I am looking for a plan or an upper view photo of the British Toraplane or ToraII gliding torpedo.
I am also looking for the length and if possible a photo/drawing of the British ill-fated (and profoundly disliked by the crews due to the complexity of its Bull Gear stabilizer) Mk.XIV torpedo
Thanks for the help
Some info on the Toraplane from a paper by Roger Hayward:
Toraplane was the first of two torpedo remote-attack schemes. The risks faced by torpedo-bombers when approaching a target close enough to drop their weapons successfully were well understood and a means of overcoming these was sought. The inventor, Sir Dennis Burney, believed that a torpedo could be dropped from beyond the range of AA fire by fitting it with detachable wings and tail permitting it to be released some miles from the target (depending on visibility) and then glide down to sea level in stabilised flight. Development of this device, known as Toraplane, or Tora for short, began in August 1939, initially using the Mk XIV torpedo as the payload. The metal or wooden wings of the Mk I version had 3 or 4 degrees dihedral and spanned 11ft 4in (3.454m). Intended for use by Albacore, Beaufort, Botha and Swordfish aircraft, all of which dropped it on many trials conducted by the Torpedo Development Unit, Tora I was never satisfactory and was replaced by the Mk II.
Tora II was intended for the Albacore, Barracuda and Beaufort only, as Toraplane could not be carried by the Hampden or Wellington adapted for torpedo dropping. This had metal wings spanning 14 (4.267m) or 15ft (4.572m) set at 6 degrees dihedral. Weight with a Mk XII torpedo, the standard load for wartime trials, varied between 1,790 lbs (812 kg) and 1,840 lbs (835 kg). Recommended launching speeds for Tora II were about 135 mph (217 kmh) for the Albacore and some 170 mph (274 kmh) for the two monoplanes. For an attack the optimum release height was 2,500 ft (762m) from an aircraft flying at a steady speed and completely level in all planes, after which the Toraplane’s flight-in-air involved a 5,000-yard (4572m) glide to sea level. A pendulum, suspended just below the wings, struck the water an instant before main impact, releasing the Toraplane from the torpedo. The latter would then run normally. The many trials failed to perfect this theoretical approach, as the slightest anomaly at release or the effect of any adverse wind would be magnified during the long glide. Also, it was difficult to estimate a distant target’s bearing, range and speed, and an alert target had plenty of time to manoeuvre onto an avoiding course.
By the end of 1941 doubts about the usefulness of this device became more appearing. Trials against vessels under way showed that the Toraplane ws no more successful than the ordianry torpedo. Toraplane was never used in action and despite the huge cost and effort involved, was cancelled on 15 October 1942.
I am also looking for the length and if possible a photo/drawing of the British ill-fated (and profoundly disliked by the crews due to the complexity of its Bull Gear stabilizer) Mk.XIV torpedo
Thanks for the help
Some info on the Toraplane from a paper by Roger Hayward:
Toraplane was the first of two torpedo remote-attack schemes. The risks faced by torpedo-bombers when approaching a target close enough to drop their weapons successfully were well understood and a means of overcoming these was sought. The inventor, Sir Dennis Burney, believed that a torpedo could be dropped from beyond the range of AA fire by fitting it with detachable wings and tail permitting it to be released some miles from the target (depending on visibility) and then glide down to sea level in stabilised flight. Development of this device, known as Toraplane, or Tora for short, began in August 1939, initially using the Mk XIV torpedo as the payload. The metal or wooden wings of the Mk I version had 3 or 4 degrees dihedral and spanned 11ft 4in (3.454m). Intended for use by Albacore, Beaufort, Botha and Swordfish aircraft, all of which dropped it on many trials conducted by the Torpedo Development Unit, Tora I was never satisfactory and was replaced by the Mk II.
Tora II was intended for the Albacore, Barracuda and Beaufort only, as Toraplane could not be carried by the Hampden or Wellington adapted for torpedo dropping. This had metal wings spanning 14 (4.267m) or 15ft (4.572m) set at 6 degrees dihedral. Weight with a Mk XII torpedo, the standard load for wartime trials, varied between 1,790 lbs (812 kg) and 1,840 lbs (835 kg). Recommended launching speeds for Tora II were about 135 mph (217 kmh) for the Albacore and some 170 mph (274 kmh) for the two monoplanes. For an attack the optimum release height was 2,500 ft (762m) from an aircraft flying at a steady speed and completely level in all planes, after which the Toraplane’s flight-in-air involved a 5,000-yard (4572m) glide to sea level. A pendulum, suspended just below the wings, struck the water an instant before main impact, releasing the Toraplane from the torpedo. The latter would then run normally. The many trials failed to perfect this theoretical approach, as the slightest anomaly at release or the effect of any adverse wind would be magnified during the long glide. Also, it was difficult to estimate a distant target’s bearing, range and speed, and an alert target had plenty of time to manoeuvre onto an avoiding course.
By the end of 1941 doubts about the usefulness of this device became more appearing. Trials against vessels under way showed that the Toraplane ws no more successful than the ordianry torpedo. Toraplane was never used in action and despite the huge cost and effort involved, was cancelled on 15 October 1942.
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