ray . Towed sleds are useful for surveys and searches in good visibility in waters where there are not too many large obstacles. The route is largely controlled by

546-466: A variety of missions including mine clearance, infiltration, clandestine surveillance and security, and assault missions on enemy shipping and naval objects. These small apparatuses were relegated to the navies of Croatia (HRM) (1991) and Montenegro (2007). [REDACTED] Media related to Maiale manned torpedo at Wikimedia Commons Diver propulsion vehicle DPVs include a range of configurations from small, easily portable scooter units with

588-426: Is a submersible rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB). On the surface it is powered by a petrol engine, when submerged the petrol engine is sealed and it runs on battery-electric thrusters mounted on a steerable cross-arm. It can self inflate and deflate, transforming itself from a fast, light, surface boat to a submerged DPV. Started in the 1970s by Submarine Products Ltd. of Hexham, Northumberland, England, Subskimmer

630-519: Is closer to midget submarines . The concept of a small, manned submarine carrying a bomb was developed and patented by a British naval officer in 1909, but was never used during the First World War . The Italian Navy experimented with a primitive tiny sub ( Mignatta ) carrying two men and a limpet mine : this craft successfully sank Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Viribus Unitis on 1 November 1918. The first truly practical human torpedo

672-564: Is consumed, which is increased by exertion and diver fatigue, and the time limits imposed by decompression obligation, which depend on the dive profile . Typical uses include cave diving and technical diving where the vehicles help move bulky equipment and make better use of the limited underwater time imposed by the decompression requirements of deep diving . Military applications include delivery of combat divers and their equipment over distances or at speeds that would be otherwise impracticable. There are accessories that can be mounted to

714-555: Is now a tradename owned by Marine Specialised Technology. As DPVs get bigger they gradually merge into submarines . A wet sub is a small submarine where the crew spaces are flooded at ambient pressure and the crew must wear diving gear. Covert military operations use wet subs to deliver and retrieve operators into harbors and near-shore undetected. An example is the Multi-Role Combatant Craft (MRCC). These are unpowered boards (usually rectangular) towed by

756-563: Is vital for diver safety: The DPV has the capacity to dynamically compensate for poor buoyancy control by thrust vectoring while moving, but on stopping the diver may turn out to be dangerously positively or negatively buoyant if adjustments were not made to suit the changes in depth while moving. If the diver does not control the DPV properly, a rapid ascent or descent under power can result in barotrauma or decompression sickness. High speed travel in confined spaces, or limited visibility can increase

798-505: The Dolphin made on the Isle of Wight (UK) in the 1971s is an example. Some Farallon and Aquazepp scooters are torpedo-shaped with handles near the bow and a raised seat at the rear to support the diver's crotch against the slipstream. The Russian Protei-5 and Proton carry the diver attached to the top. The New Zealand made Proteus is strapped onto the diver's cylinder. The Subskimmer

840-481: The Mediterranean and used to attack ships in enemy harbours. The first human torpedo was the Italian Maiale ("Pig"). In operation, it was carried by another vessel (usually a normal submarine), and launched near the target. It was electrically propelled, with two crewmen in diving suits and rebreathers riding astride. They steered the torpedo at slow speed to the target, used the detachable warhead as

882-634: The British Motorised Submersible Canoe used during World War II. These are torpedo or fish-shaped vehicles for one or more divers typically sitting astride them or in hollows inside. The human torpedo was used to great effect by commando frogmen in World War II , who were able to sink more than 100,000 tons worth of ships in the Mediterranean alone. Similar vehicles have been made for work divers or sport divers but better streamlined as these do not have warheads;

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924-534: The British battleships HMS  Queen Elizabeth and HMS  Valiant , and the tanker "Sagona." The official Italian name for their craft was "Siluro a Lenta Corsa" (SLC or "Slow-running torpedo"), but the Italian operators nicknamed it "Maiale" after their inventor Teseo Tesei said that it was making the noise of a pig while moored on the beach. The British versions were named " chariots ". The Motorised Submersible Canoe (MSC), nicknamed Sleeping Beauty ,

