Mark 16 torpedo

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 20 feet 6 inches (6.25 m) long and weighed 2.0 short tons (1,800 kg).[2] The Mod 0 warhead contained 1,260 pounds (570 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 pounds (440 kg) of TPX or HBX (7552 J/g.) explosive.[2] The torpedo could be set for straight- or pattern-running.[2]

Mark 16 torpedo
Mark 16 torpedo
TypeAnti-surface ship torpedo[1]
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1943–1975[1]
Used byUnited States Navy
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerNaval Torpedo Station[1]
Naval Research Laboratory
Designed1943[1]
ManufacturerNaval Torpedo Station[1]
Naval Ordnance Station Forest Park
Produced1943 - post-World War II[1]
No. built> 1,700[1]
Specifications
Mass4,000 pounds (1,810 kg)[1]
Length246 inches (6.2 m)[1]
Diameter21 inches (533 mm)[1]
Effective firing range11,000 yards (10,060 m)[1]
WarheadMk 16 Mod 7, HBX[1]
Warhead weight746 pounds (338 kg)[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Mk 9 Mod 4 contact/influence exploder[1]
EngineTurbine[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]

See also
  • American 21 inch torpedo

Notes
  1. "Torpedo History: Torpedo Mk16". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. Kurak, September 1966, p.144

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. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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