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Human torpedoes or '''manned torpedoes''' were secret naval weapons of World War II . The name is most commonly used to refer to the weapons that Italy and later Britain deployed in the Mediterranean and used to attack ships in enemy harbours. It is a type of Diver Propulsion Vehicle . See also Frogman . These were electrically propelled Torpedo es with two crewmen equipped with Diving suits riding astride. They steered the torpedo at slow speed to the enemy ship. The detachable Warhead was then used as a Limpet Mine . They then rode the torpedo away. In operation the torpedo was carried by another vessel (usually a normal Submarine ), and launched near the target. Most manned torpedo operations were at night and during the New Moon to cut down the risk of being seen. 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 the Italian operations. The official Italian name for their craft was ''Siluro a Lenta Corsa'' (SLC = "Slow-running torpedo"), but the Italian operators nicknamed it ''maiale'' (Italian for "pig"; plural ''maiali'') because it was difficult to steer. The British copies were named '''Chariot'''. A typical manned torpedo has a propeller and hydroplanes at the rear, side hydroplanes in front, and a control panel and controls for its front rider. It usually has two riders who sat 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 breathing sets while they are riding it. In some the riders' seats are enclosed; in some the seats are open at the sides like in sitting on a horse; seat design includes providing room for the riders' swimfins (if used). It has flotation tanks (typically 4: left fore, right fore, left hind, right hind) which can be flooded or blown empty to adjust buoyancy and attitude. A SHORT TIMELINE OF MANNED TORPEDO EVENTS
For other events, see Decima Flottiglia MAS#Chronicle Of Operations and British Commando Frogmen . On 1944 October 27-28 the British submarine '' Trenchant '' carried two Mk 2 Chariots (nicknamed "Tiny" and "Slasher") to an attack on Phuket harbor in Thailand . See British Commando Frogmen#1944 for more information about this attack. No manned torpedo operations in combat in any war are certainly known of after this. The British Chariots were used in the immediate post war period to clear mines and wrecks in harbours. MANNED TORPEDOES AFTER 1945 Some nations including Italy have continued to make and keep manned torpedoes after 1945 .
MAKES OF MANNED TORPEDOES Italian
For information on Italian manned torpedo operations, see Italian Commando Frogmen . British
For information on British manned torpedo operations, see British Commando Frogmen . German
There were other types which never ran into production. For information on German manned torpedo operations, see German Commando Frogmen . Japanese
Russian
USA There are pictures and descriptions of modern USA Chariot-like underwater frogman-carriers used by SEAL 's, here:-
MUSEUMS
MOVIES AND FICTION
CHARIOTS FOR SPORT DIVING At least two makes of chariot-like diver-riders for sport divers have been in the diving gear trade since 1960. One of those makes was Tradename d "Dolphin" and was made on the Isle Of Wight in the 1960s or 1970s: both its ends tapered to a point. Another make was USA-made and looked like a naval chariot but its hull was thinner. REFERENCES
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