966-534: The Second World War, a number of Polish volunteers came forward to pilot torpedoes against German warships. A Bureau of Living Torpedoes was set up to organize and train these volunteers, and prepare suitable equipment, but nothing had come to fruition before the German invasion and occupation . The Yugoslav Navy did not have manned torpedoes, but frogmen used the underwater device called "R-1 Diver" for

1008-435: The breathing gas runs out. Control of the DPV is additional task loading and can distract the diver from other matters. A DPV can increase the risk of a silt-out if the thrust is allowed to wash over the bottom. Human torpedoes or manned torpedoes are a type of diver propulsion vehicle used as secret naval weapons in World War II . The name was commonly used to refer to the weapons that Italy, and later Britain, deployed in

1050-521: The brigade level both in the East and in the West Sea Fleets. Each sea fleet has one suicide unit comprising elite soldiers who are well-fed and treated to a standard of living that is superior to that of submarine crews, even during periods of widespread economic hardship. The training regimen is focused on the execution of suicide bombing attacks. Initially, the agents travel on submarines, but at

1092-473: The fact that torpedo carriers are informed that they can escape, it is often exceedingly challenging in practice. Argentina developed manned torpedoes and special mini-submarines in the 1950s, the latter with a torpedo attached under the two-men crew. Their crews were trained by Eugenio Wolk  [ it ] , a former member of the Italian Decima MAS . In the months before the outbreak of

1134-458: The hull of enemy ships. In the former usage, they can land a combat swimmer team covertly on a hostile shore in order to conduct missions on land. After completing their mission, the team may return to the SDV to exfiltrate back to the mother-ship. For extended missions on land, a team can be re-supplied by contact with other SDVs. In the latter usage, SDVs can stealthily plant mines and other bombs on ships or port infrastructure and then retreat to

1176-413: The invasion of southern France but were largely ineffective. There are pictures and descriptions of modern US Chariot-like underwater frogman-carriers used by SEALs and a fast surface boat that can submerge, here: It has been reported that North Korea has developed and deployed human torpedoes as part of its unconventional warfare tactics. These units, which are part of the 17th Sniper Corps, operate at

1218-540: The night of 2 August 1944, when Nazi Germany 's Kriegsmarine ' s Small Battle Units made their largest effort of the war. 58 human torpedoes of the Neger -type and 22 Linse vessels were launched against Allied shipping off Normandy as part of a combined operation with Neger s and explosive Linse boats. One Royal Navy destroyer escort , HMS  Quorn was sunk by a human torpedo along with one minesweeper , HMS  Gairsay , and one landing craft by

1260-399: The propeller cannot harm the diver, diving equipment or marine life, the vehicle cannot be accidentally started or run away from the diver, and it remains approximately neutrally buoyant while in use underwater. DPVs are useful for extending the range of an autonomous diver that is otherwise restricted by the amount of breathing gas that can be carried, the rate at which that breathing gas

1302-627: The riders' seats are enclosed; in others the seats are open at the sides as in sitting astride a horse. The seat design includes room for the riders' swimfins (if used). There are flotation tanks (typically four: left fore, right fore, left aft, right aft), which can be flooded or blown empty to adjust buoyancy and attitude . For other events, see Operations of X Flottiglia MAS and British commando frogmen . Some nations including Italy have continued to build and deploy manned torpedoes since 1945. For information on Italian manned torpedo operations, see Decima Flottiglia MAS . This extreme form of

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1344-477: The risk of being seen. Attacks in 1940 were unsuccessful but in 1941, the Italian navy successfully entered the harbor of Alexandria and damaged the two British battleships HMS  Queen Elizabeth and HMS  Valiant , as well as the tanker Sagona . This feat encouraged the British to develop their own torpedo "chariots". The last Italian model, the SSB (for Siluro San Bartolomeo , "San Bartolomeo Torpedo")

