Chariot manned torpedo

Chariots were British "manned torpedoes" deployed in World War II on which two frogmen rode into action after launching from a submarine. They then attached an explosive charge beneath an enemy ship and returned to the submarine.

Design

 * Chariot Mark 1, 6.8 m (22 feet 4 inches) long, 0.9 m (2 feet 11 inches) wide, 1.2 m (3 feet 11 inches) high, speed 2.5 kn, weight: 1.6 tonnes, maximum diving depth: 27 m. Endurance 5 hours (distance depended on water current). Its control handle was $$\infty$$-shaped. 34 were made.
 * Chariot Mark II, 30 ft 6 in (9.3 m) long, 2 ft 6 in (0.8 m) diameter, 3 ft 3 in (1 m) maximum height, weight 5200 pounds (2359 kg), max speed 4.5 knots, range 5-6 hours at full speed, had two riders, who sat back to back. 30 were made.
 * Both types were made by Stothert and Pitt (crane makers) at Bath, Somerset.

Use in action
"The only completely successful British Chariot operation" occurred on 28-29 October 1944. Two crews on Mk II Chariots, commanded by Lieutenant Tony Eldridge RNVR, were launched from the submarine HMS Trenchant and sank two ships in Japanese-occupied Phuket Harbour, Siam.