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The Golden Comb (Ger. ''die Goldene Zange'') was an anti-ship tactic developed by the German air force (''Luftwaffe'') during World War II for use against Allied convoys taking supplies to the Soviet Union by the Arctic route. It was first employed against convoy PQ 18 in September 1942. ==Background== Before 1942 the German armed forces (''Wehrmacht'') lacked a means to attack ships at sea due to the inter-service rivalry between the ''Luftwaffe'', which regarded all air operations as its domain, and the ''Kriegsmarine'', which saw the development, production and use of torpedoes as its own. Consequently Germany had no torpedo bomber force, in contrast to the forces of other world powers, even the other Axis nations like Italy with the land-based ''Aerosiluranti'', or the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service which used the effective Type 91 torpedo in the Attack on Pearl Harbor. In early 1942, when the Allied Arctic convoy cycle was becoming well established, the ''Luftwaffe'' was ordered to form a torpedo bomber force, and was allotted the resources to do so. In response, two groups (''Gruppe''), III/KG 26 and III/KG 30, were assigned to train and equip as anti-ship /anti-convoy units. These units were equipped with He 111 and Ju 88 aircraft, modified to carry two air-dropped torpedoes externally under the wings. In order to attack a target like a convoy, a formation of 20 to 30 ships sailing in close formation at relatively slow speed, KG 26 commander ''Generalmajor'' Harlinghausen and his men developed the ''Goldene Zange'' ( the “Golden Comb”), a new anti-ship (specifically an anti- convoy) tactic. The Golden Comb involved the full group, which, having found its target, would form into a line abreast, some 40 aircraft flying approximately 30 metres apart. These would approach the convoy, from a forward quarter, and simultaneously launch their torpedoes at a distance of 1000 metres. The line would then overfly the convoy and escape. The resulting pattern of up to 80 torpedoes, all travelling in parallel towards the target, was likened to the teeth of a comb; hence the name. The attack was planned for use in the half light period of dawn or dusk, and would be in conjunction with a simultaneous dive bombing attack to divide the opposing AA fire. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Golden Comb (tactic)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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