Abstract: A pyrotechnic cutter for cutting an object such as a buoy-rope, tube, cable or the like and adapted to be mounted on a submarine vehicle, and including a fixed arm containing an explosive charge having a dihedral covering, and a second arm pivotally mounted to the fixed arm through a body portion which operatively engages an ejector which is adapted for engagement in the free end of a gun barrel, the ejector having an electrical circuit and a pyrotechnic circuit for ejecting the body having the arms, and detonating the explosive charge after a suitable time lag, so that explosion of the charge cuts the object.