Our collection includes the rear, propulsion section of the Type 53-38—a 533 mm Soviet steam-gas torpedo that served as the primary torpedo type during World War II—as well as a gyroscope (training version) from the same weapon. Their design was based on 21-inch Whitehead torpedoes of the same caliber, which had been purchased for testing in 1932. Type 53-38 torpedoes entered service in 1938 and armed various classes of surface vessels (destroyers and torpedo boats) as well as submarines. They were launched from torpedo tubes using compressed air or a gunpowder charge.
Technical specifications:
Caliber: 533.4 mm
Length: 7.2 m
Weight: 1615 kg
Warhead weight: 300 kg
Propulsion: two-cylinder steam-gas engine (fueled by kerosene, with oxygen as the oxidizer) driving two counter-rotating propellers
Maximum speed: 44.5 knots (82.5 km/h)
Range: 4 km (at 44.5 knots), 8 km (at 34.5 knots)
