1909R (450 mm)

1909R (450 mm) in a mount on VTB-8

Description

The Modèle 1909R was the fifth in a series of 450 mm piston-engine torpedoes used by the French Navy, it introduced a gasoline-powered reheater (Réchauffeur), which added 6 kg to its mass, extended its range from 1,000 metres to 2,000 metres at 33 knots, and added a new torpedo mode: 3,000 metres at 28 knots. A notable incident occurred on 27 December 1911 when a Modèle 1909R torpedo exploded in the launch tube of the submarine Mariotte due to an heater malfunction. By January 1920, 574 units were in the French Navy's inventory, and the torpedo was eventually succeeded by the Modèle 1911T (Turbine), which introduced a wet heater.

The 1909R is best used against coastal vessels, as its short range of just 2 kilometres makes it very challenging to safely approach destroyers. However, its good maximum speed makes it feasible to attack larger vessels, such as submarine chasers. The 144 kg warhead is sufficient to either destroy or cripple coastal vessels, but may struggle to take down larger vessels if none of the magazines are in proximity to the explosion. Its use against battleships with torpedo bulges is moot, as the bulges will easily absorb the entire explosion.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• Bretagne
• Courbet
• VTB-8
• VTB-9
• VTB-14

General info

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Effective damage

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Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of torpedoes that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Name	Country of origin	Diameter (mm)	Mass (kg)	Explosive type	TNT equivalent (kg)	Max speed (km/h)	Max range (km)
12.75 inch Mark 44		324	235	HBX	54.4	56	5.49
12.75 inch Mark 46		324	235	TNT	44.5	91	7.30
18 inch Mark XII		450	702	TNT	176	74	1.37
18 inch Mark XV		450	817	Torpex	395.2	61	3.20
18 inch Type 38 No.2 B		450	663	Shimose	104.5	59	2.00
18-inch Mk.7		450	720	TNT	93	59	3.65
21 in Mk.8		533	1,252	TNT	146	50	9.14
21 inch Mark I		533	1,270	TNT	102	56	11.00
21 inch Mk.20 Bidder		533	821	TNT	89	37	11.00
21 inch Type 43 (1910)		533	1,187	Shimose	143	50	8.00
45-36NU		450	951	TNT	200	76	4.00
53-38		533	1,615	TNT	300	82	4.00
53-39		533	1,780	TNT	317	94	4.00
53-56		533	2,000	TNT	400	93	8.00
53-57		533	2,000	TNT	306	83	18.00
53-65		533	2,070	TNT	300	126	12.00
Bliss-Leavitt Mk.1		533	680	TNT	91	50	3.66
C/06D		450	810	TNT	122.6	50	5.90
G6c		533	1,008	TNT	160	50	5.00
G7		500	1,365	TNT	249.6	69	4.00
G7a		533	1,528	SW39a	358.4	81	6.00
H/8		600	2,160	SW39a	268.8	67	6.00
LT 1A/1		450	812	TNT	250	74	2.00
Mark 35		533	803	Torpex	196	50	13.71
Mk.8-3 C/D		533	1,373	TNT	174.2	50	12.35
Mk.13		569	884	TNT	178	56	5.21
Mk.15		533	1,559	TNT	224	83	5.50
Mk.16		533	1,766	Torpex	915.2	85	6.40
Mk.IV		533	1,454	TNT	234	65	7.30
Mk.IX		533	1,693	TNT	340	67	9.60
Mk.IX**		533	1,693	Torpex	587.2	76	10.00
Mk.V		533	1,736	TNT	305	74	4.57
Mk.VIII		533	1,566	TNT	327	84	4.57
1909R		450	716	TNT	144	61	2.00
Model 1919V		550	1,358	Picric acid	261.8	80	2.00
Model 1923DT		550	2,100	TNT	308	72	9.00
1926V		400	674	TNT	144	81	2.00
L3		550	910	TNT	200	46	5.00
Pattern 1910		450	665	TNT	100	54	3.00
Pattern 1912		450	810	TNT	100	80	2.00
R.G.F. Mark VI**		450	700	TNT	134	56	5.49
S.I.170/450X5,25		450	860	TNT	170	76	4.00
S.I.270		533	1,715	TNT	270	74	4.00
S.I. 250/533,4X7,5 Tipo A		533	1,781	TNT	250	76	4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo I		533	1,700	TNT	270	89	4.00
S.I. 270/533,4X7,2 Tipo M		533	1,715	TNT	270	93	4.00
S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L		533	1,700	TNT	270	93	4.00
Seal DM2A1		533	1,370	TNT	250	61	20.00
SET-40		400	550	TNT	80	54	8.00
SET-53M		533	1,480	TNT	100	54	14.00
SET-65		533	1,740	TNT	205	74	16.00
SET-72		400	730	TNT	80	74	8.00
Type 2		450	1,000	Type 97	448	72	3.00
Type 6		533	1,432	Shimose	223.3	65	7.00
Type 8 No.2		610	2,362	Shimose	380.6	70	10.00
Type 43		450	663	Shimose	104.5	48	5.00
Type 44 No.2		450	750	Shimose	121	65	4.00
Type 54 model 3		533	1,600	TNT	100	44	6.00
Type 72 mod.1		533	1,760	TNT	300	120	10.00
Type 89		533	1,660	Type 97	384	83	5.50
Type 90		610	2,540	Type 97	480	85	7.00
Type 93 Model 1, Mod 2		610	2,700	Type 97	627.2	91	20.00
Type 93 Model 3		610	2,800	Type 97	998.4	91	15.00
W.200/450X5,75		450	930	TNT	200	81	3.00
Whitehead A 110/450		450	936	TNT	110	56	4.00

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good maximum speed

Cons:

• Very short rage
• Very small warhead

History

Modèle 1909R was the fifth of the 450 mm series of piston-engine torpedoes used by the French navy. The first was the Modèle 1892R (75 kg warhead, 800 metres range at 27.6 knots), replaced by the much more capable M1904 with an Obry gyroscope, and later the M1909 with an air-blast gyroscope. The M1909R was a derivative that introduced a reheater into the series, with R standing for Réchauffeur, which was domestically produced and powered by gasoline. The installation of the reheater added 6 kilograms to the total mass, making it a 716 kg torpedo with a 110 kg warhead, and increasing the range from 1,000 metres in the M1909 to 2,000 metres in the M1909R at 33 knots. It also added a second torpedo mode, 3,000 metres at 28 knots.

One of the notable incidents involving the Modèle 1909R happened on 27 December 1911, when one of the torpedoes in the French submarine Mariotte exploded in its launch tube due to an air heater malfunction.

By January 1920, 574 Modèle 1909R torpedoes were in the French Navy inventory. Its direct successor was the Modèle 1911T (T standing for Turbine), which introduced a wet heater.

Media

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See also

• Model 1919V (later, heavier torpedo)
• Pattern 1910 (closest soviet equivalent)
• Pattern 1912 (more widely used soviet equivalent)

External links

• Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines, and ASW Weapons of All Nations by Norman Friedman