Shallow torpedo entry was a standard Swordfish technique

The explanation focuses on wooden fins and a tension wire that made an aerial torpedo belly-flop into the water instead of diving steeply and climbing back to running depth. A shallow, controlled entry brought the weapon onto its attack run faster and reduced the time in which currents, water movement, or thermal layers could disturb it. Those disturbances could also affect the sensitive duplex pistol and its magnetic influence system. The method belonged to standard Royal Navy torpedo-strike practice and had general operational value beyond Taranto’s shallow harbour.