The Japanese Type 93 torpedo deserves its reputation, though physical range does not guarantee a hit against a maneuvering target. A long-range salvo works best when an enemy maintains a predictable course long enough for the firing solution to remain valid. Royal Navy ships changed course at irregular intervals, so the calculated intercept point could become obsolete while the torpedoes were still running. The practice grew from First World War experience with submarines and tended to force an attacker closer before launching, reducing the practical advantage of extreme range.
Notable Point · 1:04:04-1:07:07
Why zigzagging blunts the Long Lance's range
The Type 93's exceptional range remains dangerous, but Royal Navy zigzag practice attacks the prediction problem on which a long-range torpedo solution depends.