What determined an aerial torpedo's entry depth?

How deep did an aerial torpedo dive before it leveled out?

It depended on release speed, release height, and torpedo weight; greater speed, height, or weight generally produced a deeper initial dive.

Entry depth was not one fixed property of an aerial torpedo. A faster aircraft or higher release gave the weapon more momentum when it struck the water, while a heavier torpedo tended to dive farther. Aerial torpedoes therefore generally favored lighter designs and tightly controlled release conditions. Aircraft performance directly affected whether the weapon could function in a harbor or other shallow water.