Complex sentence: In operation, it was dropped by an attacking aircraft from a safe altitude and distance, gliding down towards the target vessel and, as it approached the target, a timed fuse opened a small parachute which was attached to the glider body.
Split into simpler sentences: In operation, it was dropped by an attacking aircraft from a safe altitude and distance. It then glided down towards the target vessel and, as it approached the target, a timed fuse opened a small parachute which was attached to the glider body.