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Mark 39 torpedo
Type Homing torpedo[1]
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1946-1956[1]
Used by Flag of the United States United States Navy
Production history
Designer Vitro Corporation[1]
Ordnance Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University
Designed 1946[1]
Manufacturer Philco[1]
Specifications
Mass 1725 pounds[1]
Length 133 inches[1]
Diameter 19 inches[1]

Effective firing range 1300 yards[1]
(26-minute search duration)
Warhead Mk 39 Mod 0, HBX[1]
Warhead weight 130 pounds[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Mk 19 Mod 10 contact exploder[1]

Engine Electric[1]
Maximum speed 15.5 knots[1]
Guidance
system
Wire[1]
Launch
platform
Submarines[1]

The Mark 39 torpedo was the first homing torpedo in United States Navy service to utilize a trailing wire for mid-course guidance through the submarine's fire control system. The Mark 39 was actually a Mark 27 Mod 4 torpedo converted for development of wire guidance techniques, which were eventually incorporated into the Mark 37 Mod 1 and the Mark 45. Due to this development, the Mark 39 was considered obsolete and the remaining inventory was scrapped.[1]

References[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Mark 39 torpedo and the edit history here.
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