How British torpedoes worked in Taranto's shallow water

The shallow-water problem demanded more than fitting a torpedo beneath a Swordfish. The Japanese used a buoyant nose and fins, while the British relied on a tension wire, fins, and a carefully controlled drop height. Swordfish crews usually aimed to release from about 18 feet, although actual drops varied and one account described a release near wheel height. The British system made the weapon enter in a flatter belly-flop instead of diving deeply before levelling out. An incorrect release could still bury a torpedo in the harbour bottom. Five recorded hits from ten launches show how aircraft handling and torpedo engineering made the attack practical.