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Mark 16 torpedo
Mark 16 torpedo diagram
Mark 16 torpedo
Type Anti-surface ship torpedo[1]
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1943–1975[1]
Used by Flag of the United States United States Navy
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Naval Torpedo Station[1]
Naval Research Laboratory
Designed 1943[1]
Manufacturer Naval Torpedo Station[1]
Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park
Produced 1943 - post-World War II[1]
No. built > 1,700[1]
Specifications
Mass 4,000 pounds (1,810 kg)[1]
Length 246 inches (6.2 m)[1]
Diameter 21 inches (533 mm)[1]

Effective firing range 11,000 yards (10,060 m)[1]
Warhead Mk 16 Mod 7, HBX[1]
Warhead weight 746 pounds (338 kg)[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Mk 9 Mod 4 contact/influence exploder[1]

Engine Turbine[1]
Propellant "Navol", concentrated hydrogen peroxide[1]
Maximum speed 46.2 knots (85.6 km/h; 53.2 mph)[1]
Guidance
system
Gyroscope[1]
Launch
platform
Submarines[1]

The Mark 16 torpedo was a redesign of the United States Navy standard Mark 14 torpedo to incorporate war-tested improvements for use in unmodified United States fleet submarines. The torpedo was considered the United States standard anti-shipping torpedo for twenty years;[2] although significant numbers of Mark 14 wartime production remained in inventory. This hydrogen peroxide propelled, 21 inch (53 cm) torpedo was 246 inches (6.25 m) long and weighed 2 tons (1800 kg).[2] The Mod 0 warhead contained 1260 lb (572 kg) of TPX explosive and was the most powerful conventional submarine torpedo warhead ever used by any Navy. The United States used TPX explosive which was about 75% more powerful (7405 J/g.) than the Type 97 explosive in the larger Japanese Type 93 Mod 3. (780 kg of Type 97, 4370 J/g.) The Mod 1 warhead contained 960 lb (435 kg) of TPX or HBX (7552 J/g.) explosive.[2] The torpedo could be set for straight- or pattern-running.[2]

Notes[]

References[]

  • Naval Weapons web site: http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_WWII.htm
  • "Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
  • "Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War" by Eric Lacroix and Linton Wells II
  • Kurak, Steve (September 1966). "The U. S. Navy's Torpedo Inventory". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. 
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