The Swordfish's biplane layout is distinguished from the sophistication of its torpedo-release equipment. British tension wires made dropped torpedoes enter with a shallow belly flop and helped them run straight toward their targets. Shallow entry was important for reaching ships in water such as Taranto harbor. The assessment rates this equipment as advanced for its time and rejects the idea that the aircraft's appearance made its torpedo technology obsolete.
Notable Point · 1:35:32-1:36:20
Swordfish tension wires control shallow torpedo entry
The aircraft's biplane layout obscures an advanced torpedo-release system that controlled entry depth and direction.