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SLC 200 Maiale

a walkaround by Rui Matos
the history of the "siluro a lenta corsa" or maiale

This manned torpedo was invented by Capitan G.N. tesei and Toschi in the year of 1935. Siluro a Lenta Corsa can be roughly translated to Slow Moving Torpedo.
The idea was to go slowly and undected to the enemy ship and then release and/or attach the explosive warhead. The Maiale could navigate on the surface or submerged and was operated by two man, wearing a rubberized suit and with a closed-circuit breathing apparatus - the first operator is the one in charge of manouvering, navigation, variation of depth and speed; the second operator is in charge of deploying the explosive warhead, but also cooperating with number one and if needed, replacing him.
The most famous actions were directed against the Royal Navy in Alexandria and Gibraltar, with the operations started on an strategicaly "sinked" merchant ship Olterra, just a stone away from Gibraltar.
Appart from HMS Queen Elizabet and HMS Valiant, the most famous of Maiale's targets, they scored more 14 vessels in a total of approximatly 200,000 tons.
details:
Lenght: 6.70 m
Diameter: 0.53 m
Propulsion: electrical engine powered by batteries
Speed: 2.5 knots
Autonomy: 10 nm
Armament: warhead with 250 or 300 kg of Tritolo

SLC 200 Maiale at Museo Storico Navale - Venezia, Italia

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About the Author

About Rui Matos (skipper)
FROM: LISBOA, PORTUGAL

Hi all Crew Members!
Rui Matos, 39 years old (in 2006), married, former Portuguese Navy Fire Control Radar Operator , and "owned" by two cats - James, Stripes (Riscas in portuguese, now deceased) and Moon (Lua)!
I've been modeling since I was 6, but only have turned to Submarines in 1991 o...


Copyright ©2021 by Rui Matos. _OPINIONS Model Shipwrights, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Model Shipwrights. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2006-06-08 00:00:00. Unique Reads: 27079