Mark 48 torpedo

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Testing of the Mark 48: The Australian Collins class submarine, HMAS Farncomb, fired a Mark-48 war-shot torpedo at the 28 year old former Destroyer Escort Torrens. The torpedo detonated underneath the hull as designed and broke the destroyer in two. The stern half sank immediately, the bow half remained afloat but sank sometime later.

Closeup showing the breaking of the ship

The Mark 48 torpedo is designed to combat fast, deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high performance surface ships. It is carried by all U.S. Navy submarines. The improved version, Mk-48 ADCAP, is carried by attack submarines, the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines and the Seawolf-class attack submarines. The Mk-48 replaced both the Mk-37 and Mk-14 torpedoes. The Mk-48 has been operational since 1972. Mk-48 ADCAP became operational in 1988 and was approved for full production in 1989.

Mk. 48 is designed to detonate under the keel of a surface ship, breaking the ship's back and destroying her strength.

Mk-48 and Mk-48 ADCAP torpedoes can operate with or without wire guidance and use active or passive homing. When launched they execute programmed target search, acquisition and attack procedures. Both can conduct multiple reattacks if they miss the target. The MK-46 torpedo is designed to be launched from surface combatant torpedo tubes, ASROC missiles and fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

General Characteristics (Mk-48 and Mk-48 ADCAP)

Primary Function: Heavyweight torpedo for submarines
Contractor: Raytheon
Power Plant: Piston engine; pump jet
Length: 5.79 m (19 ft)
Weight: 1545.3 kg (3,434 lb) (MK-48); 1662.75 kg (3,695 lb) (MK-48 ADCAP)
Diameter: 53.34 cm (21 in)
Range: Greater than 8 km (5 mi)
Depth: Greater than 365 m (1,200 ft)
Speed: Greater than 28 kn (32.2 mi/h, 51.8 km/h)
Guidance System: Wire guided and passive/active acoustic homing
Warhead: 292.5 kg (650 lb) high explosive
Date Deployed: 1972

The piston engine apparently is fueled by a special fuel call OTTO fuel, that contains the oxygen needed for combustion ("Mono Propellant"). Unconfirmed reports indicate that the sensor array of the weapon also includes sensors that monitor the surrounding electrical and magnetic fields.

Judging by other sources the performance data given by the US Navy appears to be a gross understatement of the torpedoes actual capabilities. These sources rate the weapons top speed at anywhere between 60 to 75 knots (110 to 140 km/h). The range at top speed is assumed to exceed 20 nautical miles (37 km), while the range at lower speeds may exceed 30 nautical miles (56 km). The maximum depth of operation is believed to be in excess of 600 m to counter deep diving submarines.

Categories: American Cold War torpedoes | Modern American torpedoes