S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A (533 mm)
Contents
[hide]Description
The S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A (533 mm) is a typical Italian naval torpedo - in its base version extremely fast, but also extremely short-ranged, with the Torpedo Mode modification increasing range by 8,000 metres to a respectable 12 km but at a much slower pace - just 48 km/h.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
Just like most of the other Italian torpedoes on the bluewater ships, Tipo A undergoes a radical transformation once the Torpedo Mode is researched and installed, from a situational, short-range burst weapon able to take down enemy cruisers while giving them minimal time to react, to a standard long-range torpedo able to threaten stationary and predictable targets.
| Torpedo characteristics | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torpedo Mode | Mass (kg) | Maximum speed in water (km/h) | Travel distance (km) | Depth stroke (m) | Arming distance (m) | Explosive type | Explosive mass (kg) | TNT equivalent (kg) |
| No | 1,781 | 76 | 7 | 1 | 50 | TNT | 250 | 250 |
| Yes | 1,781 | 48 | 12 | 1 | 50 | TNT | 250 | 250 |
Effective damage
Due to a relatively mediocre warhead, this torpedo neither excels nor disappoints in terms of damage potential. Hits near turrets of destroyers and cruisers will nearly always score a direct kill, while hits into the engines will be survivable by cruisers and some of the better-armoured destroyers.
Comparison with analogues
Compared to the other Italian 533 mm torpedoes, Tipo A has the lowest, but still very respectable, maximum speed and a slightly smaller warhead.
Usage in battles
The high speed and short range make this torpedo perfect for ambushes with use of terrain, especially in Realistic Battles where torpedo speeds are much lower and ships less manoeuvrable than in Arcade Battles. Torpedoes have a minimum arming distance of 50 metres, so that separation should be kept in mind when attacking enemy ships, in particular those on a collision course.
The Torpedo Mode modification turns them into a much more conventional gameplay, being able to take down NPC-controlled ships from a safe distance and weaponising narrow choke-points between islands.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Without Torpedo Mode
- Very high speed
- With Torpedo Mode
- Good range
Cons:
- Without Torpedo Mode
- Its short range makes it very situational
- With Torpedo Mode
- Lower maximum speed than most cruisers and battleships makes it easy to avoid
History
In 1924 Italy annexed Rijeka (Fiume), Croatia, where the Whitehead torpedo factory was located and begun manufacturing their own derivatives of the design. And thus, in the interwar years, the Silurificio Italiano (S.I.) 270/533.4 Type A was born and manufactured in Baiae.
These torpedoes were produced with a 250 kg charge of TNT, a diameter of 533.4 mm, and a length of 7.5 metres, and were used by surface ships and submarines.
The torpedo could be set in one of 3 modes:
- Short Range - 3000 metres with a speed of 63 km/h
- Medium Range - 7000 metres with a speed of 51.5 km/h
- Long Range - 12000 metres with a speed of 40 km/h
The S.I. 250/533.4X7.5 Type A, with some modifications, was used by the Italian Navy until 1968.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
- [NavWeaps] List of Torpedoes of Italy
- [Comando Supremo] Whitehead Torpedo: Its Origin and Italian Adaptation
- https://www.altomareblu.com/sommergibile-sa3-kammamuri/ (Italian source)
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