Place of origin France Wars World War II | Used by France Warhead Trinitrotolulene (TNT) | |
Weight 62 kg (137 lb) or
75.5 kg (166 lb) Length 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) or
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
The Ginocchio towed torpedo was based on an Italian concept of World War I and consisted of a towed torpedo that was streamed over the stern near a submarine contact in the hope that it would strike the submarine, triggering its warhead. Depth-keeping proved to be a problem during sea trials and it does not appear to have ever been operationally used.
Development and description
The French began development on the Ginocchio, based on a wartime Italian concept, during the 1920s, but depth-keeping was erratic and the project was formally suspended in 1933 after trials in the Chacal and Bourrasque-class destroyers. The project was revived in late 1938 for the ships of the latter class, but was cancelled in October 1939.
The Ginocchio came in two models, both of which had a 30-kilogram (66 lb) warhead of Trinitrotolulene.