Table of Contents
What was wrong with American torpedoes in ww2?
The mechanical ones were faulty thanks to heavy firing pins that couldn’t achieve the right momentum when the torpedo was at full speed, so they were replaced with a lighter metal alloy. Ironically, the alloy chosen had made it into U.S. arsenals after it was discovered in a Japanese fighter shot down at Pearl Harbor.
What torpedoes does the US use?
The MK 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedo is the U.S. Navy’s most capable and potent anti-surface and anti-submarine weapon in use aboard U.S. Navy and allied submarines today and has been designed to be exceedingly lethal and effective against threats operating in deep and shallow waters.
How fast is an American torpedo?
The torpedo — signature weapon of the submarine — isn’t very fast, either. The U.S. MK 48 torpedo achieves a top speed of about 55 knots, or 63 miles per hour.
When did the US fix their torpedoes?
It was supplemented by the Mark 18 electric torpedo in the last two years of the war. From December 1941 to November 1943 the Mark 14 and the destroyer-launched Mark 15 torpedo had numerous technical problems that took almost two years to fix….
| Mark 14 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Designed | 1931 |
Can a submarine survive a torpedo hit?
Nonetheless, the concept of adding an additional close-range layer of protection to submarines has merit given the increasing capability of modern torpedoes, and the sobering reality that a submarine would be lucky to survive even a single torpedo hit.
What is the most powerful torpedo?
The TPX explosive in use by the US Navy during WWII was about 75% more powerful by weight (7,405 J/g) than the Japanese Type 95 and Type 97 torpedo explosives (4,370 J/g). As a result, it was even more powerful than the late war “Mod….
| Mark 16 torpedo | |
|---|---|
| Length | 246 inches (6.2 m) |
| Diameter | 21 inches (533 mm) |
What country has the fastest torpedo?
The VA-111 Shkval (from Russian: шквал, squall) torpedo and its descendants are supercavitating torpedoes originally developed by the Soviet Union. They are capable of speeds in excess of 200 knots (370 km/h or 230 miles/h)….
| VA-111 Shkval | |
|---|---|
| Warhead weight | 210 kg (460 lb) |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
| Propellant | Solid-fuel |
How many airborne torpedoes were produced during World War II?
This became the most common US airborne torpedo of World War II. Markedly different from airborne torpedoes of other navies in that it was short and fat vs. short and thin. Also different in its relatively low speed and long range. A total of 17,000 were produced during World War II.
How long were Mark 14 torpedoes used in WW2?
By the end of World War II, the Mark 14 torpedo was a reliable weapon ultimately remaining in service for almost 40 years in the U.S. Navy, and even longer with other navies. The only live fire test of the magnetic influence exploder before the war occurred in 1926.
What companies made torpedoes in WW2?
After the U.S. entered the war, the contract with American Can was expanded and Pontiac Motor Company, International Harvester, E. W. Bliss Company, and Precision Manufacturing Co. were retained as contractors. In May 1942, Westinghouse Electric Corporation was asked to build an electric torpedo (which became the Mark 18 torpedo).
Did the US Navy ever use torpedoes in combat?
In addition, the Navy had limited experience in using torpedoes in combat. The U.S. Navy has a long history of torpedo supply problems. In 1907, the Navy knew there was a problem with torpedo supply; a major contractor, the E. W. Bliss Company, could produce only 250 torpedoes per year.