List of World War II torpedoes of Germany

Kriegsmarine torpedo designation system
The first letter indicates the diameter:
 * G = 53 cm (21")
 * F = 45 cm (17.7")
 * H = 60 cm (23.7")
 * M = 75 cm (30")

The number indicates the approximate length (for example, the length of a G7a is 7163 mm):
 * 7 = 7 m
 * 6 = 6 m
 * 5 = 5 m

Next letter(s) indicates specific features regarding propulsion and control:
 * a = pressluft/damphgemisch-antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
 * e = elektrischer antrieb (electric engine)
 * f = fernlenkung über funk (remote control by radio)
 * d = sauerstoff/damphgemisch-antrieb (oxygen/steam engine)
 * p = primärbatterie-antrieb (primary battery propulsion)
 * m = verbrennungsmaschine mit kreislaufverfahren (combustion engine recirculating air)
 * u = sauerstoffträger ingolin spurenfreier antrieb (oxygen/steam engine with hydrogen peroxide as source for air)
 * x = torpedo mit 3-achsen steuerung (3-axes control)
 * r = raketen- oder düsenantrieb (rocket- or jet propulsion)
 * s = scall, torpedo mit akustischen suchkopf (acoustic seeker)
 * t = turbinenantrieb (turbine-engine)

"r" and "t" were only used with "u" to further denote the features of the ingolin-torpedoes. Some sources claim that the "s" only was used with "a" to denote development of G7a with acoustic seeker-capability; however it is also seen used for the electric torpedoes with acoustic seekers.

When the torpedo reached production status and was fielded (i.e. for operational use), Kriegsmarine gave it a short designation "T", or "Torpedonummer", with the number given in Roman lettering (TI, TII, TIII, TIV etc.). For different versions of the main torpedo, a small Arabic letter was added (for example TIIId, TVa etc.) denoting specific/minor changes within the main design.

Warheads and pistols

Warheads was designated with the letter "K" (K = short for Kopf, meaning "head") and a small Arabic letter, with an additional number denoting variants of the head (variations was typical the change of material from bronze to steel or adding/removing spants during the course of the war). Examples: Ka, Ka1, Kb, Kb1 etc.

Pistols used the "Pi" designations to begin with (Pi = short for pistole). The early models was named Pi G7a or Pi G7H according to function and/or torpedo type, but this was later replaced by a simple system of numbers, like "Pi 1", "Pi 2" etc.

To indicate variants within the main design, a small Latin letter was added after the number, like "Pi 1a", "Pi 1b" etc.

At some point, "Pi" was dropped for pistols with combination of mechanical (direct hit) and magnetic (distance-sensor) mechanisms, to the "TZ" designation (TZ = Torpedo-Zündeinrichtung). For example, the mechanical mechanism from the "Pi 1" pistol combined with the magnetic mechanism from "Pi 2" became the "TZ 2".

Code names

Code names were intended used only through the development period for security measures. However, in some cases it was kept on also after the torpedo was fielded and designated with the "T"-number.

Torpedo pistols, program seeker-systems and other special arrangements also had their own "system" of code names, using the names of birds, fish or animals (for example Pi "Leuchtfisch", GA "Specht", seeker "Storch", control "Viper", target detector "Salamander" etc.). During development, the pistols often got code names designated by the industrial developer or manufacturer like simple words/syllables or names associated with the firm or the engineers in charge of the development (for example Pi "Otto", Pi "Atlas", Pi "Berlin" etc.).

Program steering

 * Fat : Federapparat or Flächenabsuchender Torpedo (spring device or area searching torpedo), a mechanical device changes the torpedo's course over time so that it runs up- and down on parallel lines of 800 or 1600 m length. Three versions: Fat I, II and III.


 * Lut : Lageunabhängiger Torpedo (bearing independent torpedo), changes the torpedo's course to a preset heading directly after launch, so the launching platform can fire such torpedoes at targets without changing its own course. Two versions: Lut I and Lut II (+ a special Lut II variant for the TIIId torpedo with a very long initial straight run).

Luftwaffe torpedo designation system
As a general rule, Luftwaffe followed the Kriegsmarine system of code names and designations, but with some differences.

Variations for the letter(s) indicating specific features regarding propulsion and control:
 * b = pressluft/damphgemisch-antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
 * i and w = indicated an Italian torpedo

In stead of letters and numbers denoting dimensions and features, a single 3 or 4 digit number was used for some torpedo designs.

Luftwaffe also used the "LT" designation (= Lufttorpedo), but not limited to operational torpedoes. It also combined further letters and numbers to indicate type and features of the torpedo:


 * I = Preßluft/dampfgemisch antrieb (pressurized air/steam engine)
 * II = Ingolin antrieb (use of hydrogen-peroxide as oxygen carrier)
 * A = Tiefen- und Winkeleinstellung von Hand (manual setting of depth and steering)
 * B = Electrische Tiefen- und Winkeleinstellung von Hand (electric setting of depth and steering, i.e. possible to change in flight)
 * C = Programmsteuerung (programsteering)
 * 1 = Speed of 40kn
 * 2 = Speed of 33kn
 * 3 = Speed of 24kn

Designations for Luftwaffe pistols used the same system as Kriegsmarine, while the warheads used the designation GK (GK = short for Gefechtskopf) followed by a number and a small Arabic letter for variants.

Kriegsmarine

 * Submarines (U-Boote)
 * Motortorpedoboats, E-Boats (schnellboote)
 * Larger surfacevessels like cruisers (kreuzer), destroyers (zerstörer), torpedoboats (torpedoboote)
 * Shore-based batteries (torpedosperrbatterie).
 * Temporary torpedo batteries (used on strategic places and/or as substitutes until a more permanent battery was established): These batteries were placed on quays/piers, a suitable spot on the ground or on small boats/barges ("schwimmende batterie"). Typical armament for shore-based and temporary batteries was tubes from dismantled surface vessels (typical 533mm zwilling, drilling or vierling rohre).

Luftwaffe

 * Aircraft