F5b
Contents
Description
The F5b torpedo was originally a Norwegian-built torpedo intended to be used on aircraft. It is a 45-cm torpedo and weighs around 750 kg with 200 kg of explosive. The F5b was in service from 1941 all the way to the end of the war and saw service on aircraft like the He 111 and Ju 88. As with many torpedoes in German service, the F5b uses steam propulsion, which leaves a wake in the water. This does come with the added benefit of usually being much faster than electric torpedoes like the G7e. They also usually included a variable speed setting.
The F5b was introduced in Update "Fire and Ice" along with the premium Fw 190 A-5/U14. Currently, no other aircraft use it except for the A-5/U14. With a warhead of 200 kg of explosive, it will be more than enough to sink destroyers and cripple larger ships. The F5b also travels at a speed of 83 km/h (~45 knots) and has a range of about 5 kilometers. However, it only travels at a depth of 1 metre so it will be difficult to significantly damage large ships. Specific launch conditions are also needed to successfully utilize the torpedo: players must not exceed 281 km/h (174 mph) and stay below 105 metres (344 feet). Since the torpedo uses steam propulsion, it is highly advised to drop from close range to ensure a hit.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
The F5b weighs 752 kg (1,657 lb), and has a length of over 4.8 metres (15.7 feet). It also has a 200 kg explosive warhead which utilizes TNT explosive. When dropped, the motor will kick on and maintain a speed of 83 km/h (45 knots) which is quite fast for a World War II torpedo. However, it only has a range of 5 km (~3 mi) so players will need to get close to a ship to get a hit. Players should also note the specific launch parameters for a successful torpedo: -35 to 281 km/h (-21 to 174 mph) and -10 to 105 metres in altitude (-32 to 336 feet). The F5b travels at a shallow depth of one metre (3.2 feet). Overall, it's a relatively strong torpedo thanks to its large warhead and reasonable launch parameters.
Effective damage
With a 200 kg TNT warhead, it will most definitely cripple a destroyer and destroy smaller ships. However, against cruisers and other big ships, it will be more difficult to take one out with only a single torpedo.
Comparison with analogues
Give a comparative description of torpedoes that have firepower equal to this weapon.
Usage in battles
Describe situations when you would utilise this torpedo in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Large warhead (200 kg TNT equivalent)
- High speed of 83 km/h (45 knots)
Cons:
- Launch parameters can leave players vulnerable to enemy attack
- Significantly hampers performance when equipped on an aircraft
History
Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.
Media
See also
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- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
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- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