1386-447: The risk of impact with the surroundings at speeds where injury and damage are more likely. Many forms of smaller marine life are very well camouflaged or hide well and are only seen by divers who move very slowly and look carefully. Fast movement and noise can frighten some fish into hiding or swimming away, and the DPV is bulky and affects precise manoeuvring at close quarters. The DPV occupies at least one hand while in use and may get in

1428-459: The target, the detachable warhead was released for use as a limpet mine . If they were not detected, the operators then rode the mini sub away to safety. Development began in 1935 but the first eleven were not completed until 1939 by San Bartolomeo Torpedo Workshops in La Spezia , Italy and a larger number followed. The official Italian name for the majority of the craft that were manufactured

1470-860: The towing vessel, but the diver has a limited amount of control over vertical and lateral excursions. DPVs currently in service include: Swedish firm Defence Consulting Europe Aktiebolag (stock company, often abbreviated as DCE AB) has developed a family of SDV of modular design, all of them based on the same basic frame and general design principle, and current available versions include: After purchasing US submersible manufacturer Seahorse Marine, Emirate Marine Technologies of United Arab Emirates has developed four classes DPV/SDV, all of them built of glass reinforced plastic and carbon composite materials: All SDVs of former Yugoslavia were developed by Brodosplit - Brodogradilište Specijalnih Objekata d.o.o. which have been passed on to successor nations of former Yugoslavia. Marder (submarine) Marder (Pine Marten)

1512-437: The way while performing precision work like macro photography. Since the diver is not kicking for propulsion, they will generally get colder due to lower physical activity and increased water flow. This can be compensated by appropriate thermal insulation. If the operation of the DPV is critical to exit from a long penetration dive, it is necessary to allow for alternative propulsion in case of a breakdown to ensure safe exit before

1554-421: Was Siluro a Lenta Corsa (SLC or "Slow-running torpedo"). Two distinct models were made, Series   100 and then (in 1942) Series   200 with some improvements. At least 50 SLCs were built by September 1943. In operation, maiali were carried by another vessel (usually a conventional submarine), and launched near the target. Most manned torpedo operations were at night and during the new moon to cut down

1596-426: Was 30 feet (9.1 m) long, each suitable for carrying two men. Later versions were larger, starting with the original X-class submarine , a midget submarine, 51 feet (16 m) long, no longer truly a human torpedo but similar in concept. The X-Class were capable of 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h) on the surface or 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h) submerged. They were designed to be towed to their intended area of operations by

1638-470: Was a German midget submarine developed from the Neger . The craft was 8.3 metres (27 ft 3 in) long and unlike the Neger included a flooding tank in the nose allowing it to dive. Another improvement was the dome through which the pilot viewed the outside world that also served as the craft's entrance and exit was made openable from the inside. Maximum diving depth was about 25 metres (82 ft). The submarine's first operations took place on

1680-419: Was built by British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II as an underwater vehicle for a single frogman to perform clandestine reconnaissance or attacks against enemy vessels. The most common type of DPV tows the diver who holds onto handles on the stern or bow . Tow-behind scooters are most efficient by placing the diver parallel to and above the propeller wash. The diver wears

1722-498: Was built with a partly enclosed cockpit , a more powerful motor and larger 300 kg (660 lb) warhead (up from the earlier SLC's 220 and 250 kg (490 and 550 lb) warheads). Three units were made but not operationally used because Italy surrendered in 1943. The first British version of the concept was named the Chariot manned torpedo . Two models were made; Mark   I was 20 feet (6.1 m) long while Mark   II

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1764-494: Was the Italian maiale , electrically propelled by a 1.6 horsepower (1.2 kW) motor in most of the units manufactured. With a top speed of 3 knots (5.6 km/h), it often took up to two hours to reach its target. Two crewmen in diving suits rode astride, each equipped with an oxygen rebreather apparatus. They steered the craft to the enemy ship. The "pig" could be submerged to 15 metres (49 ft), and hypothetically to 30 metres (98 ft), when necessary. On arrival at

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